NHTSA Complaint #11666462 — 2025 NISSAN PATHFINDER

While the vehicle was parked and unattended, the rear window of my 2025 Nissan Pathfinder spontaneously shattered without any impact or external force. There was no evidence of vandalism, collision, or falling objects, and the vehicle was stationary at the time. The glass shattered entirely, leaving shards throughout the interior cargo area and rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive or leave unattended. When the glass initially broke, there was no glass that fell inward or outward — it appeared to be a slow cracking failure, where the entire pane began breaking down gradually. I approached the vehicle to investigate and opened the rear door to get a better look. As soon as I opened the door, the natural movement and vibration from the door caused the already-shattered glass to collapse inward, which is what you see in the attached photos. Unfortunately, this makes it appear as if there was an impact from the outside, when in fact the glass was already fractured prior to any physical contact or movement. Immediately after the incident, I took the vehicle to a certified Nissan dealership for inspection. The dealer reviewed the damage but was unable to identify any clear cause or impact point, nor did they confirm a manufacturer defect. Regardless, I documented the incident extensively with photographs and obtained a formal service report. To protect the vehicle from weather exposure and theft, I am proceeding with a rear glass replacement. I am submitting this report to NHTSA because I believe this to be a spontaneous failure of the rear window glass that may indicate a broader issue with the manufacturing or installation of this component. If other drivers experience this failure — especially while the vehicle is in motion — it could pose a serious safety risk to passengers. I respectfully request that this issue be formally investigated. I am also pursuing reimbursement through Nissan Consumer Affairs.