Tesla WindscreenGate Model 3

Tesla WindscreenGate Model 3

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LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Thursday 28th April 2022
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Six weeks ago I suffered a cracked windscreen. The crack was caused by a stone which caused a two inch crack to appear from the bottom middle of the screen. I called my insurer, Direct Line, and they told me to contact Autoglass who were my "Approved repairer". Autoglass responded asking that it was a crack and not a repairable stone chip. Then the page said the car would have to be taken to an approved Tesla windscreen center and one close to me had me booked in for one week the following Monday. The next day I received a message from the call booking centre that said there were no windscreens in stock and they would contact me. One month passed and the two inch crack was now a six inch crack. I emailed Autoglass and the response received was,

"Their is a delay with Tesla model 3.Autoglass are doing everything they can within our power to obtain tesla glass, but their is a global shortage, which is outside our control as a business. Our corporate partners (insurance are aware of the situation) this is a global production issue".
So Unfortunately, I am unable to give you a date. as soon as we know we will contact you, but there is a delay .

Regards,
Booking Response Team"

I called Tesla again but their local head office in Horton Road is closed for refurbishment so ended up speaking with a chap in Gatwick that blamed Autoglass as they "Do not make their own windscreens for Tesla and they should". He told me then that there were 1000 screens shipped last month of which 800 went to Autoglass and 200 were Tesla stock but they have all gone now. To have these fitted by Tesla was £1000. He suggested I contact my insurer so I called Direct Line again asking if I could use Tesla to replace my screen. DL stated that they would only accept the claim through an approved installer. Gues what.. Tesla is NOT an improved installer. They said that under the terms of the conditions in the policy, they would increase the amount paid out to £120 for any claim using a non-approved installer. My windscreen bill would have been £880! I countered that as Tesla was the OEM how could they not be "an approved installer"?! The DL agent would not help so I escalated a complaint. A few hours later DL called me back and said that I would need to provide a formal quotation from Tesla for the cost of the replacement windscreen and labour. Then they could approve it once their insurance engineer had been satisfied that the cost was "reasonable" (not sure how they go about that process as every OEM has its own costs").

So today I spoke with a global Tesla person and asked them to furnish me with said quote. "Oh you need to book a service on your app as this will get you your place in the queue.." Not happy! why didn't they mention this before? The next comment was, "Tesla Shanghai" is currently the only factory making windsceens for the Model 3.. and the factory is CLOSED DUE TO COVID. The earliest we are expecting windscreens is the end of May but these will go out on a first come first served basis". Tried to book using the app but its doesn't work. Will not not allow the Confirm Booking stage so back on the phone to Tesla Service. I now have it booked in after filing another email to Tesla and the wait begins!

So there you have it. No screens anywhere until the new stock arrives. If you have a broken screen get it logged now via email not in your app.

Edited to add email address for service correspondence is: 'lpr@tesla.com'

Edited by LordFlathead on Thursday 28th April 13:07

ajap1979

8,014 posts

194 months

Thursday 28th April 2022
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I understand now why the insurance quotes I got on a Model 3 were so astronomical.

Oh, and someone needs to tell that Auto Glass operative how to spell laugh

skilly1

2,745 posts

202 months

Thursday 28th April 2022
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Same thing happened to me on a BMW i3 a few years ago. I just waited for the screen to come into stock - these things happen.

Heres Johnny

7,469 posts

131 months

Thursday 28th April 2022
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Things happen, true, but while short term there has been a factory closure in China, the windscreen issue goes back way before that. Tesla would prefer to put any screens they have in new cars rather than look after their customers. There really is no other excuse.

Autoglass not making or buying pattern parts is not an excuse for Tesla either, and personally, I'd much prefer OEM glass, assuming you can get it.

Too many people make apologies for Tesla when they need to be called out for things.

The only saving grace is none of these cars will be coming up for an MOT just yet (maybe unless you're a private hire car) so they won't necesarily be off the road without an MOT, but that will start changing soon.

skilly1

2,745 posts

202 months

Thursday 28th April 2022
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True, however I had Auto Glass repair my Telsa model 3 windscreen within 2 weeks, a few months ago.

I think people are to quick to shout 'because Telsa' when its just one of those things which happens.

Glassman

23,119 posts

222 months

Friday 29th April 2022
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LordFlathead said:
Tesla was the OEM how could they not be an approved installer
Using the word, approved is misleading. It should be the 'contracted' or nominated repairer.

ashenfie

841 posts

53 months

Friday 29th April 2022
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Autoglass buy in windscreens mostly from pilkingtons, otherwise have to buy from Tesla in this case. I suspect Tesla don't in house fit windscreens the contract it out (maybe wrong here). It's a messy job and while you can get the replacement done as a mobile service, I would strongly recommend having the car taken away. Mobile replacement can be compromised due to be done outside.

Otherwise nothing special about the Tesla glass, just the camera's that may need calibration so check thats part of the work.

Glassman

23,119 posts

222 months

Friday 29th April 2022
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ashenfie said:
Autoglass buy in windscreens mostly from pilkingtons
They prefer Fuyao and Shatterprufe. Pilkington doesn't feature so strongly in their stock due mainly to Pilkington being a competitor to Autoglass's sister company Laddaw in the wholesale distribution business.

ashenfie said:
replacement can be compromised due to be done outside.
In what way?

ashenfie said:
Otherwise nothing special about the Tesla glass, just the camera's that may need calibration so check thats part of the work.
Autosteer can pull to the left for (up to) the first 50 miles during which time it will correct itself as these devices are self calibrating.

LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Friday 29th April 2022
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Update: I fired off an email to Tesla a couple of days ago and Park Royal was quick to respond. They acknowledge the issue and have sent me a formal quotation for Direct Line who have said they will approve it.

Tesla will hold back a screen from the allocation and it will be fitted by Park Royal. End of May so not so bad as the crack seems not to be getting bigger.

Those employees trapped inside the Shanghai factory should have plenty more time to make windscreens as they are stuck in the factoryhehe

Superhoop

4,704 posts

200 months

Wednesday 4th May 2022
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Good luck is all I can say..

A friend's neighbour has a model 3 that has been off the road since the end of January as they can't get him a screen for his car (it is cracked right the way across).. Last I heard, they had approved car hire cost of £30 per day until November which is when they expect to see a screen for him..

The stupid part is, his lease ends in December, but Tesla will only agree to an early termination of the lease if take another Tesla... Which they can't currently supply

Dimebars

927 posts

101 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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November?!

I reported mine as cracked to my leaseco late March/early April

Screen is being fitted this Friday coming

DevilSiddy

2 posts

29 months

Wednesday 8th June 2022
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LordFlathead said:
Update: I fired off an email to Tesla a couple of days ago and Park Royal was quick to respond. They acknowledge the issue and have sent me a formal quotation for Direct Line who have said they will approve it.

Tesla will hold back a screen from the allocation and it will be fitted by Park Royal. End of May so not so bad as the crack seems not to be getting bigger.

Those employees trapped inside the Shanghai factory should have plenty more time to make windscreens as they are stuck in the factoryhehe
Hi there, thanks for your post as it mirrors my situation almost exactly. I submitted a windscreen replacement request to Autoglass almost 2 months ago but have been getting the same text every week about a global shortage. I'm also with Direct Line in terms of insurance and they gave me the same spiel about not being able to cover the entire cost for a replacement via Tesla direct. Coincidentally, Park Royal is my local one too!

Just wanted to know exactly what your process was so I can follow that and hopefully get my windscreen replaced soon! This is my understanding but please let me know if I should do things differently:
- Contact Direct Line and escalate to a manager to get an approval to use Tesla direct for the Windscreen replacement
- Email Tesla to get a formal quote (what's the email address please?)
- Forward this to Direct Line and await approval?
- Book in a service for the windscreen replacement by email (not the app?)

DrJFoster

90 posts

54 months

Wednesday 8th June 2022
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Dimebars said:
November?!

I reported mine as cracked to my leaseco late March/early April

Screen is being fitted this Friday coming
Did it actually go ahead? My mates Model S windscreen was the wrong one when they actually turned up and it took them 3 attempts over 2 months before they actually managed to do it. This was about 2 years ago but things don't appear to have improved.

LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Wednesday 8th June 2022
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Still waiting for a date although the app said the appointment was confirmed, it cancelled the following day.

DevilSiddy

2 posts

29 months

Wednesday 8th June 2022
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LordFlathead said:
Still waiting for a date although the app said the appointment was confirmed, it cancelled the following day.
I just got my insurer to approve a Tesla replacement too - booked in for this Monday but received a message instantly with the date moved to mid-July as they said they didn't have the part yet. Still going to probably be quicker than Autoglass but a bit annoying.

LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Friday 8th July 2022
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Still waiting...

Scrubs

961 posts

211 months

Friday 8th July 2022
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LordFlathead said:
Still waiting...
That really is ridiculous, tbh.

LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Friday 8th July 2022
quotequote all
Scrubs said:
LordFlathead said:
Still waiting...
That really is ridiculous, tbh.
Totally agree but I really like the car so can forgive a global shortage due to "stuff beyond everyone's control". S

Still got the Plaid on order.

Heres Johnny

7,469 posts

131 months

Saturday 9th July 2022
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LordFlathead said:
can forgive a global shortage due to "stuff beyond everyone's control". S
.
They're still managing to build lots of cars with windscreens so they obviously have windscreens, they just prefer making new cars rather than looking after existing owners.

LordFlathead

Original Poster:

9,643 posts

265 months

Wednesday 20th July 2022
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Heres Johnny said:
They're still managing to build lots of cars with windscreens so they obviously have windscreens, they just prefer making new cars rather than looking after existing owners.
So it appears.

Update text from Park Royal: Parts not arrived. Expecting a new target date of mid to end of August.