Help with "pre-driven car" new car problem

**Cygnus-X1** · April 18th, 2007, 10:17 PM

OK so I bought this 2007 Caliber last week at Sherman Dodge in Skokie because my 97 Breeze just had way too many problems.

It is a basic model and since it was used with 27k miles on it - it was affordable compared to a new model. Test rode last week after work on a rainy Chicago day.
Signed the bucnh of papers and off I go.
Come Friday on a sunny day I noticed that the windshield had a rock type crack and I don't drive the expressway and just go straight to work.

Long story short - they will replace windscreen if I pay for it and I told em that had I known this had a crack I would of not bought it.., so I persisted and the best they can do is touch it up with some guy/company that comes over. And they were going to charge me for that. After telling them that I only drove it home!!! The sales rep said that the touch up would be free of charge. Still would prefer a replacement of windscreen.

I am a little distraught over this and was ready to tell them to take their car back as I had bought car assuming the basic stuff was ok.

So any advice??? I really like the car and sure it has some goofy touch up work on the front bumper after close inspection at home (by prior owner I assume) but I can live with that.

Just knowing ALL the payments in front of me and the fact that if the windscreen cracks more even with touch up and after warranty voids it would really P(*** me off. I thought there would of been some 7 day period or something law?

**RobRich** · April 18th, 2007, 10:34 PM

Lemon law varies by state, but it is not applicable IMO since the vehicle works as intended and sold. It is the buyer's responsibility to assess cosmetic condition upon receipt, especially for an used vehicle.

I hate to say it, but you are stuck. Have you checked with your insurance? My previous insurance company had a glass package as part of my policy, and with a low deductible to boot.

IIRC, I paid around $100 to replace a cracked windshield in my Firebird under the plan.

**BBA** · April 18th, 2007, 10:38 PM

Windshield replacement is free in Florida...no deductable by state law.

**RobRich** · April 18th, 2007, 10:39 PM

Luckily haven't had to deal with it in FL. The last windshield I replaced was back in TN.

**RedFury** · April 18th, 2007, 10:44 PM

Well, it's part of the structural safety of the vehicle, and once winter comes along, that thing is going to get worse. Get a written guarentee from the dealer or the repairman that it will not crack in the same place once winter hits and you get a change in temperature. I'd say that's the best you can hope for. If you bought AS-IS, then your out of luck unless the dealer is doing this for customer service relations. Up here, more and more dealers are giving used car warranties...heck, slightly used cars are getting the full new car warranties from Chevy!

**Cygnus-X1** · April 18th, 2007, 11:02 PM

Yea it stills has the rest of the warranty 36k/3years but I would be upset if crack would reappear after cosmetic repair. Especially when winter hit. I know the warranty states that it a crack would not be covered after a year of ownership- but since I just bought the darn thing- I figured this would be taken care of.
State Farm would prolly laugh if I checked with them-- and maybe raise my ins to boot! crazy.

**Chuckiechan** · April 19th, 2007, 12:20 AM

If it's a used car and you test drove it, then bought it, it's your word against theirs.

In California you can't sell a used car (off a lot) with a chipped or cracked windshield.

Call your insurance company and they may allow you to have if fixed for free to avoid replacement (if it's covered). It's fixable by a auto glass shop if it isn't in the drivers field of view. (California).

It shouldn't cost more than $ 30.00 to fix.

So call the insurance co or fix it yourself. Or ask the dealer to have his shop fix it for free maybe.

**Tekk** · April 19th, 2007, 03:33 PM

Dont mean to be harsh but unless there is some cool law like in FL, you're paying for this to be fixed. The dealership is not responsible for anything not covered by the warranty unless you want to pay them. You believe that the crack was there prior to purchase but there is absolutely no evidence to support that. The dealership -- unless completely and over-the-top nice to customers -- will never pay for such types of damage from my experience.

An autoglass repair shop can sometimes "plug" the hole to prevent spidering of the crack but that is not a sure-fire fix. IF you end up deciding to fix it, I would definitely call around to the local repair shops. Getting the glass from the factory will be extremely costly and "generic" glass from a local specialty shop will suffice. I had to replace the whole back window of my Dodge Dakota truck when a rock hit it and the dealership was gonna charge me $450 for the glass ALONE then bring in their glass specialist for an additional $150. I called a known local shop that got me a generic brand window and the guy came to my work to install it for just under $300. I'll admit it had a very very small leak at first but the guy came out the next day after I complained and fixed it (for free of course). Never leaked again.