NHTSA Complaint #10065612 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THERE IS A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD STARTING IN FRONT OF DRIVER BELOW WIPER BLADE, UP 5 INCHES AND OVER 3 FEET. THE CRACK APPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN DIRECT SUN ON A HOT DAY IN A PARKING LOT POINTED AWAY FROM OTHER MOVING VEHICLES. THERE IS ONLY ONE SHARED OF GLASS MISSING FROM BEHIND THE WIPER THAT IS PERHAPS 1/4 INCH LONG AND 1/8 INCH DEEP. VW MAINTAINS THIS IS AN IMPACT POINT AS DETERMINED BY RUNNING A BALLPOINT PEN ALONG THE CRACK. MY POSITION IS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. THE HEAT AND EXPANSION CAUSED THE CRACK. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE IMPACT RELATED, A TINY STONE WOULD HAVE TO HIT BEHIND THE WIPER FROM DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. THE LAWS OF PHYSICS RULES OUT THAT AN OBJECT WITH SO LITTLE MASS COULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH ENERGY TO CAUSE THIS MUCH DAMAGE. *LA