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*2016 F150 XLT Super Crew with the max towing package.
Now that this has happened twice I figured I'd ask. May of 2019 I was towing my daughter's Kia Soul on an open trailer from Ohio to Florida. I was under the weight specs. On the way down my windshield cracked in two places at the top right corner above the front passenger seat. The cracks started from the top edge of the windshield. There were no impact marks.
March of 2020 I was pulling a small horse trailer from Florida to Ohio. While on 77 in NC my right rear side window completely shattered making a huge boom that scared the sh*t out of me. My initial thought was that something hit it, but the area I was in was open and rural. No one could have thrown something at it.
So now I've had two apparent stress fractures to windows while towing. There was no significant temperature change on either occasion. Is this a thing? Is the body flexing so much that it's breaking windows? I love my truck, but I shouldn't have to be replacing windows like this.
The rear window is enclosed in the door frame which is completely separated from the rest of the frame by the rubber seal around the door... besides that's an f150 not a tundra ...Chevy or Dodge... make sure your ex is not trying to take you out...lol
No accidents on your truck? At any rate, that sounds like a serious structural issue if there's no sign of any impact. If that's the case, I'd get it checked asap. You could do it yourself, at least initially, to see if you find an obvious defect on the frame. Pay particular attention to all cross-members. And sub-frames too. Might have to remove spare tire, and all belly pans, for a thorough inspection. Good luck, but that's not normal at all.
No accidents on your truck? At any rate, that sounds like a serious structural issue if there's no sign of any impact. If that's the case, I'd get it checked asap. You could do it yourself, at least initially, to see if you find an obvious defect on the frame. Pay particular attention to all cross-members. And sub-frames too. Might have to remove spare tire, and all belly pans, for a thorough inspection. Good luck, but that's not normal at all.
No crashes. What would I be looking for as far as structural issues? Are you talking about obvious frame damage or something like cracks in certain places?
Its got to be the body flexing from either a factory defect or more likely stress from something going on with the trailer hookups.
Are you using the stock tow hitch?
I'd start by checking the tow hitch for looseness, its centered, bent, hitch receiver ball mount drop matches the trailer, etc.
Hard to imagine the right side rear door window shattering due to stress with causing significant damage to the door. Are there any problems with it opening/closing/sealing? That one really sounds like an impact of some sort.
Hard to imagine the right side rear door window shattering due to stress with causing significant damage to the door. Are there any problems with it opening/closing/sealing? That one really sounds like an impact of some sort.
I agree with you and what Fordbeats said above. It seems less likely that the door window was due to the body flexing. It was odd though that both happened while towing heavier trailers on the highway. I had the window replaced with OEM glass, and it's fine now. I've never had any issues with the door.
2016 XLT - Cracking Windows While Towing?
