So my 2011 XLT Eco-Scab 4x4 just did the magic Ford exploding trick to me this morning. My sequence of events:

1. 2 inches of snow overnight
2. Approximately 32 degrees F
3. Remote started the truck for about 5 minutes
4. Cleaned the snow off the truck with a soft brush including rear windows
5. Opened my door and placed my coffee cup in the center console
6. Stepped on my running board and heard a loud 'pop' like a rock hitting the windshield or something. Scared the %$(^ out of me.
7. Looked the running board area up and down along with the driver front and rear doors for any damage. Didn't see anything so thought I was hearing things. Ugh!
8. Got in the truck and put my key in the ignition and tried to turn on my rear defrosters. No light, thought "that is strange".
9. Got about a 15 minutes into my drive and saw what I thought was ice on my passenger side rear window. Thought to myself, it isn't cold enough for my windows to ice over regardless of if my defrosters are working.
10. Realized about 15 minutes later that the panel was shattered. WTF!
11. Double checked when I got to office and sure enough, it is toasted (pun intended).
12. Immediately searched "2011 Shattered Rear Window" and found all kinds of people with the same issue.

My question is do I bother with Ford and/or my already less then helpful dealer or just call my insurance (probably causing a jump in my premium, "wait I need this repair which I have already paid you triple the cost of over the life of the car and now you need to raise my rates ???!!!) which has glass coverage? What is Ford's number? And I would like to report this to the NHTSA if Ford will not do anything.

 

Cant hurt to take it to a dealer if you have warranty. although it sounds more and more like Ford is letting the insurance companies or the owner pick up the tab.


Question for the group. Has anyone had luck getting the window replaced prior to explosion for defrost lines that do not work. Mine has a couple that dont and since the certified warranty does cover the electric I would think that would count as electrical failure under the warranty.

 

Evidence ... BTW, yes, that is my 6 month old's car seat, which is why I am truly upset about this. What if it shattered and she was sitting right below this POS rear window that Ford is denying????

 

I am long past my warranty (66,000+ miles) so I think I maybe SOL. I wish there was TSB or recall on this then I would have a leg to stand on!

Seems like it has been a problem since at least model year 2010. Just ridiculous Ford hasn't stepped up to the plate. I absolutely love my truck and have little to complain about. . . But crap like this makes me want to move on, not that other manufacturers don't pull the same nonsense.

<rant over>

 

That sucks jim, glad to your child wasnt in that spot when the window shattered!

 

Really hate hearing these stories especially with the temperature dropping lately. Nothing like having to pay for a design flaw that the company won't admit to

 

I hear ya. glad your kiddo wasnt there. Mine sits on the drivers side. I still have warranty but seeing how they ignore it I have decided I just cant use mine. We had our first snow this past weekend and it could have been handy. Also Reminds me I need to pull my fuse so I can still use the mirror heat. I just keep a full spray bottle of ice melt. figure I gotta do the sides anyways.

good luck!

 

I purposely put my 2 child seats in the d.s., and middle seat positions to avoid any issues with my 12's power sliders p.s. glass!

 

Happened to my 2011 last week. Truck has 80,000 + miles so I just went ahead and called the insurance company.

 

I may try moving her car seat to the middle. She doesn't fit behind me (6'-4") on the drivers side of my Scab.

Definitely going to pull the rear defroster fuse so I can use my side mirror defroster. Ridiculous this is what I need to do on a $40k+ vehicle.