Imploding Windows?!?!

02 Graphite GTS · Jul 29, 2010

This issue seems to have been swept under the carpet.....I know that Fast Eddie had BOTH his side windows replace by the dealer and the paint buffed out. Sadly it was HIS out of pocket expense even though he had promises of having it taken care of under warranty. He never got reimbursement.

Twister · Jul 29, 2010

first time ive ever heard about this stuff...wow..G H O S T

chiefchad · Jul 29, 2010

Here's a thought. Just how many of us drive with the windows up anyhow? Maybe all Vipers are prone to this window pressure problem, yet, just maybe, most of us drive with the windows down all the time and therefore never put the stress on them in the first place ?? My windows are always down - even in the garage.

ViperFangBob · Jul 30, 2010

chiefchad said:
Here's a thought. Just how many of us drive with the windows up anyhow? Maybe all Vipers are prone to this window pressure problem, yet, just maybe, most of us drive with the windows down all the time and therefore never put the stress on them in the first place ?? My windows are always down - even in the garage.

Perhaps Gen 3 Vipers are prone to this problem and keeping the windows down is one way to avoid the problem. :dunno:

However, I've been driving mine for over 4 years, often with the windows up. It has always been parked under cover with the windows up. I can't imagine always leaving the windows down in my area.

The force to break the window was clearly produced by the mechanism that raised the glass in place. Control the force and the window won't break. Sure seems like a straightforward task to me....

Smog Dog · Jul 30, 2010

Nothing to do with the regulator. It's defective glass. Happened to GRNBGON at a club event in Escanaba, MI in June. 08 coupe and covered under warranty.

Bill

Viper Specialty · Aug 1, 2010

While I havent seen a Viper window do this, it is certainly possible for no good reason. Another business in my family is Automatic Doors & Glass/Glazing, so I have seen some pretty insane things with tempered glass. I have seen tempered glass blow for no reason, I have seen it happen while someone is holding it, and I have also seen it bounce off concrete... quite unpredictable stuff.

shooter_t1 · Aug 4, 2010

Well I guess I'm the next victim of the "mysterious imploding windows". My wife I were sitting in the house this evening and heard a crash from the garage. Went to look and saw my drivers window glass had imploded. Car had been sitting in the garage for over a month, until yesterday when I took it for a short drive (30 miles).

So, now what?. Obviously a defect of some sort. I have a whopping 1600 miles on this car. Oh, and NO window tint. Factory glass.

Smog Dog · Aug 4, 2010

It's covered under your warranty. Happened to a friend of mine a few months ago and it did not take long for the new glass to arrive at his dealer. Hope there is no other damage to your car. It's a beauty!

Bill

shooter_t1 · Aug 4, 2010

Smog Dog said:
It's covered under your warranty. Happened to a friend of mine a few months ago and it did not take long for the new glass to arrive at his dealer. Hope there is no other damage to your car. It's a beauty!

Bill

Well good to hear Smog Dog!. Guess I'll call Tomball tomorrow.

02 Graphite GTS · Aug 4, 2010

Just imagine if this happened while driving on the freeway !

VERY SCARY THOUGHT !!!!

shooter_t1 · Aug 5, 2010

Yes, especially at the speeds some of us drive these cars. Wouldn't be pretty.

shooter_t1 · Aug 6, 2010

Talked to Bernie K about the window, so far looks like they are gonna take care this. Always helps when dealing with pro's.

OPHITOX · Aug 9, 2010

What was the date you picked up your viper? Mine was June 2008 and so far not a problem, I have 3000 miles on my SSG viper. Apparently has a high probability with certain window glass codes.

Malu59RT · Aug 10, 2010

shooter_t1 said:
Talked to Bernie K about the window, so far looks like they are gonna take care this. Always helps when dealing with pro's.

Bernie is first class. Very good at taking care of Viper owners and making sure they have a good dealer experience. He's the reason I'm driving 30 miles past my previous dealer, to get my Viper worked on. :2tu:

Phun70 · Aug 10, 2010

My money is on the window tint installer making tiny scratches in the glass when he cuts the film. Then after a time, the glass implodes.

Flash1034 · Aug 10, 2010

Phun70 said:
My money is on the window tint installer making tiny scratches in the glass when he cuts the film. Then after a time, the glass implodes.

Nahhh. If that were the case, the glass would be cracking at the outer edges and not from the middle as in the pics. My opinion only.

Flash

Chelseasnake · Aug 10, 2010

Phun70 said:
My money is on the window tint installer making tiny scratches in the glass when he cuts the film. Then after a time, the glass implodes.

not the tint guy. both of my glass broke, both had no tint. since my windows broke i took a close look of my new car, it has a tiny mark on the passanger glass. time will tell

02 Graphite GTS · Aug 10, 2010

Fast Eddies '08 did not have any tint either.

lmcgrew79 · Feb 14, 2012

Another imploded window. 2008 Coupe, car was setting idle for about 4 days, not sure the last time that door was even opened. Maybe 2 weeks prior, walked out in my garage, then i found this.

You must be registered for see images attach

Chelseasnake · Feb 14, 2012

since i had 2 blow out of my cars, i never have the windows up tight anymore. there is a problem

lmcgrew79 · Feb 14, 2012

I wont either from this point on. I was really baffled at first, alarm system in garage didnt go off, nothing stolen, nothing fell from the ceiling. It was odd until talking to VPA for a new one, and reading this here.

c65491 · Feb 14, 2012

thnigs like this happen when it really hot.. in the middle east lol the glass shatters from the heat

ViperGeorge · Feb 14, 2012

The window regulator for the smart glass feature works on resistance, or so I've been told by a very experienced Viper Tech. When it senses the appropriate resistance the window stops going up. This is how the Viper smart glass knows to stop going up when it encounters the window weatherstripping. My guess is that the regulators misread the resistance and push the glass up tighter than it should. Once this happens the glass can shatter with the smallest change in temp or slightest vibration. Just a guess.

mjorgensen Woodhouse · Feb 15, 2012

If that were the case why would Dodge warranty the glass and not replace each regulator with it? Why wouldn't it keep happening after the glass was replaced? I think there was an issue with some of a suppliers glass IMO.

gbatejan said:
The window regulator for the smart glass feature works on resistance, or so I've been told by a very experienced Viper Tech. When it senses the appropriate resistance the window stops going up. This is how the Viper smart glass knows to stop going up when it encounters the window weatherstripping. My guess is that the regulators misread the resistance and push the glass up tighter than it should. Once this happens the glass can shatter with the smallest change in temp or slightest vibration. Just a guess.

Nitro187 · Feb 15, 2012

Definitely a problem with the glass that Chrysler was using. My Durango did the same thing.... first it was the passenger side that did it... figured it was vandalized, but my security camera didn't pick up >anyone<... although the angle I had, you couldn't see the passenger window well enough... you could only see if someone was there. Dodge didn't' cover it. Later that week, I was washing my car and I could hear popping... so I grabbed my cell phone, and quickly took a video of it... within 2 minutes the entire window spider-webbed, and fell apart. I brought the video to the Dodge dealer, and they replaced it for free, AND refunded me for the previous window.

LifeIsGood · Feb 15, 2012

A local club member that doesn't post here much also had this problem with his '08 Coupe. Both side windows imploded at different times. I just wanted to add this to show that it is a definite problem.

Paul Hawker · Feb 15, 2012

Maybe Dodge was on to something when the originally designed the Viper with plastic clip on windows you kept in the trunk : >)

Sounds like a bad run of glass from the manufacturer. It used to be a common issue with the back glass of normal cars when the weather made a sudden change. The flex causes internal pressure to build till it fractures. Safety glass is designed to live under constant pressure, but when the pressure is too great. Klablooie!

Silver04 · Feb 17, 2012

Re: glass - holy %$#@!!!!!!!

Nitro187 said:
so I grabbed my cell phone, and quickly took a video of it.

Years ago (what, like in 2004?!) when I first heard of cell phone cameras/videos I thought it was dumb but now that I have a kid and read that you were able to use it for this it brought back fond memories of life before cell phone cameras...Glad to hear Dodge took care of you!

Viper Specialty · Feb 17, 2012

mjorgensen Woodhouse said:
If that were the case why would Dodge warranty the glass and not replace each regulator with it? Why wouldn't it keep happening after the glass was replaced? I think there was an issue with some of a suppliers glass IMO.

THIS.

Being in the immediate family of a glass-related business, I have seen plenty of tempered glass both bounce off concrete, and break for no reason whatsoever. There is likely internal stress in the glass, and it needs no real reason to break.

OPHITOX · Feb 20, 2012

We had a club member from So Cal VCA coming back from Parhump Sppring Mtn Race Track after a weekend of racing a couple of years ago. Orange 2008. SRT10 coupe. Heading south on I-15, speed about 80 MPH, glass just blew away. Covered byu Doge. This was several years ago. Chrysler whould be responsilbe for bothe replacements. I think if you have an early produciton 08, there is a risk, apparently glass in the later run is less likely to break.

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