Another Ford F-150 Owner Claims The Rear Window Shattered Despite No Impact
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For some time, a number of Ford F-150 owners have alleged that the trucks rear window glass is susceptible to breaking with no obvious cause. Recently, the suspected defect found its latest victim: Patricia Jones of Houston, Texas.
Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reports that Jones was on her way to school recently in her 2016 Ford F-150 when, out of nowhere, the rear window shattered. “All of a sudden we heard a big bang and the glass shattered and we stopped,” Jones told KTRK. “[I] got out to look to see if anything had hit us and nothing. There [were] no marks, no anything, just shattered glass.”
Both Ford Motor Company and Jones’ local Ford dealer dispute her on that; after examining the truck, they claim there is evidence of an impact that caused the glass to break. Despite the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration receiving several other complaints just like this one for the 2016 Ford F-150, with dozens of similar claims stretching back to the 2010 model year or before, the automaker has never issued a recall for the alleged defect.
Many of the complaints out there seem to note that the rear defroster was activated at the time of the glass breakage, and Jones says that when she encountered the issue, she smelled something akin to burning electronics.
For the time being, if you have a newer Ford F-150 and the rear window glass breaks without any obvious provocation, make extensive note of the circumstances surrounding the breakage, keep all receipts and other documentation from any repair work you need to have done, and file a complaint with NHTSA.
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Stopped at red light and heard what sounded like a gunshot. Defrost was on. Rear window just shattered. Could cause someone to have a wreck, I thought I was being shot at. Read many other exact complaints but apparently the Ford company is a piece of crap and won’t own up to their responsibility. Hope it happens to one of your family members.
I was a proud owner of a 2012 Ford F-150 until a particular incident. Prior to owning my Ford, I had only ever owned Chevy vehicles, after I bought my new Ford truck I was so happy that I made the switch. While driving my truck this past week, 5 min. after I turned on my auto defrost, my back window shattered. I happen to have a cap on my truck, so I know that there was nothing that could have caused the window to break. I usually don’t use the back window auto defrost, because I to have a cap on the truck, but due to the substantial amount of snow that Wasilla, Alaska had received the past few days the was a build up of snow that had been able to get between the small amount of space between the cab of the truck and the cap. I am assuming that because I do not use the auto defrost in the back window often is why this may not have happened sooner.
I was concerned, and did not understand why the window just shattered like that, and at a time when I had my children in the truck. I then decided to look it up online to only discover that there have been numerous cases of this happening in the lower 48 states. I then proceeded to contact my local Ford dealership to see if there were any recalls on the faulty auto defrost with no help really given. They told me that the window was not recalled and that my truck was no longer under warranty. I then proceeded to contact the Ford dealership where I bought my truck in the lower 48 and I was as well told that there was nothing that they could do for me except call the Ford customer service. But he also told me that they have had a few other cases of the same thing happening at there dealership that have come in for repair.
I then proceeded to call the Ford Customer service and was told by them that they know there is a potential problem with the auto defrost but there is no recall on it at this time. They from there proceeded to tell me that there was nothing that they could do for me. I then asked if I could speak to a manager and she refused to let me speak to a manager.
I am extremely frustrated with the customer service at Ford and and lack of care to solve my problem with the faulty auto defrost. I don’t know if I will ever purchase a vehicle from Ford again.
This just happened to me too. 2011 F150 Supercab, i was driving down my road and heard what sounded like a gunshot or a LOUD pop, no one at all near me and was only driving about 35 miles per hour. I looked back and the right side of my passenger side back window was shattered. It literally exploded for no reason that I could see. I called my local Ford dealer and they told me that this wasn’t something Ford will fix under warranty. WTH!? A window can just shatter on it’s own and they don’t consider this a defect that should be covered under warranty?
Happened to me too. Why is ford not fixing this?
Same thing happened to me
Ford isn’t fixing this because they don’t have to. This problem needs to go viral and cost them more money in sales than they’d lose in replacing the windows before they’ll do anything.
30 minutes after parking my truck my rear window popped and shattered just sitting in the driveway. Ford refused to fix it. Their customer service has always been poor. They earned the one star out of five rating. Will probably try a Chevrolet next time.
My just happen on this pasted Thursday on my 2018 f 150
Ford doesn’t care. They’ve known about this for years and have neither fixed the design nor took care of their customers. If you ask nicely they might be willing to sell you a new truck. I or one am not fixing mine, I’m leaving it there and when people ask about it I’m telling them the situation and warning them about buying an F150. I think I’m going to go so far as the out white lettering on the unbroken side warning others as well. When Ford loses enough sales maybe they’ll do the right thing.
It just happened to me. Stephen Martinez. What was your outcome 2017 Ford F-150
Happened to me last night getting off the innerstate
In traffic. Very scary. Fords Lucky my kids wernt in the back seat.
Our 2017 Ford F-150 was in our garage yesterday morning (5/3/2018) and had been there all night. My husband put a some small items in the backseat and shut the door and back glass shattered.
Today 5.7.18 I had new hire orientation, when I put my back pack into the passenger side and closed the door, my back window just shattered. I am in Pecos, Texas and the temperature was about 85….for no reason this happened. The dealership here doesn’t replace glass. The closest place is an hour drive and $800 – yes FORD needs to fix this – —-Or my next car will be from another …and I will tell everyone I know…..
Ford is not going to pay for it
I figured that from reading everything posted here – really sad since I do love my truck but this just really hacks me off…..Thanks and sorry it happened to you as well…..
They actually fixed my window and gave me a rental on fords dime. Anyone needing help email me at [email protected]
My rear window in my 2011 Ford Raptor just shattered two days ago while parked. It seriously sounded like a gun shot. I jumped out and smelled electrical burning smell the gasket around my window was on fire! I went straight to the dealership. They clearly seen and smelled where the fire had been. And acknowledged the window shattered from the rear defroster. This is clearly a defective defroster that Ford knows about and in neglecting any accountably on this matter. This clear defect has the potential to kill people. Thank god my three year was not in the car seat under the shattered window at the time. There is currently no recall. Unbelievable. I got a call today saying ford will pay some of the repair cost. And they want me to pay the remaining $900.
NOPE. i just contacted the local news outlet about running a storing warning ford owners about this. More to follow.
They will fix it. Email me [email protected]
They will fix it. Email me at [email protected]
No they won’t, my local Ford dealer and Ford Corporate told me they weren’t going to do anything.
And it happened to me. First incident was with the middle slider window on May 25th. It shattered. Got it fixed, insurance paid. Today June 16th went out to my car to move it in the driveway, got in, shut the door and boom, the middle slider was fine but the rest of the rear windshield shattered. Ford needs to pay for this. Something is seriously wrong with this window.
This same event occurred to me in 2016. I have a 2011 F-150 Fx4. I was on my way to the dealership to get a routine oil change when this happened. In the couple of weeks leading up to this, the rear defroster was being temperamental. I would press the button to turn it on, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, sometimes there would be a few second delay before the button would light up to indicate it was working. This particular morning I pressed the rear defroster to see if it would work, it didn’t so I pressed it again under the assumption I was disengaging the function. A few minutes later I was sitting in the McD’s drive-thru and I happened to look in my rear view mirror and I noticed a trail of smoke outside the vehicle that was rising from underneath the passenger side rear window. I looked down at the rear defrost button and the little light was on, so I immediately pressed the button again to turn it off. I turned around to look at the smoke with my own eyes and as I’m looking at the window, “POP!”. The whole passenger side rear window “spidered” out as I was looking at it. You could even see within the pattern set of cracks in the broken glass that it definitely started from the area where the smoke was coming. I pulled into a parking spot to look at it from the outside, and as I checked it out there was a stream of brown “goo” that was coming out from underneath the black trim that is around the window, and it was also right in the area where the smoke and the spidered glass started. I immediately called the dealership about it since I was on my way there, and notify them about this incident. The service man was a baffled when he saw it with his own eyes. Recently my rear defroster stopped working again and I am do for another oil-change, so I’m a bit leery about the whole situation. I didn’t run this through insurance, if I recall correctly the dealership did not charge me for the labor to fix everything but I did have to pay for the cost of the new window.
I have a 2-month old brand new 2018 F-150 Super Cab (and have been a FORD [Ranger] driver for the last 25 years). The other day i got up, opened the passenger door and put something on the seat. The instant i closed the door, the smaller rear side window right next to me (on the small swing-out door) EXPLODED inward, sending glass shards all over the inside of the truck.
It totally fragmented. Most of the glass was inside the car with some on the outside. I talked to two different FORD service departments and even the Service Manager where i bought it and they all said FORD will NOT cover it (it is a lease with full bumper-to-bumper warranty). They claim that since the glass blew INSIDE, then it had to have been due to something hitting it from the outside. Of course, the truck was OFF and i was merely standing outside having just closed the door. But their argument was that something (or someone) had damaged the glass which caused the damage (the door closure merely “triggered” the final event.
Since any evidence is now obliterated into a billion pieces, i can’t say one way or the other. HOWEVER, i pointed out that whenever you close the door, there is a GREAT DEAL of flexure of both the front door and the smaller swing-out door to which the window is attached (this happens on both sides of the truck). I suppose that is due to using aluminum instead of steel for the frame without adequate reinforcement in the doors. I also pointed out that the seating of the smaller swing-out door in about 1/4 inch more inset than the door on the other side. The service people seemed unmoved by any of these observations.
Anyway, i had them take some pictures and register a claim. I heard back today that they are NOT going to cover any of the cost. Needless to say, i am a bit miffed that they will not cover the damage (on my 2-month old NEW truck AND for a long time FORD customer). I am also now a bit paranoid about this happening again (if someone were inside the truck when this happened, they would have been pelted with thousands of glass slivers – it is safety glass, made to shatter, but not laminated to attempt to retain the pieces).
If it happens again, will they again refuse to fix it?! Sadly, FORD has now lost a lot of points with me.
More noise needs to be made about this problem. Ford is selling trucks that clearly have a problem. No one should have to shell out the money for their overpriced vehicles only to be told that we’r eon our own when things start blowing up. Come to think of it, Ford has a long history of things blowing up on their vehicles and not doing anything about it. I just replavced one of their windows out of pocket when my rear window exploded. I think if this happens again I’m going to my states consumer advocate and file a complaint there as well.
I recently 9/12/18 happen to my 2016 F150 Roush truck with 16,900 miles on it. It popped and shot glass at the back of my head and all over the back seat of my truck where my two small dogs were. Smoke rolled out of the truck and it smelled. I called 911 and had the fire and police departments at the scene. It has been at the dealership for about a week. Oh, and two days before the incident I had it towed for smoke rolling out of the back seat area. Ford told me it was plastic bags on the exhaust system causing the smoke and the smell.
They will not cover the cost to get it fixed. Ugh.
Happened twice to me on the same vehicle. Ford raptor. They fixed it the first time,but only because it was under warranty!
Turned backwindow defroser on in my King Ranch F150. Sounded like a gunshot. Stoppd on highway. Thought someone had taken a shot at us. It was the right back passenger side that shattered. Window replacement man said he has replaced a lot of these. He said keep receipt when there is a recall on this problem.
I was driving into work. Had started the automatic truck starter so the truck would be warm so that the windows would defrost quicker. I headed down our street and started smelling smoke. Turned around called my husband (all this happened withing 3-4 minutes). Pull in tell my husband my truck was smokey and smelled funny. He stuck his head in to smell and the back window exploded. Interested to see what their answer will be. This is a 2016 Ford F 150.
I pitched a fit. I told them that my truck was under warranty. They began by saying it might not be covered because it was a window. But they put it in as a short in the defroster which was covered. Keep fighting. I didn’t accept no as an answer.
I pitched a fit. I told them that my truck was under warranty. They began by saying it might not be covered because it was a window. But they put it in as a short in the defroster which was covered. Keep fighting. I didn’t accept no as an answer. Ford F 150 2016
Seriously frustrated. This just happened to my 2016 Ford Edge. Went to get something out of my front seat last night and when I closed the front door I heard a pop and crumbling sound. Rear window had a big hole in the middle and glass was shattered around the edges. Called the dealer this morning and they saying they can’t do anything about it. Complete BS that Ford is not covering this or doing anything about this problem. Seeing lots of posts and pics online about this happening and nothing is being done!
I posted above with a similar problem with my truck. I sent multiple links to the Ford dealership I was working with about this similar problem and stated to them that I was going to report it to the NHTSA. The next day they provided me with a rental car and had sent someone to Chicago to pick up the glass…it was replaced at no cost to me within one day. I encourage you to keep talking to people. Good luck!
2013 f150. I was sitting in my driveway, and BAM! Shattered back window. No cause. Ford will not pay. They suck, I will never buy another ford. Period.
This just happened to my 2011 Raptor. Rear defroster blows the rear window. I’m engaging ford. More to follow.
My 2002 Ford F-150 was sitting in the driveway and my rear window shattered in a million pieces for no reason. If my grand kids were in the back it would have done some serious damage. What do we do about it.
I just had my 2016 f 250 rear window blow apart while the truck was parked, last year I had the half window blow apart while driving both had no impact at all and has not been covered by ford.
Harry
Huntsville Ontario
CALL IN to NHTSA and make a complaint. I did, They said they need more to make it a recall! We can get reimbursed.
My Defroster broke my rear window on 13 f-150. Ford blew me off. NHTSA said to encourage others to complain who expierinced this problem.
Same thing happened to me on my 2016 Ford f150 rear window exploded just sitting in drive way Ford said not there problem. Well I’ll never by another Ford. If they dont stand behind there vehicles newly purchased the hell with them.
Well I thought my wife was going crazy. She was out of town with my son at an ROTC event when she claimed that the rear window shattered and thought someone was shooting at her but after inspection there were no signs of impact. I took my other Ford in for a service and asked them if the whole rear unit needs to be replaced or just the window that broke. They said the whole window and said it’s normal caused by the rear defroster that over heats. My wife confirmed that she did turn the rear defrosters on….. confirmed!
Smells like a recall!!
I have a 2018 ford F1 50 sport the exact same thing has happened to me in Orlando sounded like a gunshot my defrost was on because of some morning dew and the whole window shattered had to have the window replace now I only have 4500 miles on it I wonder if the dealer is going to reimburse me the money I spent on my window these are horror stories
My rear window broke on my 2013 F150 last week when I turned on my remote start. Brought it into my local dealer for service today, The Service Advisor said he has seen this before and it would be covered under my extended warranty. He stated he has seen this over a dozen times already and that’s just him.
Happened to our 2017 Explorer last night, sounded like a gunshot, my daughters were shaking!
Stopped at gas station, people got out of their cars to see if everyone was okay!
Now the dealership is telling me they needed a picture of the original decal on the old glass to make sure that I did not change my room window out and they are now talking with Ford now to see if I can get reimbursed $874.00 so if it did happen take as many pictures as you can you’re especially the back passenger-side in the back right hand corner and keep all your receipts
November 14, 2018, We have a 2017 Ford Explorer and we were driving down the road and the back window blew out. It was 28° and the rear defroster was not on. The car had been used 2 hours earlier and the rear defroster had been used at that time. This sounds like a recall situation.
November 22 2018 Rear window glass shattered on my 2014 platinum f150. Started with remote start to warm up. Ran approximately 5 min didn’t notice if the defrost was on or not outside temperature about 45 degrees. Started to back out of drive and heard loud noise like something hit the truck, scared the [email protected]# out of me. Got out to see what happened, no one around didn’t notice anything wrong. The next morning I noticed the drivers rear window was shattered. Now I know why and it sounds like I’m not the only one it’s happened too. Calling dealership tomorrow and filing a complaint with Ford.
Just happened to a friend of my daughter. They have a 2010 F-150 and had rear defrost on as well. It was about 45° here when it happened. Ford needs to get their [email protected]# together. Definite issue going on if it’s happening with multiple years.
I’m relieved that I’m NOT crazy, and have other stories to prove my point. I had the same EXACT thing happen to me. Just this last week. I was walking out the house, initiated the remote start on my 2014 F150 Limited. truck started, my husband and I heard a loud pop. We had NO CLUE where it came from. Didnt notice anything at first until driving and looked into the rearview mirror and at first I thought there was ice on the rear driver side window panel, but quickly realized it was the glass.. SHATTERED! but intact, due to the tint holding it in place. Not a mark, or indication of any impact. Absolutely a clean window. I’ve been quoted $590 before labor, and taxes. Contacted the dealer, they had no explanation and apparently it’s not covered even after just purchasing the truck less than 3 days before. It would be wonderful if Ford Recalled them, and reimbursed all of us for the money spent on repairs.
Same complaint. Rear drivers side back glass shattered for no apparent reason. Ford f150 2014.
Same here…2014 f150 super crew cab–shell/topper in place on bed, so no way impact could cause shatter
Just happened to me this morning, 0 degrees out rear defroster was on and bang …. scared the crap out of me. Rear driver side window. 2014 F150 Lariat.
Same thing I guess happened to my husband, he was taking our daughter to school, and heard a loud bang and whole rear window is shattered. No impact, just shattered. It’s inside the glass so window is still intact, hopefully we can get fixed before whole thing collapses. My husband says the rear defroster wasn’t on. We live in Maryland and temp this morning is 44 degrees. Called our local Ford, they want us to take pics, note mileage VIN and year of vehicle and send to them so they can email Ford. Let’s hope we can get this recalled!
Just happened to my 2010 FX4 same thing. Big Bang about a minute of Turing on my rear defrost. Looked around to see wtf happened and passenger side rear window was spider webbed. This problem go back to 2010 models and ford has no recall. Bad business Ford. Shame on you. Not buying a ford again …EVERY!
same thing happened to me this morning. I was stopped at a red light and heard a loud pop. rear passenger side spider-webbed out of nowhere. rear defrost was on. I am calling around today but it looks like Ford will not replace. pretty ridiculous.
Brad, They will replace it. You just have to push them to do it. I had mine replaced the other week for nothing.
Same thing just happened to our 2011 Ford F150 Platinum. 2 weeks ago heard bang like gunshot, smelled a little smoke, but couldn’ t find anything wrong. Don’ t drive it everyday, took it out today and after a couple of miles noticed rear driver’s side window shattered! We are loyal Ford buyers, but maybe no more – Ford has a serious problem here.
Same story here. Rear defrost on, driving for car for 10 minutes , loud pop, nothing hit vehicle, driving on smooth road when it happened. Rear passages side window. $640 fix. Ouch ford.
Same here with myself. Remote started my 2013 Platinum. It ran for about 5 minutes, got in and simply backed out of the garage. Half way out I heard the loud bang. I thought someone threw a rock or something. We are out in the country with no one around. Drivers side rear window shattered. Never used the defroster. It was about 50° in the garage and 28° outside with no wind. Owned the truck all these years. How could this happen?
Same situation….heard a loud bang. Confused…I finally looked in rear mirror and thought was ice at first on window but noticed was all spidered. It’s the solar tint and no more than I thought well it’s all in one piece yet….the bottom portion fell out. I don’t have the defrost either….how can this happen to so many people and nothing be done about it?
Just happened to my 2015 f-150. Rear drivers side. My son was taking it to get washed. As he was driving down the road, he heard a loud pop and looked in the rearview and saw that it was shattered. Stopped looked around and nothing around to indicate an impact.
This morning used auto start and after 5 mins got into my 2014 F-150. While pulling out of my drive way (at 5:30 am) I heard a loud bang. The rear driver side window was totally blown. What total BS. FORD wants 950 for replacement. Can’t believe how many people have had this problem.
Used remote start, 2014 F150 Super Crew Cab FX4, after about 7 min of warm up, drove to get coffee, then BANG, like a gunshot, the rear driver’s side small window exploded. It was 47 degrees outside, so no frost or anything. I have a shell/topper in place, so there was no way that any “impact” could have caused it.
Everyone should make sure they report to NHTSA.
Same thing happened today loud bang while driving rear window gone will go to ford tomorrow and see what they say
Remote start my 2012 f150 this morning. When driving to work I noticed my rear driver side window is shattered.
Just happened to me. Defroster on and “boom” like a gunshot. Entire rear window shattered. Spoke to Safelight and they said it’s fords malfunctioning defroster. (My truck is a 2105 Platinum) They see it many times a year. Technician put weather wrap on window and showed me the burned wiring. I can’t belieb the NTSB hasn’t recalled these.
2014 f150 lariat. Turned rear defrost on, 10 minutes later sitting at a stop sign an loud pop look in rear view mirror and see driver side back glass busted. Contact ford an was told that doesn’t just happen
I own a 2016 Ford F-150. While on a road trip, we smelled something burning. Moments later there was an explosion. Upon stopping to investigate, we found the rear glass shattered from side to side.
December 14, 2018
I have a 2013 ford f150 raptor and it has happened to me twice on the same truck. Defroster was on both times while it was cold outside.