2021-2023 Nissan Windshield Cracking Warranty Guidelines

Understanding Nissan Windshield Cracking

Nissan Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) NTB09-081J provides detailed guidelines for dealerships to assess windshield damage and determine if it's covered under warranty or is the customer's responsibility. This TSB helps clarify the distinction between manufacturing defects and damage caused by external factors.

Nissan North America (NNA) is responsible for manufacturing issues such as distorted glass or cracks resulting from improper installation or damage during vehicle assembly. However, NNA is generally not responsible for damage caused by objects striking or scratching the glass, including issues from aftermarket window tinting. The TSB also states that stress cracks are typically not found after the dealership's pre-delivery inspection (PDI).

Types of Windshield Damage and Warranty Coverage

The TSB categorizes glass damage into three main areas, each with specific criteria for warranty coverage. Understanding these distinctions is key to determining if your Nissan windshield cracking issue qualifies for a warranty repair.

1. Cracks Due to Objects Striking the Glass

Most windshield damage from impact is identifiable by specific patterns:

• Cone shaped break
• Crush mark
• Star shape crack

These impact points can lead to larger cracks due to thermal stresses (temperature fluctuations) or external physical stresses (hand touch, wind force, vehicle vibration from potholes). A lead or crack from an impact point can run to the edge of the glass, appearing as a low-stress crack.

Warranty Determination for Impact Cracks:

• "Single crack with no impact mark: Warranty": If a single crack is present and no impact mark can be found anywhere along its length, it may be covered. A magnifying glass (10X magnification) may be used to find impact marks less than 1 mm in diameter.
• "Single crack with impact mark: Not Warranty": If any impact mark is found, the damage is considered to be from an object striking the windshield and is not covered.
• "Compound crack: Not Warranty": Cracks that "branch out" are always caused by impact and are not covered under warranty.
• "Cracks not reaching the edge: Not Warranty": Cracks that appear only in the middle of the glass and do not begin or end at the edge are always caused by impact and are not covered.

2. Cracks Due to Scratches in the Glass Surface

Windshield glass can be scratched by various elements harder than glass, such as fine sand particles, hard metal, or contaminated wiper rubbers. These scratches can act as starting points for cracks.

Warranty Determination for Scratch-Induced Cracks:

• "Scratch from sand/stone: Not Warranty": Scratches caused by sand particles, especially when wipers are used in dry conditions, are not covered.
• "Scratch from metal objects: Not Warranty": Scratches from keys, metal buttons, or other sharp metal objects are not covered.
• "Scratch from dirty towel/cloth: Not Warranty": Scratches caused by wiping the glass with a towel containing sand or dirt particles are not covered.

Small scratches can cause a rupture in the outer glass surface, which can then lead to cracks due to thermal conditions, vehicle vibration, or wind pressure. Technicians will inspect wiper paths and thoroughly examine the crack length for any scratch acting as a starting point.

3. Distortion or Cracks Due to Manufacturing Issues

Certain types of glass imperfections are considered manufacturing defects and are covered under warranty. These include:

• "Open bubble – Warranty"
• "Surface blister – Warranty"
• "Adhesion chip – Warranty": This can occur from a manufacturing issue related to the adhesion of molding to the glass surface along the glass edge.

If your Nissan windshield cracking is determined to be one of these manufacturing issues, it should be covered under your vehicle's warranty.

Dealer Procedures for Warranty Claims

For manufacturing issue claims, Nissan dealers must follow specific procedures to ensure the claim is processed correctly and not debited.

Required Documentation and Marking

• Dealers are required to take at least two (2) digital photographs that clearly identify the alleged glass defect before removing the glass from the vehicle. These photographs must be kept in dealer records.
• Any components returned with "visible issues" must be marked using masking tape or a grease pen to highlight the damaged area.
• The new glass warranty form must be completed, and digital photographs attached through ASIST for Over DCAL Warranty Call Center pre-authorization and Glass Part Return requests.

Claims Coding

For manufacturing issue claims, dealers must submit a Primary Failed Part (PFP) line claim using the following coding:

• DESCRIPTION: RPL Windshield
• PFP: (1) Reference the Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) for the applicable Windshield P/N.
• OP CODE: UG10AA
• SYM: FD
• DIA: 03
• FRT: (2) Reference the current Nissan Warranty Flat Rate Manual for the indicated FRT.

Important Warnings for Dealers

Nissan explicitly states that a claim will be subject to a claim debit if the part is not marked properly and/or missing the required digital photographs (via ASIST) to support the identification of a warrantable defect. Owners should be aware that proper documentation is crucial for their warranty claim.

Bulletin Revision History

This bulletin, originally published as NTB09-081 on August 25, 2009, has undergone multiple revisions. The latest version, NTB09-081J, was published on February 27, 2023, to include the latest models and model years, and updated references to the Nissan Assurance Products Reference Manual (APRM). Previous versions, including NTB09-081A through NTB09-081I, have been superseded.

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NHTSA ID: 10232656