Distinguishing Versa Sedan and Versa Note Tailgate Glass
Selecting the correct replacement back glass for this vehicle lineup requires knowing whether you drive the four-door sedan or the five-door hatchback, because the bodies diverged significantly across this production span. The sedan shifted over to the N17 platform for 2012, using back glass matching dealer reference 79700-3AN0A. Meanwhile, the original C11 hatchback continued alongside it until the redesigned E12 platform arrived as the Versa Note for 2014, requiring liftgate glass under dealer number 90300-3WC1C. These rear windows cannot be interchanged between body styles or overlapping model years, as their curvature, mounting perimeters, and hardware pass-through points are entirely distinct.
The physical construction of the glass differs directly based on the rear gate setup. On the Versa Note and earlier hatchback editions, the back glass features a dedicated pre-cut hole penetrating the lower center of the panel to allow the rear wiper motor pivot shaft to pass through into the liftgate. Sedan back glass is a continuous, solid sheet of green-solar tinted glass that remains entirely fixed above the trunk lid, devoid of any exterior mechanical penetrations.
Defroster Grids and Surrounding Hardware Attachments
Every variant across the Versa and Versa Note range uses a bonded back window equipped with an integrated horizontal electric defroster grid, but none of these units incorporate acoustic interlayers, hidden radio antennas, or camera brackets. On the hatchback and Versa Note liftgates, the glass seats into a recessed metal frame beneath the upper tailgate spoiler and the high-mount exterior stop lamp. Accessing the electrical spade terminals for the heating grid requires uncoupling the upper and lower interior liftgate trim garnish panels, which shield the wiring routed down from the roof harness.
When I replace broken or failed rear glass on these cars, I supply aftermarket glass sourced from proven manufacturers such as PGW, Pilkington, FYG, or XYG, ensuring the defroster solder pads and wiper motor hole align precisely with the vehicle's factory wiring and motor bracket. On Versa sedans, the electrical leads connect deep in the rear corners where the glass drops down behind the interior C-pillar trim panels. The sedan also positions its center high-mount brake light inside the passenger compartment, perched directly on the rear package tray rather than atop an exterior liftgate shell, requiring full clearance along that lower inside deck during service.
Structural Seating and Body Seal Points
The sedan's rear glass drops directly onto the vehicle's fixed rear structural frame. Nissan engineered this body with an adhesive foam dam seal under part number 79716-3BA0B and designated alignment spacers, part 72714-EL00A, to set the glass height evenly above the sheet metal opening without sinking into the rear parcel shelf recess. Because there is no moving hatch, the sedan glass reinforces the structural rigidity across the rear roof pillars.
The Versa Note operates under completely different mechanical stresses because its back glass is mounted straight to a swinging exterior door. The glass bonding flange endures dynamic shock loads every time the hatch is pulled down and latched shut. The outer edge of the Note glass must maintain an exact perimeter gap against the liftgate stamping so the trim covers, wiper assembly, and exterior hatch handle remain properly aligned without binding against the glass edge.
