Classification:

Reference:

BT09-052K

Date:

NTB09-081K

April 29, 2024

WINDSHIELD CRACKING
This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page.
Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

APPLIED VEHICLES:

All Nissan vehicles

SERVICE INFORMATION
The purpose of this bulletin is to give Nissan dealers guidelines to help determine if
windshield breakage or damage is covered under warranty or is the customer’s
responsibility.
Nissan North America (NNA) is not responsible for damage to glass that is a result of
objects striking or scratching the glass, including damage caused by the installation
of aftermarket window tinting. However, NNA is responsible for manufacturing issues
such as distorted glass and cracks that are due to improper installation or damage to the
glass during vehicle assembly. NNA typically does not find any type of cracks in the
windshield due to stress after the dealership pre-delivery inspection (PDI).
Glass damage can be categorized in three general areas:
1. Cracks due to objects striking the glass (page 2).
2. Cracks due to scratch in glass surface (page 5).
3. Distortion or cracks due to manufacturing issues (page 7).
Part Return Process Reminder:
Prior to removal, dealers must take at least two (2)
digital photographs of the damaged area. Dealers are
required to mark glass and other components
returned that have “visible issues” using masking
tape or appropriate means (grease pen, etc.) to
identify and highlight the area damaged.
HINT:
 The claim may be debited if the part is not marked
properly and/or missing the required digital
photographs.


Refer to the Glass Part Return section of the Nissan Assurance Products Reference
Manual (APRM) for complete glass return details.

Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are
properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job
properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO
NOT assume that it does. See your Nissan dealer to determine if this applies to your vehicle.
1/9

1) HOW TO DETERMINE IF GLASS DAMAGE IS DUE TO OBJECTS STRIKING THE
GLASS
Cracks from Objects Striking the Glass
Most windshield damage that occurs due to impact is easily identified as shown below:


Cone shaped break (A, B, C)



Crush mark (D, E1, F)



Star shape crack (C, D, E2, F).

A

B

C

D

F
E1

E2

Cracks can spread and become larger from the original strike point or crush mark due to:


Thermal stresses caused by temperature fluctuation.



External physical stresses, such as hand touch, wind force, or vehicle vibration
during driving (pot holes).

A lead, or crack from one of the star cracked impact points can run to the edge of the glass
and appear to be a low stress crack starting from the glass outside edge.

2/9

NTB09-081K

Single Crack Beginning or Ending at the Edge of the Glass
Single cracks must be inspected along the entire crack for impact marks.




If any impact mark is found anywhere along the crack, it indicates the damage
occurred from an object striking the windshield. This is not covered under warranty.
A magnifying glass (10X magnification) may be necessary to identify impact marks
that may be less than 1 mm in diameter.
The tip of a ball point pen can be run along the crack in the windshield to find the
impact point.
HINT: A lead, or crack from an impact point can run to the edge of the glass and
appear to be a low stress crack starting from the glass outside edge.
Impact Mark

Single crack with no impact mark:
Warranty

Single crack with impact mark:
Not Warranty

Compound Crack Beginning or Ending at the Edge of the Glass
This type of crack is always caused by impact to the glass. The point of impact is located
where the crack “branches out”.

Impact Mark

Compound crack: Not Warranty
3/9

NTB09-081K

Cracks That Are Only in the Middle of the Glass
This type of crack does not begin or end at the edge of the glass.


These cracks are always caused by an impact to the glass and are not covered
under warranty.

Cracks not reaching the edge: Not Warranty

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NTB09-081K

2) HOW TO DETERMINE IF GLASS DAMAGE IS DUE TO A SCRATCH IN THE GLASS
SURFACE
Cracks from a Scratch in the Glass Surface
Glass is produced by fusing together various raw materials such as silica, soda ash, and
limestone, and has a hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale (for reference, a diamond has a
hardness of 10 on the same scale).
Since earth and sand can contain substances harder than that of glass, glass can be easily
scratched by:


Fine sand particles.



Hard metal.



Rubbing action of contaminated wiper rubbers, or sand particles caught between the
wiper and the glass, especially when operating the wipers in a dry condition.

A magnifying glass (10X magnification) may be necessary to identify wiper scratches as a
start point of cracks in the glass.


Inspect the wiper paths (may be a single scratch of a group of scratches).



Small scratches can cause a small rupture in the outer glass surface, which can lead
to a crack from thermal conditions, vehicle vibration during driving, or wind pressure.

Wiper
position
Wiper position
Scratch from sand/stone: Not Warranty

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NTB09-081K

A magnifying glass (10X magnification) may be necessary to identify metal object scratches
as a start point of cracks in the glass.


Scratches can occur from metal objects such as keys and metal buttons. These
scratches are typically sharp and can be found anywhere on the glass surface.



Thoroughly examine the entire length of the crack to identify any scratch as a start
point.



Small scratches can cause a small rupture in the outer glass surface, which can lead
to a crack from thermal conditions, vehicle vibration during driving, or wind pressure.

Scratch from metal objects: Not Warranty

A magnifying glass (10X magnification) may be necessary to identify scratches caused by a
contaminated towel as a start point of cracks in the glass.


Scratches can occur from wiping the glass with a towel that has sand particles or dirt
on it.



These scratches are typically long and have several scratches concentrated
together.



These scratches can be found anywhere on the glass surface.



Thoroughly examine the entire length of the crack to identify any scratch as a start
point.

Magnified
42x

Scratch from dirty towel/cloth: Not Warranty

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NTB09-081K

3) HOW TO DETERMINE IF GLASS HAS DISTORTION OR CRACKS DUE TO
MANUFACTURING ISSUE

Distortion or Cracks Due to Manufacturing Issue

Open bubble – Warranty

Surface blister - Warranty

Adhesion chip – Warranty
(Can occur from a manufacturing issue
such as adhesion of molding to the
glass surface along the glass edge.)

Surface blister – Warranty

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NTB09-081K

CLAIMS INFORMATION
For manufacturing issue claims only:
Submit a Primary Failed Part (PP) line claim using the following claims coding:
DESCRIPTION
PFP OP CODE SYM
DIA
FRT
RPL Windshield
(1)
UG10AA
FD
03
(2)
(1) Reference the Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) and use the applicable Windshield P/N
as the PFP.
(2) Reference the current Nissan Warranty Flat Rate Manual and use the indicated FRT.
HINT: Refer to the Glass Part Return section of the Nissan Assurance Products Reference
Manual (APRM) for complete glass return details.

Part Return Process Reminder:


Dealers are required to take at least two (2) digital photographs that clearly identify
the alleged glass defect prior to removing the glass from the vehicle.



Digital photographs must be kept in dealer records.



Dealers are required to mark glass and other components returned that have “visible
issues” using masking tape or appropriate means (grease pen, etc.) to identify and
highlight the area damaged.



The new glass warranty form must be completed and digital photograph files
attached through ASIST for:
1. Over DCAL Warranty Call Center pre-authorization
2. Glass Part Return requests



The 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
identification of a warrantable defect.

Glass warranty
form is found here

8/9

NTB09-081K

AMENDMENT HISTORY
PUBLISHED DATE

REFERENCE DESCRIPTION

August 25, 2009

NTB09-081

Original bulletin published

March 8, 2013

NTB09-081A

Latest models and model years applied

April 28, 2015

NTB09-081B

Latest models and model years applied, and pages
1 and 3 revised

January 28, 2016

NTB09-081C

Latest models and model years applied, and the
“Part Return Process Reminder” section revised

February 21, 2017

NTB09-081D

Latest models and model years applied,
aftermarket window tinting statement added, and
APRM reference on pages 1 and 8 revised

November 29, 2017

NTB09-081E

Latest models and model years applied, and
warranty information on pages 1 and 8 revised

April 9, 2018

NTB09-081F

Latest models and model years applied

May 15, 2019

NTB09-081G

Latest models and model years applied, and APRM
reference on pages 1 and 8 revised

May 10, 2021

NTB09-081H

Latest models and model years applied, and APRM
reference on pages 1 and 8 revised

February 17, 2022

NTB09-081I

Publication date revised to include the latest
models and model years

February 27, 2023

NTB09-081J

Publication date revised to include the latest
models and model years, and APRM reference on
pages 1 and 8 revised

April 29, 2024

NTB09-081K

Figure on page 8 updated and publication date
revised to include the latest models and model
years

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NTB09-081K