Windscreen Shattered in Multiple Places – Not a Stone Chip?

Stefano123

Hi all,

Looking for some advice from anyone who’s had similar experience with windscreens, insurance, or car dealerships.

I was driving my 2025 Audi A3 when I suddenly heard a loud crunching sound. I assumed something had hit the car, but when I stopped and checked, the bodywork was untouched — however, the windscreen was fractured in multiple separate places.

Here’s what I’ve observed:

• A major fracture cluster at the base of the windscreen, just above the centre air vent (looks like two impact points side by side).

• A chip on the lower driver side.

• A chip mid-upper on the passenger side.

• Several microchips across the centre of the screen.

• No visible debris, no trajectory, no ping sound — it was more of a dull “crunch” as if something cracked from within.

The car was previously a demo/rental vehicle, under 12 months old, and I’m beginning to suspect:

• A manufacturing defect in the laminated glass.

• A bonding or fitment issue (if the windscreen had been replaced before I bought it).

• Or some kind of stress/flex failure rather than a traditional road impact.

What I’m trying to figure out:

1. Has anyone else experienced multi-point windscreen cracking without clear impact?

2. Could this be a warranty issue with Audi (rather than an insurance claim)?

3. What steps should I take to avoid being pushed into paying £140 excess for something that might be a structural fault?

4. How do I escalate if Audi deny liability without even inspecting it?

I really want to avoid having to claim if this is something Audi should deal with under the 3-year warranty, especially as ADAS recalibration is involved and I want to maintain OEM parts.

Any advice, shared experiences, or thoughts very welcome!

WellKnownSid

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Ectophile

Check if windscreen cover is included in your insurance.  It's very common.

If it is, most companies don't even count it as a "claim" when calculating no claims discount.  But your should still declare it if switching insurers.

Mr.Generous

The glass can shatter some time after an inpact, a number of hours I believe. Glass breakage is going to be a challenge to prove someone is responsible. 

prowla

I recently had something hit my windscreen when on a motorway; it all seemed fine and then a crack appeared from behind the rear view mirror and started to creep across the screen.

I called my insurance company and they told me it wouldn't count as a claim and they put me through to one of their approved repairers.

The job was done and several weeks on all seems fine.

There was an excess to pay.

(Incidentally, the repairer pointed out that there was a corner of the original screen where the glue was shill shiny, ie. it hadn't properly adhered to the body; I bought the car new over 6 years ago and was completely unaware of it.)

eskbanker

WellKnownSid said:

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Covered by whom?  The retailer has the same obligations as any other trader under the Consumer Rights Act, which has no such limitation within which manufacturing defects can be pursued.

WellKnownSid

eskbanker said:

WellKnownSid said:

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Covered by whom?  The retailer has the same obligations as any other trader under the Consumer Rights Act, which has no such limitation within which manufacturing defects can be pursued.

A manufacturing / installation issue will normally result in the defect becoming very obvious in a very short time i.e. at the first speed hump. I know some other VAG brands limit it to a one month / 500 mile warranty IIRC.

Regardless of consumer rights, a piece of glass travelling at up to 70 miles per hour facing the open road is going to be hard to entertain, especially as the default position for insurance policies is to cover that particular risk anyway.

As a demo / rental this car would have had probably a hundred different drivers all bouncing it off the red line - and it survived happily at that point so it is more likely that something happened a few miles / hours up the road - maybe even whilst parked - to start the process off.

eskbanker

WellKnownSid said:

eskbanker said:

WellKnownSid said:

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Covered by whom?  The retailer has the same obligations as any other trader under the Consumer Rights Act, which has no such limitation within which manufacturing defects can be pursued.

A manufacturing / installation issue will normally result in the defect becoming very obvious in a very short time i.e. at the first speed hump. I know some other VAG brands limit it to a one month / 500 mile warranty IIRC.

Regardless of consumer rights, a piece of glass travelling at up to 70 miles per hour facing the open road is going to be hard to entertain, especially as the default position for insurance policies is to cover that particular risk anyway.

As a demo / rental this car would have had probably a hundred different drivers all bouncing it off the red line - and it survived happily at that point so it is more likely that something happened a few miles / hours up the road - maybe even whilst parked - to start the process off.

Sure, I wasn't talking about warranty, or the likelihood of windscreen damage not being caused by an inherent fault, but simply observing that from a consumer rights perspective, the retailer is on the hook unless they can prove that the defect wasn't present at the point of sale, the burden of such proof resting with the trader for the first six months.

Stefano123

WellKnownSid said:

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Sorry thought this was the money saving expert forum. Not the spend money like everyone else forum when its a brand new car, and the window screen has failed within the 6 month period outlined by CRA that leaves the retailer potentially liable.

Stefano123

eskbanker said:

Sure, I wasn't talking about warranty, or the likelihood of windscreen damage not being caused by an inherent fault, but simply observing that from a consumer rights perspective, the retailer is on the hook unless they can prove that the defect wasn't present at the point of sale, the burden of such proof resting with the trader for the first six months.

This was exactly the kind of response I was after. Really helpful thanks. 

Stefano123

eskbanker said:

WellKnownSid said:

Windscreen glass is normally covered for no more than a month from new to cover a manufacturing / installation defect.  Claim on your insurance like everyone else.

Covered by whom?  The retailer has the same obligations as any other trader under the Consumer Rights Act, which has no such limitation within which manufacturing defects can be pursued.

This is what I thought too.