Rear hatch glass shattered suddenly for no reason

[ruthrj]

Was this like the NorCal Bay Area breal-in special?

Atlanta! We had nothing in the car. They hit 30+ vehicles in the hotel parking lot overnight. It was a great way to start the day considering we were there to bring my daughter to the aquarium for her birthday got some 10 mil plastic sheeting and clear packaging tape, rolled into that aquarium on time and in style.

 

[Koko_Bandit]

I love this stuff.

Just don't break out the Shainin techniques.

 

[TouringFan]

I love this stuff.

FWIW I also love troubleshooting and finding root causes. Early in my career with the Navy, I got involved with mishap investigations when there were aircraft engine problems that our fleet maintainers could not solve. It was a dream job for a motorhead like me and the most fun I have had in my career. Like you, I do quality assurance now. I'm a consultant to NASA. We don't have the equivalent of DCMA embedded with our commercial partners like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

 

[1killera4]

Just don't break out the Shainin techniques.

LMAO!

 

[chickdr]

It is interesting the issue is brought up today. There have been many instances of failed moonroofs on the forums - this is the first time I have read about failed rear hatch glass. Personally, I think it IS a manufacturers issue (defect). I would definitely speak to Mazda corporate about it as it should be covered on such a new car. I can understand a windshield not being covered if it cracks from being hit, but the rear hatch glass? I guess there is always a possibility something struck it you weren't aware of?

 

[TouringFan]

This is my first Mazda. My experience with other manufacturers is that if the local dealer won't go to bat for you, the corporate office will not pay attention unless one goes to great lengths to document everything and write a detailed letter and keep pestering them for a response. This includes Toyota who is normally known for outstanding quality. @chickdr are you suggesting Mazda corporate may be different? My time is worth something to me and I don't want to waste hours on something just to get the run around. The local dealer already told me to pound sand.

 

[chickdr]

I would definitely at least give them a call and open a case. You only had to pay $200 to replace it,
but it is still 200 you shouldn't have had to pay IMHO. Kind of depends on you I guess.

 

[TamaraD]

Our 2021 CX-5 just had the same problem today. My husband closed the driver's side door and the rear hatch glass also shattered into a million pieces for no apparent reason!

 

[TouringFan]

Our 2021 CX-5 just had the same problem today. My husband closed the driver's side door and the rear hatch glass also shattered into a million pieces for no apparent reason!

This is why I started this thread - to see if anyone else suffered this failure. Have you or your husband talked to your local dealer to see if they are willing to help? You are likely to face same resistance from dealer that I did. My dealer told me the rear hatch glass was no national backorder in the Mazda supply chain with no known delivery date. This begs the question, "Why is the part on national back order if this failure is rare?" That backorder situation basically forced me to go to Safelite Auto Glass to get my car back on the road quickly and kept me from pushing Mazda dealer or corporate to do something.

 

[chickdr]

I would think if it was common, there would be more discussion about it on the forums. I see many more posts about sunroof glass issues than rear hatch. Honestly, this thread has the only instances I have ever heard of. It is interesting about the backorder though.

 

[N7turbo]

Not just Mazda:

 

[TouringFan]

I will be filling out a complaint with NHTSA. Maybe if enough report this, Mazda will eventually take action.

 

[OceanBlue]

Found this forum in frustration after my rear hatch glass shattered twice in one month, while my CX5 was parked in my garage. Beyond baffled. Have had the vehicle more than a year, no issue, now suddenly, twice in a month. Called Mazda NA, they directed me to local dealership, which was no use at all.
First time it happened was after I'd gotten into vehicle and closed the door. Second time, I was outside vehicle, used key fob to open rear hatch - pop, pop, crack, crack.
Signed, beyond frustrated.

 

[TouringFan]

If the glass is installed in a way that there is uneven pressure along one or more edges, the forces are unbalanced and the glass is prone to shatter from sudden changes such as shutting a door hard. Shattering when key fob is used to open hatch is really indicative of poor installation because that is not an impulsive force. My dealership was useless and basically blamed me. I know what I am talking about from years working in a body shop when I was a young man. If we did not install a front or rear windshield properly, the result was shattered glass.

I have not had any problems with the Safelite installed replacement so I assume it was a factory screw up with the first one.

 

[GrampaSlade]

That's curious. I could see it happening though. Does there seem to be any pressure/ear popping when you shut the door?

 

[GTXT23]

Last week, I got into my 2023 CX-5 Signature Turbo to run errands and when I shut my driver's door, the rear hatch glass shattered into a million pieces. When I called my dealer to figure out what to do and find out if this was covered under warranty, they were not much help. The service manager told me glass breakage is not covered under warranty and that it is too difficult for them to know if it truly happened by itself or if it was due to vandalism. When he checked availability for new rear hatch glass, he was told this part is backordered in the US with no known delivery date. I find that curious. If mine is an isolated incident, why is this part backordered indefinitely? Fortunately, Safelite had rear hatch glass in stock and $200 later, my CX-5 was fixed.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I worked in many dealerships for decades , to many manufacturers to name and this does happen on hatchbacks of low and high quality - often when shutting the rear hatch manually -Having the drivers door trigger this is from my experience is less frequent - Yet glass can have existing fractures invisible to the eye or visible if not examined closely -As well glass can just have a specific pressure and circumstance thats literally a 1 in a Million that would put in that exact situation to shatter ----either way its sucks - Possibly if you had cameras outside the vehicle that could reproduce the event- you could get reimbursed for an OE Mazda rear hatch glass --

I have used Safelight and had good results - IF it was the windshield --then I go OE - Like seeing the Mazda logo on the glass in the corner and if resold can be a minor deduction for a " fully original " vehicle . Some spread rumors that Mazda glass is " soft " dont replace with it ---I Live in Arizona the broken windshield capitol of the United States due to rocks from trucks on the freeway -- so every insurance policy has a glass addition for unlimited replacements- That said " soft glass " can take more chips and hits and keep going whereas hard glass goes fully more easily --so soft isint an accident for Mazdas engineers --

I have been lucky that last few years - Its only $200 so not to bad - 23 was a good year for the CX5 as I had one but just upgraded to A 2025 Premium Package for other reasons --my 23 was great --enjoy it -- beats an accident !!!

 

[N7turbo]

I have seen reports of this happening on other makes, so it's not just Mazda.

 

[Koko_Bandit]

I have seen reports of this happening on other makes, so it's not just Mazda.

It was an issue on the Audi Q5.

 

[N7turbo]

It was an issue on the Audi Q5.

I saw it on a Honda.