My experience with Safelite was a mix of poor communication, disorganization, and zero accountability from start to finish. If I could give Safelite zero stars, I absolutely would. My experience with them was a case study in incompetence, disorganization, and a complete refusal to take responsibility for their own work.
Before the appointment even happened, the local manager, Joshua called to say they thought they had the wrong windshield for my car. Not a confirmation, not a solution—just uncertainty about whether they were even bringing the right part.
The first technician who came out was the only professional part of this entire process. He was responsive and did everything he could with what Safelite gave him. The problems had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Safelite’s systems and the parts they chose to use.
After the installation, the windshield wouldn’t calibrate. Safelite’s solution? They suggested I take the car to BMW and have them calibrate it—as if handing the problem off to the manufacturer was a normal next step.
Then they sent a second technician, who took my car and drove it for well over an hour, saying he was trying to calibrate it. I eventually had to call him myself just to find out where he was, I’m not convinced he was just out for a joyride… When he returned, he said he still couldn’t calibrate it and there was nothing more he could do. And when I asked him about the incorrect windshield the manager mentioned earlier, he acted like he had never heard anything about it.
When I spoke with the local BMW dealer, they explained what Safelite never did: it’s a well known fact that Safelite does not use OEM windshields, and that third party glass often cannot be calibrated properly on these vehicles. So Safelite installed a windshield that was never going to work correctly, then pushed the consequences onto me. Please keep in mind that several safety features are no longer working on my car since the windshield cannot be calibrated, Lane departure warning, pedestrian avoidance, parking sensors, etc. Not an ideal or safe position that Safelite has put me in.
Since this time, I have made no less than ten phone calls to the customer service department and each and every time I was promised that this would be escalated to the Regional General Manager, Tom Foreman, and that I would receive a call from him within 48 hours. To date, I have received no response which at this point does not surprise me.
Safelite was quick to take payment, but when their installation failed, they hid behind scripts, policies, and excuses instead of taking responsibility.
They market themselves as convenient and reliable. My experience was the opposite: poor communication, incompatible parts, and a company unwilling to stand behind its own work. I strongly recommend going elsewhere.
At this point I am left with no other recourse than to escalate this to the corporate office, specifically, Renee Cacchillo, President & Chief Executive Officer.
It’s time for Safelite to step up, take accountability and do the right thing.