10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 51,531 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. When the electronic rear defrost system was activated, an abnormal bang sound emitted from the rear of the vehicle without warning. The contact discovered that the rear passenger side panel had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
- Yulee, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. While attempting to start the vehicle, the rear defroster was activated and the rear window shattered. The passenger side fixed section shattered because of the failure of the defroster. The contact had also noticed that the defroster wires were burned and were heated, which caused the glass to shatter. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic; however, the window was replaced multiple times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure multiple times. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.
- Mogadore, OH, USA
I was stopped at a red light on the way to work this morning. It was 55 deg out, and I had the rear defroster on because there was condensation on the back window. I heard a loud pop like a rock had hit the car and looked back to see smoke and my passenger side rear window panel shattered. When I looked closer, the plastic trim on the corner of the window was melted, and I could see burn marks on the corner of the glass. It turns out it's a very common problem for the 2010 model year F-150. I searched "Ford F-150 rear window defroster burning" in google, and the top result was this: www.glassbytes.com/2013/12/several-Ford-F-150-owners-report-shattering-back-lites-to-NHTSA/ the description of what happened is nearly identical to mine, over and over again. There are 51 instances of this occurring referenced in the comments section of this article alone! photos of my incident are available if needed.
- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
It was cool outside so there was frost on the rear window we turned on the rear defrost. After only a few minutes we heard a loud noise as if something hit the truck, my husband and I got out looked all around the truck when we noticed the window was shatter. I called Ford and they said at this time there is no recall save my receipt if ever goes on recall I may get my money back. In the mean I have to pay for it I think this window problem need to be looked because there are a lot of Ford owners saying the something!
- Lecanto, FL, USA
The rear defrost has been working intermittently for the last couple of weeks. Last week I was driving home and heard a loud explosion which sounded like a gun shot. I was so startled that I swerved into another lane (luckily there was no oncoming traffic). I pulled over and noticed the passenger side of the 3 panel rear window was spidered. We have a 2010 FX4 supercrew.
- Honeoye Falls, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the rear window shattered after the rear defroster was activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,300. Updated 01/09/15 updated 01/13/15
- St Louis, MO, USA
Started the truck with auto start to let it warm up (out temp approx. 38* plus wind chill), turned on defroster in both front and rear. With in 60 seconds there was a loud bang like a gun shot and smoke coming from rear right passenger side back window. When I got out of truck to check it out there was a small flame at base of passenger side back glass and plastic was melting. The inside back seat was warm to touch, I was unable to get seat forward to see if there is any inside damage. There is melted plastic down outside cab of truck. I went on line to () and found that this site had others that experienced this same thing. Even after the truck was off, the back glass remained hot for about 15 minutes. The glass is shattered and is held in place by the after market window tinting.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
I was driving home 3/29/2014. It was late afternoon, raining and about 45F. I had my rear defroster on for about 10 mins when the rear window exploded. It sounded like a gunshot so the first thing I did was test my brakes to make sure I could stop, then scanned the dash and no weird lights. It was when I looked in my rear view seconds later that I saw my passenger side rear window (sliding rear window with 3 sections) was shattered.
- East Rutherford, NJ, USA
At about 4:50 am on 2/4/14 I was driving about 20 mph in 9 degree F temperatures with the rear defrost on for about 8 min. I heard a loud pop like someone threw a rock at my truck. As I was backing into a garage to investigate the mysterious noise, I noticed the passenger side rear glass panel was completely shattered. After researching the issue I can safely say this is a manufacturing defect with the glass and rear defrost.
- Moline, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the rear window defroster was activated when a small spark ignited from the rear passenger's side defroster. A popping and crackling noise was also heard at the time of failure. The vehicle was maneuvered to the shoulder and the flame was no longer visible. In addition, smoke emitted inside of the vehicle. The contact detached the defective fuse for the defroster. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
- Brandywine, WV, USA
Outside temp was 22, while warming up truck, turned on rear window defroster & within 5 minutes; the passenger side rear window shattered. Updated 03/27/13
- Lexington, OH, USA
On my 2010 Ford F150 4X4 truck the right side rear window chattered when I turned on the rear defroster. You can see where there was some kind of energy built up at the base of the window and it exploded out, bending the window thin aluminum outer covering and it has a charred look to it. The rear window in that section is chattered in a million pieces just waiting to crumble out. *...updated 03-20-13
- Matthews, NC, USA
- Kendallville, IN, USA