The rear window of my 2005 Ford Escape XLS just exploded today around 2:30 P.M. I had arrived about 2:15 P.M.at mcdonalds restaurant. I was sitting with a friend when an employee came into lobby looking for the owner of the gray Ford Escape in their parking lot. I said, "yes it is my car." Employee then came and told me that the "rear window of my car was broken all over the parking lot. I went and saw what happened. I have not opened the rear gate or window in over a week. All I did was park it and in 15 minutes of being inside of mcdonalds the windshield exploded. I have read where other people with Escapes & mariners have been having this problem for year. Years older than my 2005 and as new as 2014 & 2015. Is their a recall that Ford is fixing this problem, as they obviously have known about it for years. Please let me know who I contact to be reimbursed for my expense of replacing it. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Youngstown, OH, USA

Today the rear window of my SUV shattered completely. Nothing happened to it to make it shatter, no vandalism or rocks hit it. It was parked and not being driven. This is the second time this has happened with this vehicle. It happened several years ago in a similar situation. It was also parked and it shattered on its own. The first time it was a warmer sunny day. Today was a colder temps. I started to read online that many owners are having an issue with this. Some were driving and had children and pets in the car. Luckily I was not in the vehicle both times but I don't want to wait until I am driving and the glass shatters and explodes everywhere like it did while it was parked.

- Golden, CO, USA

Driving about 30 mph down the street with my mother and heard a very loud crash almost like a tree limb falling onto the car. The rear window had completely shattered while we were driving. There was shattered glass everywhere inside and outside the truck.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

2005 Ford Escape was parked inside a secured garage overnight. At some point overnight, the rear window spontaneously shattered. No one was in the car or garage when this occurred, and the garage was still secure in the morning. Pea-size glass pieces were found up to 10 feet away from the car, and a large amount of glass went into the rear cargo area of the Escape. The pieces of the glass were manually cleaned up from the vehicle and the garage floor. The window was replaced with a new identical part at a local auto glass repair shop. The owner of the Escape paid for this new window completely with his own money. Due to the fully random nature of this event, I believe it to be vehicle defect with the rear window glass or some part supporting the glass. I will be contacting Ford directly as well.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

Back windshield exploding on 2005 Ford Escape.

- Dryden, NY, USA

The rear window in our 2005 Ford Escape spontaneously exploded as I was driving along the road. The temperature was about 5 degrees celsius and it was raining. I was using the window defogger and the rear wiper. The explosion sounded like a shotgun blast and a large amount of glass flew into the vehicle. There was also glass on the rear bumper. My daughter and two of her friends were in the back seat when this happened, and glass flew in toward them. I maintained control of the vehicle, but was quite startled by the loud explosion! the driver's side hydraulic lift was hanging outside of the vehicle and the passenger side lift was still attached to a chunk of glass and in place in the frame of the window. My guess is that the hydraulic lift failed, exerted pressure on the window, and caused the explosion.

- Londonderry, 00, USA

This is the second time the rear window has exploded! the first rear window exploded 12.11.07 on a mild (55') rainy day while driving aprox 65 miles per hour on the highway with no other traffic. Yesterday (2.11.08), the same window gave way on a side street at aprox 35 mph with no other traffic. Yesterday makes the third window I have replaced in less than 12 mos. The first window (rear right passenger) exploded in while entering a freeway ramp with no traffic on the right side of the car. Most people go a life time with never having an exploding window while I have had 3 ! the glass repair shop I was referred to by the Ford dealership has stated that by observing the broken window, they are confident that at neither time was the defrost mechanism to blame. If I had not been close to my office on all three occasions..........I am confident that nobody would ever believe my stories!

- Richmond Heights, OH, USA

The driver's window of my 2005 Ford Escape limited makes a horrible squealing sound when opening and closing. This has been occurring for about a year. When taken in for routine maintenance, I have noted this problem. I always get the same report "weather strips are dry" and were lubed. This fix does not alleviate the problem. Since the car was only a little over a year old when the problem began, I find it hard to believe that the weather strips have dried out.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

After a cold night with freezing rain, vehicle had a small layer of ice on rear window which was easily scrapped off after having rear defroster on. Defroster was on approximately 10 minutes. After pulling out of driveway and going approximately 100 yards the rear window exploded. The whole window shattered into tiny pieces. The window was replaced but not by Ford who claimed they were not responsible.

- Latham, NY, USA

I bought a brand new Ford Escape ~ 1.5 years ago. I was driving down the road at ~ 40 mph and suddenly my back windshield exploded. Shards of glass blew into my trunk as well as the back seat. When I went to the Ford dealership, they explained this was not covered under warranty and would not help me. I contacted my insurance company and they referred me to a local glass shop since the dealership was so over-priced. There was no evidence of a foreign object hitting my exterior window, so I would like to warn all Ford Escape owners of this hazard to you and your families.

- Hoboken, NJ, USA

The contact's husband went out in the morning to turn on the defroster. After letting the vehicle warm up for a while she got in the vehicle. While traveling to work she realized back window was shattered. The vehicle was taken to a dealership. They were unable to duplicate the problem. The repairs will be made under warranty.

- Hillsboro, OH, USA

Driving 2005 Ford Escape on 4 lane highway at approximately 70 mph. Outside temperature around 85 deg. Air conditioner was running. Rear driver side door window shattered for no apparent reason. No rock or other projectile found inside the vehicle. No exterior damage on door or surrounding area. Had noticed "squeaking" noise from that general area for quite some time before window shattered. No passengers in rear seats, but would have been injuries if passengers present. Police report was made. Unable to determine cause.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA