It’s been a bumpy couple of months for the Nissan Rogue, the Japanese automaker’s top-selling vehicle in the United States. Around mid-year last year, the crossover was affected by a massive engine recall, which was followed more recently by another recall regarding spare tires. Now, Nissan is facing a class action lawsuit involving Rogue SUVs with exploding rear windshields. The plaintiffs claim Nissan was aware of the defective windshield and failed to disclose the potentially dangerous defect.
Related: 2026 Nissan Rogue Recalled After Spare Tire Mixup Violates Federal Rules
Nissan SUV’s Windows Go Rogue
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According to the lawsuit, the rear windshields of several Nissan Rogues have spontaneously exploded. The issue occurs long before the normal lifespan of the rear windshield, with incidents reported within the first three years/36 months of the standard warranty. In one case, a Rogue owner’s rear windshield exploded at just 9,400 miles. Some Rogue owners say that Nissan has not replaced these windows, claiming normal wear and tear. This has forced Rogue owners to pay out of pocket to third parties to have the windows replaced.
The issue, which affects 2021-2025 Nissan Rogues, can allegedly occur whether the vehicle is in motion or not, and even in the absence of extreme weather conditions. Besides a theft risk from a broken window that exposes the cargo area, the exploding windows can distract the driver if the car is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steven Paul
“The loud explosion and flying glass distract and startle drivers and occupants,” the class action lawsuit says, as per Top Class Actions. “The broken rear windshield can also result in an increased risk of vehicle break-ins and theft.”
The lawsuit seeks claims for breach of express and implied warranties, violations of the New York General Business Law, and common law fraud/fraudulent omission.
Related: Nissan Rogue Generations Overview: How It Became The Top-Selling Nissan
What Can Cause Exploding Rear Windshields?
Steven Paul
The cause of the exploding rear windshields is unknown, but it certainly points to a manufacturing flaw and not standard wear and tear. Thermal stress, such as an extreme and quick change between very hot and cold temperatures, could be a contributing factor. If the tempered glass has a flaw or there’s an issue with the installation process, even pressure changes (like closing the tailgate) can eventually lead to the glass shattering.
Joe Stanson, a store manager at Gatto’s Tire and Auto Service in Florida, told Fox 35 that rear windshield defrosters and tinted windows can also cause sudden explosions. According to a 2024 report by the news broadcaster, mechanics are seeing this issue more often. We found a Facebook thread where multiple Rogue owners reported experiencing the same problem, and not all related to the current, third-gen Rogue that’s the subject of this lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit, Delucia-Roitman, et al. v. Nissan North America Inc., et al., has been filed in a Tennessee court, and we await an official response from the automaker.
