Ford Launches Glass Replacement Network

Sometimes, life happens to your windshield or another glass component on your vehicle, and you are thrown into the major headache of getting it repaired or replaced. Choosing a reputable repair service can be a big point of stress– how do you know your replacement glass will be of the same quality as the original, especially today when systems like Lane-Keeping, Pre-Collision Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and Auto High-Beam Headlamps work best with clear, undistorted vision provided by quality glass? Ford is providing the answer with the Ford Certified Glass Network, launching this week to provide replacement glass that has the fit, function, safety, and structural integrity required for a Ford or Lincoln vehicle.

With the increasing levels of technology in vehicles today, the importance of glass quality cannot be overstated. Poor installation of an aftermarket windshield isn’t just an annoyance to the driver, but can also affect the car’s safety systems and their ability to function. If the new windshield can’t duplicate the exact location of the camera attachment brackets on a windshield, for example, the optical quality of the camera can be distorted. Additionally, for vehicles with Head Up Displays (HUD), aftermarket glass often doesn’t meet the same specifications as Ford glass, causing issues with the digital light projection, as windshields for Head Up Displays are specifically designed to eliminate secondary HUD images.

The launch of the Ford Certified Glass Network will provide customers with more qualified installer options, as well as more convenience when it comes to replacing glass on their vehicle. Ford will be requiring that installers are certified to prove that they have the necessary capabilities in terms of glass calibration and technical repair procedures.

Other requirements for certified installers will be having ongoing communication with customers during glass installation, as well as a follow up customer satisfaction survey. A limited lifetime warranty between the installer and the vehicle’s owner at the time of the repair must also be provided, warranting the repairs against defects and workmanship.

“The Ford Certified Glass Network supports glass replacement companies who seek to be differentiated in the market by achieving our certification requirements. It is an exciting opportunity for us to work closely with the auto glass repair and replacement industry,” says Jennifer Boyer, Director of Strategy and Business for Ford’s Customer Service Division.