Is It Normal for the Manufacturing Date of a New Car to Differ from the Glass Production Date?
2 Answers
It is normal for the manufacturing date of a new car to differ from the glass production date. The reasons are: car glass is produced in assembly lines, and different batches of glass have different production dates. Places to check the manufacturing date of a new car include: 1. Vehicle identification number (VIN); 2. Vehicle nameplate; 3. User manual and related certificates; 4. Trademark on the windshield; 5. Below the B-pillar on the passenger side. Methods to check the glass production date are: 1. Look for the code at the bottom left or right corner of the window glass; 2. The number represents the year, and the dots represent the month. Dots before the number indicate the first half of the year, and the month can be calculated by subtracting the number of dots from 7. Dots after the number indicate the second half of the year, and the month can be calculated by subtracting the number of dots from 13.
When I first got my new car, I was also quite concerned about this issue. After researching, I learned that it's completely normal. Car windows are produced in batches in advance, and it's impossible for the factory to ensure all parts are manufactured on the same day as the vehicle. Typically, the assembly plant keeps a stock of windows and replenishes them with newly produced ones as needed, so a difference of a month or even two to three months in production dates is reasonable. The key is to check if the glass production date is earlier than the vehicle's manufacturing date; if it's later, then there might be something fishy. Each piece of glass has a code in the bottom right corner, where dots next to numbers represent the year. If the small black dots are before the number, subtracting the number of dots from 7 gives you the month. The four windows on my car had a two-month difference in production dates, and after five years of driving, there have been no issues at all. As long as the glass wasn't replaced after a collision, the difference in dates doesn't affect safety in any way.
