History of the VW Golf

In 1974, VW replaced the iconic VW Beetle with the Golf. It was a successful move because, to date, VW has sold 35 million Golfs compared to the 21.5 million Beetles they sold.

But, the VW Beetle was the longest-running car on a single platform ever made.

The VW Golf has won numerous awards:

Motor Trend Car of the Year award (1985)

Best Selling Car in Europe (2001)

World Car of the Year (2009 and 2013)

European Car of the Year twice (1992 and 2013)

Frequently featured on the annual ‘Car and Driver: 10 Best’ list

Motor Trend Car of the Year (2015) 

Road debris

Trips along (or close to) newly paved roads can put the windscreen in harm’s way. Contractors build road surfaces with a mixture of asphalt and broken rock. They assess the stone for hardness, and it is hazardous to a windscreen — especially if you or the other driver are speeding.

The impact of these small pieces of roadside debris can create a chip and eventual crack in the windscreen. The angle and speed at which the rock hits the glass play a significant role.

This kind of damage is often repairable and typically the most common cause of all windscreen-related problems.

Stress fractures

The UK’s weather is not harsh, but seasonal change can cause temperature spikes. Temperature extremes due to icy winds and direct sunlight may cause a Golf’s windscreen and its components (including the window frame and car glass) to contract and expand.

Although these tolerances are small, they may produce a stress fracture — a good name because both the windscreen and driver may suffer from the resulting stress.

To recap, a sudden car glass crack in your VW Golf might be due to fluctuating temperatures.

Weather patterns

Besides possibly causing stress fractures due to hot and cold temperature fluctuations, stormy weather also goes together with airborne debris. Hailstones and flying tree branches are but some of the damage a windscreen must endure.

Sub-standard installations, materials and repairs

Poorly trained car glass technicians, worn-out equipment and non-OEM compliant materials can result in quality problems down the line.

Car glass panes and window frames that do not match ideally will generate friction, form stress fractures, and cause a windscreen to shatter suddenly.

Accidents

A collision is everyone’s worst nightmare —  it may be a slight fender-bender and some interaction with an insurance provider, or worst of all, the VW Golf’s total write-off.

Even a minor collision can require the complete replacement of various glass panels, including all the necessary connecting parts.