Problems With Improperly Installed Windshields

Windshields play an important role in protecting motorists and passengers.sur la route image by val??rie Beunardeau from Fotolia.com

Only certified windshield technicians should repair damaged windshields because improperly installed windshields can be very dangerous. Incorrectly installed windshields can result in a variety of problems, including airbags that do not function properly. In addition, windshields must be made of the right glass, or they can harm passengers if they shatter.

Unnecessary Replacement

A windshield usually needs to be replaced if it sustains damage larger than a quarter. If the damage is smaller than a quarter, replacing the windshield will be a waste of money because a variety of repair techniques can be used to repair the windshield.

Windshields should only be replaced with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved glass. Otherwise, the glass can be dangerous when it shatters. DOT-approved safety glass is laminated glass, i.e., two pieces of glass that are separated by a layer of vinyl. This glass is designed to shatter into small pieces if it breaks, ensuring that no one in the car is cut.

If an improperly installed windshield pops out during an accident, the occupants of the vehicle may be ejected from the vehicle without a barrier to slow them down, increasing the chances that they will be seriously injured or killed.

Vehicles designed with safety in mind are meant to crumple in a way that minimizes the chances that the passengers will be injured. When a windshield is improperly installed, this skews the way that the vehicle crumples, reducing the vehicle safety.

The windshield acts as support when pressure is placed on the roof of the vehicle. This helps keep the passengers from being crushed if the vehicle rolls over.

Improperly installed windshields lack the structural integrity necessary to absorb the force of a deployed airbag. This can cause the airbag of the car to deploy either too early or too late.

Windshields are designed to detach if a rescue crew needs to save a car's occupants after a crash. If a windshield is improperly installed, it may not detach the way it is supposed to, which can cause the passengers to become trapped.

Even when windshield glass is installed correctly, air pressure in the vehicle sometimes pushes the replacement windshield out. To avoid this problem, keep the windows in the car cracked and avoid pressure washing the vehicle for the first 24 hours after having the windshield replaced.