In early 2020, AGRR Magazine explored the disconnect between the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the NAGS number it recognizes. These problems will continue until 2021.

"I think our software may not have all the correct information the dealer has," said Rick Valentine, owner of Intermountain Auto Glass in Boise, Idaho. In the past four to five years, he has noticed the problem of incorrect part numbers. His store has three sources to confirm part numbers with VINs: PGW, Mygrant, and RepairLink. He said that VIN's misidentification of parts does not happen as often as before. Valentin estimates that the probability of his technician receiving the wrong part number is about 2%.

Sometimes multiple part numbers are provided, Valentine said, although in theory there should be only one part number associated with a particular VIN. "If all three sources (PGW, Mygrant, and Repairlink) show the same part number, I think we are very happy," he said. However, if there is a discrepancy, the technician will call the manufacturer and check the NAGS list. "It's just very time consuming," he said.

Valentin believes that this problem will not disappear anytime soon. "The situation will only get worse," he said, as vehicles become more and more complex. Twenty years ago, Chevrolet trucks had only one windshield option. Today, Chevrolet trucks may have multiple installation options. "We really work hard to make sure we get the right parts."

"Resellers are more accurate, but they are not 100%," said Damian Butterfield, owner of Expert Auto Glass, which has branches in North Dakota and Utah. The NAGS list of VIN parts is wrong in his store 10% of the time. "They have gone so frustratingly wrong," Butterfield said.

Butterfield said that calling the manufacturer to make sure the correct windshield part number is not always helpful. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has 40 different windshield options, and manufacturers will not only identify vehicles by VIN. When Expert Auto received the wrong part, Butterfield said they would try to get the correct part. In the past two years, the VIN problem has been "a real problem." "This is a lack of communication between NAGS and the distributor's parts catalog," Butterfield said.

Professional car technicians have VIN decoders to view the dealer's catalog, but they will also receive error messages about VIN. The NAGS list will provide the correct windshield size, but the windshield will not match the ADAS option of the vehicle in the store.

"[NAGS list information is] everyone's problem," Butterfield said.

This article is from glassBYTEs™, a free electronic newsletter covering the latest automotive glass industry news. Click here to register-it's free. Interested in a deeper dive? You can subscribe to the print or digital version of Auto Glass Repair and Replacement (AGRR) magazine for free. Subscribe for free here.

Your email address will not be published. Required places have been marked *

Click here to register to be notified when the DOT number database is updated.