Is It Normal for Car Glass to Have Different Dates?
2 Answers
It is normal for car glass to have different dates. This is because the glass is assembled, and glass components are often pre-stocked in factory warehouses, making it impossible to guarantee that the corresponding glass can be assembled in time for every vehicle. The method to check the production date of the glass is as follows: 1. The number represents the production year of the glass: It indicates the last digit of the year. For example, 8 represents 2008. The specific production year can be determined based on the vehicle's manufacturing date. If the vehicle was manufactured in 2007 or 2008, then the glass year number 8 would mean 2008, not 1998, as the difference between the glass and vehicle production dates is unlikely to be as much as 10 years. 2. The small black dots on the glass indicate the production month: For some car models, the small black dots are located before the number, while for others, they are after the number. If the black dots are before the number, subtract the number of dots from 7; if the black dots are after the number, subtract the number of dots from 13. The result will be the production month of the glass.
As a car enthusiast, I often observe the date labels on different vehicle windows. Honestly, slight variations in dates are quite common. During automotive manufacturing, windshields, side windows, and rear windows often come from different production batches or supplier factories, so minor differences in manufacturing dates are natural. For example, my old Toyota has a windshield made in 2021 while the side windows were produced in late 2020 – this doesn't affect safety or performance as long as the seals are intact and there are no cracks. However, if all window dates show significant discrepancies (like over two years apart), it might indicate partial glass replacement after an accident at a repair shop. In such cases, you should pay attention to potential sealing issues or original equipment quality concerns. My suggestion is to regularly check the date codes in window corners using your phone's flashlight and compare the variance range. If unsure, visit a professional repair shop for inspection to prevent accumulated hazards while driving. Overall, minor differences are normal – don't panic when you spot them.
