The Ultimate Telluride Windshield Chip/Cracking Discussion

[Bill614]

I checked the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration site and there are 18 complaints about the 2020 Kia Telluride. Most are about front windshield cracking. The windshield seems to be of inferior quality as a small chip leads to major cracking. According to one complaint, it takes between 2 and 8 weeks to get a replacement windshield from Kia. And Kia does not pay for the windshield. You need to file an insurance claim. One complaint said his Kia is only 3 weeks old and he's had two cracked windshields and is waiting on his third to be installed.

I'm scheduled to get my Telluride next week but I'm having second thoughts. A strong windshield is critical for safety. And what a pain in the butt to have to deal with an issue like this.

Here is the link to the complaints:

Vehicle Detail Search - 2020 KIA TELLURIDE SUV AWD | NHTSA

www.nhtsa.gov

 

[515EX]

I checked the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration site and there are 18 complaints about the 2020 Kia Telluride. Most are about front windshield cracking. The windshield seems to be of inferior quality as a small chip leads to major cracking. According to one complaint, it takes between 2 and 8 weeks to get a replacement windshield from Kia. And Kia does not pay for the windshield. You need to file an insurance claim. One complaint said his Kia is only 3 weeks old and he's had two cracked windshields and is waiting on his third to be installed.

I'm scheduled to get my Telluride next week but I'm having second thoughts. A strong windshield is critical for safety. And what a pain in the butt to have to deal with an issue like this.

Here is the link to the complaints:

Vehicle Detail Search - 2020 KIA TELLURIDE SUV AWD | NHTSA

www.nhtsa.gov

There is a lot of discussion about this topic in the Facebook groups and I’m guessing a lot of those complaints were generated from those groups because the link to that site has been shared quite a bit. I’m sure there are others that haven’t reported it but, 18 out of 40k vehicles or so is a very small percentage and I wouldn’t let that be the only thing that deters you from purchasing the Telluride. I personally have not had any issues and have done a decent amount of highway driving. If you want to take extra precautions you could look into a protective film for the windshield. They’re not super expensive and should provide a little piece of mind.

 

[critrider]

Its not that bad...There is one individual in the FB group on a mission to have everyone with an impact crack post a complaint to NHTSA, thinking they will force a recall. Not going to happen. You can make an argument that the acoustic glass ALL the manufactures are going to is more susceptible to cracking but there's not data to back that up. I know I once went through three windshields in one year in a Toyota Tacoma, impact cracks happen...

 

[Bear]

I checked the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration site and there are 18 complaints about the 2020 Kia Telluride. Most are about front windshield cracking. The windshield seems to be of inferior quality as a small chip leads to major cracking. According to one complaint, it takes between 2 and 8 weeks to get a replacement windshield from Kia. And Kia does not pay for the windshield. You need to file an insurance claim. One complaint said his Kia is only 3 weeks old and he's had two cracked windshields and is waiting on his third to be installed.

I'm scheduled to get my Telluride next week but I'm having second thoughts. A strong windshield is critical for safety. And what a pain in the butt to have to deal with an issue like this.

Here is the link to the complaints:

Vehicle Detail Search - 2020 KIA TELLURIDE SUV AWD | NHTSA

www.nhtsa.gov

I personally Regret purchasing my Telluride SX AWD. Several issues with the quality of the assembly, I recommend waiting a year or look for a different brand. My daughter's Discovery is better built for almost same price.

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[Mac]

Totally agree Critrider. I’m on my 3rd windshield in less than a month but 95% of the miles have been on Interstates and I chalk it up to extremely bad luck. I read some articles on the acoustic windshield glass being a bit thinner and more prone to cracking from rocks and debris impact. They claim the acoustic windshields don’t weigh as much (I get that) which increases fuel mileage and decrease the interior noise for conversations. If I have to keep replacing windshields due to extremely bad luck, give me the ‘old school’ thicker windshield and I’ll bite the bullet on reduced fuel mileage and just keep the radio cranked up so the increased interior noise is negated...my 2 cents

 

[jazzyone]

Totally agree Critrider. I’m on my 3rd windshield in less than a month but 95% of the miles have been on Interstates and I chalk it up to extremely bad luck. I read some articles on the acoustic windshield glass being a bit thinner and more prone to cracking from rocks and debris impact. They claim the acoustic windshields don’t weigh as much (I get that) which increases fuel mileage and decrease the interior noise for conversations. If I have to keep replacing windshields due to extremely bad luck, give me the ‘old school’ thicker windshield and I’ll bite the bullet on reduced fuel mileage and just keep the radio cranked up so the increased interior noise is negated...my 2 cents

Wow, 3 windshield replacement for a Telluride? I've heard people had to wait a while for a replacement. How'd get a hold of 3 a month period?

Even with a standard windshield, I had to replace my 4Runner windshield approximately every 2.5 years from rock impact. I like the quiet cabin resulting from the acoutic windshield/side glass. I guess you gotta take the good with the bad.

If people are so concerned with cracks from rock impact here might be a solution: https://madico.com/dealers/automotive/windshield-protection/clearplex. I priced it and it costs around $600 for the Telluride installed. I decided to just increase my comprehensive coverage to $0 deductible.

 

[Mac]

Yep...will have the 3rd windshield installed sometime next week. We had the first crack happen in Wyoming from a rock thrown up by a semi. Arrived in Chicago to visit family and was extremely lucky to find a Kia dealer who had ordered a windshield for a local body shop and they never picked it up. Made the appointment and a local glass installer came to the dealership and got the job done. On the way home (Idaho), another semi provided a rock that found the 5 day old windshield and yep, another chip. Got home and visited the local Safelite shop and they stated the windshield (from Kia) would be available for installation within 1 week...guess we’ll see if their ETA is valid before long...that’s how I hopefully will get the second replacement so soon...and that’s my sad windshield story. What a PITA!

 

[BrianF]

I just had my comprehensive deductible for glass changed to zero. The cost was less than $10 through the end of the year.

I personally Regret purchasing my Telluride SX AWD. Several issues with the quality of the assembly, I recommend waiting a year or look for a different brand. My daughter's Discovery is better built for almost same price.

As to quality, I respectfully disagree. Of the many vehicles I have owned over the past nearly 50 years, including American, Japanese, and European makes, as well as two previous Kia Sorentos, my Telluride is by far the most well-made vehicle I have ever owned. The ONLY issue I have had in 4 1/2 months and 5,000 miles of ownership is the Bluetooth syncing problem, and that was fixed with a simple software update.

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[SC300ES]

Its not that bad...There is one individual in the FB group on a mission to have everyone with an impact crack post a complaint NHTSA, thinking they will force a recall. Not going to happen. You can make an argument that the acoustic glass ALL the manufactures are going to is more susceptible to cracking but there's not data to back that up. I know I once went through three windshields in one year in a Toyota Tacoma, impact cracks happen...

Can you point me to this fb group?

 

[ibmax]

I personally Regret purchasing my Telluride SX AWD. Several issues with the quality of the assembly, I recommend waiting a year or look for a different brand. My daughter's Discovery is better built for almost same price.

 

[critrider]

Can you point me to this fb group?

KIA Telluride Owners

 

[Bear]

I just had my comprehensive deductible for glass changed to zero. The cost was less than $10 through the end of the year.



As to quality, I respectfully disagree. Of the many vehicles I have owned over the past nearly 50 years, including American, Japanese, and European makes, as well as two previous Kia Sorentos, my Telluride is by far the most well-made vehicle I have ever owned. The ONLY issue I have had in 4 1/2 months and 5,000 miles of ownership is the Bluetooth syncing problem, and that was fixed with a simple software update.

I've own several vehicles of many different manufacturers always hi end models mostly ...I surely know quality and workmanship. Time will tell if Telluride lives up our expectations in cold snowy winters...or cottage roads up north...

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[515EX]

Wow, 3 windshield replacement for a Telluride? I've heard people had to wait a while for a replacement. How'd get a hold of 3 a month period?

Even with a standard windshield, I had to replace my 4Runner windshield approximately every 2.5 years from rock impact. I like the quiet cabin resulting from the acoutic windshield/side glass. I guess you gotta take the good with the bad.

If people are so concerned with cracks from rock impact here might be a solution: https://madico.com/dealers/automotive/windshield-protection/clearplex. I priced it and it costs around $600 for the Telluride installed. I decided to just lower my comprehensive coverage to $0 deductable.

For anyone considering clearpex or a similar product from companies like stek or bray, I highly recommend researching first. They’re known to decrease windshield clarity and can “haze” over time. Many have also reported issues with their wiper blades not working well with the film and having to replace them more frequently.

I’m with you though and opted to skip the protection film and reduce my comp coverage to $0. Between the cost of the film and potential future costs to replace it every few years, as well as wiper costs, I think it makes more sense to go this route.

 

[jazzyone]

That must be frustrating! I hate those darn

For anyone considering clearpex or a similar product from companies like stek or bray, I highly recommend researching first. They’re known to decrease windshield clarity and can “haze” over time. Many have also reported issues with their wiper blades not working well with the film and having to replace them more frequently.

I’m with you though and opted to skip the protection film and reduce my comp coverage to $0. Between the cost of the film and potential future costs to replace it every few years, as well as wiper costs, I think it makes more sense to go this route.

Not to mention potential calibration work at the dealership for the camera mounted inside the Rear View Mirror stack.

 

[Mac]

Just a thought on the calibration. When we had our windshield replaced, I questioned the installer about this and he said if the windshield is not shattered near the camera, there is no need. I watched him remove the camera and replace it on the new windshield. It sits in a sturdy clip on the inner portion of the windshield and there is only one way to mount it. We drove 1700 Interstate miles after the replacement and the smart cruise and lane assist worked flawlessly. IMHO the calibration is not needed for a rock chip and I would question whoever is doing the replacement why it needs to be done...especially if you have a sizable deductible you’re paying..a needless expense. If we have any windshield installers that think differently, I’m all ears.

 

[Bear]

Just a thought on the calibration. When we had our windshield replaced, I questioned the installer about this and he said if the windshield is not shattered near the camera, there is no need. I watched him remove the camera and replace it on the new windshield. It sits in a sturdy clip on the inner portion of the windshield and there is only one way to mount it. We drove 1700 Interstate miles after the replacement and the smart cruise and lane assist worked flawlessly. IMHO the calibration is not needed for a rock chip and I would question whoever is doing the replacement why it needs to be done...especially if you have a sizable deductible you’re paying..a needless expense. If we have any windshield installers that think differently, I’m all ears.

My understanding of an alignment required after a windshield replacement is the HUD if you have one. And these are specially made windshield to refract the display.

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[Mac]

Good info Bear...thanks for the clarification.

 

[G-753171]

Depends...do you have an SXP w/HUD? That is a different windshield from the std windshield. Here's an example of the K900 windshield w/heads up display. 2015 Kia K900 Windshield 86110-3T270 | Kia Factory Parts Online (Unfortunately it doesn't appear Telluride replacement parts are listed on that particular site just yet)

Mine just got cracked too. Dealership said it’s over $500 for windshield alone then labor.

 

[TxAggie]

Has anyone tried the Madico ClearPlex windshield protection film? I'd be worried about the wipers scratching it and the film needing to be replaced often. But if the windshields are so prone to cracking, maybe it would be worth it?

 

[PL/OB Diego]

Has anyone tried the Madico ClearPlex windshield protection film? I'd be worried about the wipers scratching it and the film needing to be replaced often. But if the windshields are so prone to cracking, maybe it would be worth it?

Or, even better, how about product that doesn't crack upon the slightest impact. So many cracked windshields indicates a bad product.