Back Glass (Rear Window) Replacement in Wichita, KS

Why back glass shatters instead of cracking

On most vehicles the rear window, often called the back glass or backlite, is tempered glass, the same type as most side windows. It is very strong, but when it fails it breaks into thousands of small pieces, often all at once and sometimes minutes after the impact. That is why there is no repair option for most back glass: it is a replacement every time. A small number of vehicles use laminated rear glass, which cracks but stays in place.

Common causes around Wichita

• Hail. Back glass faces the sky on sedans and hatchbacks, so it takes a direct hit in a hailstorm. The National Weather Service treats hail 1 inch across (about quarter size) or larger as severe (National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe).
• Stones thrown by mowers and trailers. Rural driveways, ditches being mowed and trailers on gravel roads throw rocks at rear windows as easily as at windshields.
• Cargo and tailgates. A ladder, a toolbox or a bicycle shifting against the glass, or a liftgate closed on something sticking out.
• Temperature and stress. Occasionally back glass breaks with no obvious cause, often linked to a hidden edge chip.
• Vandalism and theft.

What is built into your back glass

Rear windows carry more technology than they used to, and each feature affects the part and the price:

• Defroster grid. The thin lines baked onto the glass heat it to clear frost and fog. The electrical tabs are reconnected when the new glass goes in.
• Antennas. Many vehicles print radio, GPS or keyless-entry antennas into the rear glass. A replacement has to match.
• Wiper. SUVs and hatchbacks often have a rear wiper mounted through a hole in the glass.
• Brake light, cameras and spoilers. High-mount brake lights and some cameras are attached at or near the glass.
• Privacy tint. Factory-tinted glass on SUVs and trucks should be matched.

Having the VIN ready lets the shop match all of this the first time.

Pickup truck rear windows

Pickups have their own set of rear-glass options: a one-piece fixed window, a manual sliding center panel, a power slider, or a heated power slider. Sliders are assemblies with a frame, latch and tracks, and power units have a motor and wiring. They are often bonded in with urethane like a windshield. If only the small sliding panel is broken, some trucks allow just that panel to be replaced; others require the whole assembly. Tell the shop exactly which type you have. For work trucks and fleets, see truck and fleet auto glass.

What the job involves

1. Cleanup first. Broken tempered glass gets everywhere: the cargo area, seat backs, headliner edges and trim gaps. The installer vacuums what can be reached.
2. Remove trim and the remaining glass. Bonded back glass is cut out like a windshield; some older vehicles set the glass in a rubber gasket.
3. Prepare the opening. Old urethane is trimmed and any bare metal is primed.
4. Install and connect. The new glass is bonded or set, and the defroster, antenna and wiper are reconnected.
5. Cure time. Urethane-bonded back glass needs time before the vehicle is driven, just like a windshield; the installer should tell you the drive-away time.

Until the new glass is in

• Tape heavy plastic over the opening, attaching it to paint rather than to interior trim.
• Avoid driving with the opening uncovered; besides weather, exhaust can be drawn into the cabin through an open rear window.
• Do not run the rear defroster or wiper with broken glass in place.
• Photograph the damage for insurance before cleaning up, especially after a hailstorm.

After a hailstorm

When a big storm rolls across Sedgwick and Butler County, back glass is one of the first parts to sell out locally. Request a quote early, list every damaged piece of glass (rear window, sunroof, mirrors, windshield), and ask your insurer whether glass will be handled separately from body damage. The National Insurance Crime Bureau counted 147,793 hail loss claims in Kansas from 2017 through 2019, sixth among the states (NICB, 2017-2019 U.S. hail loss claims), so local glass shops see hail work most years.

Paying for back glass

Back glass damaged by hail, vandalism or flying objects is usually covered under comprehensive coverage, subject to your deductible. See insurance claims in Kansas and the back glass section of the cost guide for published ranges.

SUV and hatchback liftgate glass

On many SUVs, minivans and hatchbacks the rear glass is part of the liftgate. Some liftgate windows open on their own (a flip-up glass hatch with hinges, struts and a latch), and those hardware parts sometimes need replacing along with the glass. Others are bonded into the liftgate with urethane. Either way, the rear wiper, washer nozzle, defroster and any camera wiring need to be reconnected and tested. Mention whether your rear glass opens separately when you request a quote.

OEM or aftermarket back glass?

As with windshields, back glass is available as OEM (made for the automaker) or aftermarket (made to fit and meet the same federal glazing standard). For many popular vehicles both are available and the aftermarket part costs less. For less common models, or for glass with built-in antennas, the OEM part may be the only option. Ask which is quoted and whether the antenna and defroster layout match the original, because a mismatch can affect radio or keyless-entry reception.

What does it cost? See published Wichita-area and national ranges for back glass costs in the cost guide.

Related guides

• Hail Damage to Car Glass in Wichita

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the glass, any calibration and the warranty terms.