I've had reticles break on two fixed-power Leupolds. The first instance my fault, because I tightened the rear ring too tightly around the exact place in a 6x42 where the reticle sits.
The second instance was a 3x Leupold that had previously been on a bunch of hard-kicking rifles. The reticle broke after maybe 12-15 shots on a .303 British, right at the tip of the left "post" of the Duplex. Interestingly, the crosshairs themselves were still perfectly sighted-in. I know because I finished up the range session before sending it back to Leupold.
But those were the only two "failures" I can recall with fixed-power Leupolds on my rifle--and both were immediately apparent. The failures of variables have mostly been the scope failing to hold zero, or a vast increase in the size of groups, things that aren't apparent until you shoot at something.
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