Spiky

Well, they re-engineered fuse 27 to solve its melting issue. Should've been a recall, though.

I'm just glad I don't really have a need for the defrost. And I maintain full glass coverage, anyway. That's a benefit since Ford likes to claim it's a glass problem, not an electrical one.

Kung

I like the defrost, but not enough to pay $900 if it ever busts out of warranty (which I've used 2x to replace). Same with the sliding rear window. If I ended up having to replace or fix something, I'd just pay someone aftermarket to put a flat glass or manual sliding window, and then unplug the defrost plug.

PerryB

I just conducted a little experiment with the '13. The mirrors work regardless of the rear window condition BUT if you don't have continuity across the back window (I opened the slider 1" to break the contacts) the indicator light doesn't work so you don't have a status indication. If you have an otherwise good rear window and want to disconnect it as a preventative measure, just pull the left/ground wire and the indicator will still work. If the window is already dead and you want the indicator lamp working, jump the two right wires together.

Blue2016XL

Spiky

I open and close mine constantly when it's over 30 deg. Pretty much any time I want another window open, I open the rear to release air pressure so the wind doesn't pound in our ears. 90k so far. I'm sure someday it will fail, but I plan to use it.

Irishjoe45

Thank you everyone for all the responses and ideas. I've been doing a lot of reading in the forum and I can't believe how big this issue is and how unresponsive Ford is in wanting to provide resolution. I saw in one of the many postings a couple owners had success using electrical contact cleaner so I bought a can on Amazon for $6 and I'm going to give it a try when it arrives. There's a couple postings where owners pulled the plastic cover off of the contacts and the elevtrical contacts were extremely dirty. I drive a lot with the rear window open so there's a good possibility that dirt worked it's way on the contacts and maybe cleaning the contacts will work. Heck, for $6 it's worth a try. If it doesn't no biggie other than being annoyed that the rear defroster doesn't work because I found out this morning that the heated mirrors still work even though the Amber light in the button doesn't illuminate. My F150 has treated me well through the years with only minor problems so i can't complain too much. Thanks again everyone!

Blue2016XL

Thanks, that's good to know. I found that I can open the driver's window all the way or anywhere in-between and the passenger side rear around 1/4 to 1/3 of the way open and I don't get the pounding either. I also get a fairly quiet breeze through the cab. Pretty close to when I did try driving with the rear window open shortly after I got the truck to try it out.

PerryB

What are you, an Eskimo?!

Spiky

Similar: Minnesotan.