Used remote start to warm vehicle and the 1/3 of the rear glass (the driver's side) exploded and spidered. Research shows this is a common problem and likely due to faulty defroster. Ford doesn't part out the glass so the entire rear window needs to be replaced at a cost of over $650. My vehicle is garaged when at home and is in excellent condition with only 51400 miles. Since it is over 36000 miles, ford won't do anything or assist with costs.
2013 Ford F-150 visibility complaints
Page 6 of 7: complaints 131 to 160 of 190, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Was heading to work around 750 a.m. And heard a loud pop, like a rock hitting a window. I checked all my windows and noticed my back driver side window was busted. At the time, I had my rear defroster on. I did not hit a pothole prior or during the event. I was traveling about 60 m.p.h.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford f-150. While the vehicle was warming up in the morning, the rear heated sliding window exploded and shattered. The vehicle was taken to the manufacturer where it was diagnosed that the heating element failed and the window needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000. Updated 01/31/17
Started truck with remote(fob), yesterday morning. I needed to defrost my windows as well. On my way to work,twenty minutes later, I heard what sounded like a gun blast. I thought someone had shot my truck or threw a rock. I looked in my rearview window and the rear driver side window was shattered. I pulled into a parking lot and no signs of impact by a foreign object. The window was completely shattered. After researching this, I see that this seems to be a defective defroster contributing to spontaneous shattering of rear windows on the f150. I called the dealer and they're giving me "I've never heard of this" I'm not buying it. Also, if this had happened today, my small child would have been sitting right there. This is not okay and ford should repair these for customers.
During the start up of my 2013 ford f-150, I proceeded to utilize the rear defroster to get the ice off the rear window. The rear window is comprised of 3 panels of glass, one on each side and the sliding window in the center. Last week, the rear defroster worked intermittently, after several attempts at depressing the button it would eventually turn on, not a week later it does not work at all. Thinking it was possibly the fuse or a problem with the button itself, I searched online to find out if there was something I could do, and found that this is a common issue and requires replacement of the entire back glass and that some had this covered under warranty. I called the ford dealership and talked to the repair department and was told by the manager that he has the same vehicle and the same problem and that the only way to get the rear defrost to work is to replace the entire back glass and that the cost is around $2200. Searching online on the f150 forum boards finds that this is a common problem and the fix is replacement of the entire backglass. Because my vehicle has 50,000 miles and is past the 36,000 miles of the warranty it is not fords problem. As this is a safety issue (visibility through back glass) I searched on the governments recall website here and found similar complaints and that many have also experienced the windowing cracking, spidering and exploding when using ' which tells me do not turn on the rear defrost for fear of a broken window exploding while im driving. This is a safety hazard as it distorts and skews my vision and ability to see out of it safely until I can attempt to have ford rectify this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a loud bang noise coming from the vehicle. The contact discovered that the driver side rear panel window shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
While opening the sunroof it binds on passenger side and does not open. The sunroof was to be manually manipulated to close while holding down the motor button. Ford has issued a tsb, but if this is a widespread problem, a recall should be issued.
Went out to truck one afternoon and the driver side back window was completely shattered. No previous damage or cracks. No apparent damage to vehicle or marks on window. Window was bowed slightly outward with a "crack" going from one corner to the other through the spider webbing. Weather has been quite warm recently, appears to be a stress fracture most likely due to temperature.
A crack appeared on 4/26/16 beginning at the lower seal of the windshield, and extending about 8" upward. The crack was first noted after the vehicle was stationary for approximately 4 hours. There are no nicks present that might indicate this was caused by road debris.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford f-150. Without warning, the windshield wiper blades failed to shut off and damaged the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the windshield wiper motor prematurely failed. The part was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000. Updated 05/11/16*lj
It snowed some last night, this morning I started my truck and attempted to turn on the rear window defroster, but the light would not turn on. (I have the 3 panel window with a sliding rear window in the center) after some investigation online, I cannot convince myself to try and use the defroster again because of the risk of the window exploding. Now not being able to use the defroster is also causing a visibility issue when the window fogs up. It makes it very difficult to switch lanes and merge. It requires a lot of trust in the side mirrors which do not provide enough visibility to make the safest decisions when merging in traffic. My truck was stationary when I was trying to get the rear defroster/defogger to turn on, and I attempted several times, including shutting the engine off and starting it again. Ford should know of this problem with all the complaints on forums and several dealers know of this issue as well. Ford will not cover parts for this because they say its a part of the glass, which is not covered in warranty. I am writing this in hope to get the federal safety agency to review these windows before mine may implode and cause glass to shatter all over the back seat which may have people in it when it could occur.
Back window shattered when remote start was turned on.
3/5/16: after starting my 2013 f150 xlt remotely to warm up, I proceeded to back down my driveway. I heard a loud pop which startled me enough to stop thinking I may have hit something (I did not). Upon inspection, I found the drivers side portion of the three piece sliding rear window was shattered. I looked online and found this to be a common occurence linked to the rear defroster.
I was sitting stationary at a red light in sugar land, texas. I had the rear window defroster on, and I heard a loud "pop", almost like a gunshot. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw my driver side rear window was shattered. Upon further checking, there was no external damage to the window. After reading numerous posts online, it appears there is an issue with this occurring. I believe the rear window defroster heated the glass too much, causing the window to shatter. Pieces of glass fell into my daughter's carseat. Had she been sitting there, she would have been covered in glass.
Drivers side section of the rear sliding glass (there are 3 sections of glass) has imploded into hundreds of small pieces of glass. The glass is still holding in place, but it would not take much to make it collapse. Nothing hit the glass or put it in a bind. Normal street/highway driving. The vehicle was stationary/parked when the implosion occurred.
Intermittent problems with the rear defrost last couple of months. Then, last night, the temperature was about 20f. I turned rear defrost on and the light for the defroster went out and wouldn't turn back on. A couple of minutes later, I heard a loud bang from the back and the passenger's side stationary window pane was shattered.
I own a 2013 ford f-150, fx4 ecoboost, while driving in regular conditions on a tropical weather, a few minutes after turning on the rear window defroster I heard a loud noise, like a gunshot, then realize the rear (driver side) window of my truck had shattered spontaneously. Upon inspection there were no signs of impact on either side. I was really concerned because I had a toddler sitting on a car seat in the middle of the backseat. After looking up in the internet I found dozens of people that have experienced the same issue most of them with a negative response from the dealers. As of now I'm trying to work the issue out with an authorized dealership in my local area. But if I get a negative response, I'll have to go thru my insurance and pay a premium increase since the cost of repairs are around $1,200.00. Ford and the window manufacturer carlite should definitely look into this issue and respond for this fault.
A short in the rear defroster has caused my window to shatter. This happened for no reason conditions were clear and temp was about 6 degrees f.
Remote started the vehicle, as is done most mornings. After about a 10 minute warm up, I leave for work. Travelling down the road, the temperature is 6 degrees and I notice what looks like ice on the driver side pane of the rear windshield. I attempt to turn on the defrost and it doesn't work. I then realize this pane of glass is actually shattered and it is not ice as thought before. After doing research, I see that this is somewhat of a common problem. I am not sure exactly what caused the problem, but assume it must be related to the defroster as I am sure it is automatic with the remote start below certain temperatures.
Pickup truck has sliding rear window with rear defrost. After using defrost for approximately 10 minutes the rear window shattered with a loud pop. The vehicle was stopped at the time.
After remotely starting my truck, I was sitting in the driver's seat putting on my seat belt and preparing to start driving home when I heard a loud "bang". I got out thinking that something hit the truck, but saw no sign of anything like that had occur. After arriving at home, I opened the back door on the driver's side to retrieve my work belongings, that is when I noticed that the driver's side panel of the rear window was shattered and completely spider-webbed. The temperature at the time of this occurrence was approximately 32 degrees fahrenheit. The remote start setting for the rear defroster is set to automatic, so I don't know if it came on during the remote start. The vehicle was stationary and idling at the time of the incident. The vehicle is a 2013 ford f-150 fx4 with 27,000 miles. The vehicle is equipped with rear defroster and a power rear window.
Put on rear defrost while driving in 28 degree temp on city street 25mph and seconds later heard what sounded like a gunshot only to find the back window shattered. Dealer said they here of this on occasion because the defrost heats up so quickly and hot that it can shatter a cold window. This could be very dangerous to human life
"window shattered" driving straight ahead on roadway for approximately 10mins when suddenly the rear window shattered. The rear window on my f150 is a 3 piece window with the center piece being a slider. The left rear window shattered. Temperature was upper 20's and rear defroster was on. There was no intentional act and, this was obvious a defect of some kind occurred. Photos were taken and a police report was filed for documentation purposes. Complaint made with ford and a claim # was provided but no assistance provided whatsoever.
Remote started my vehicle. Got in vehicle and heard a loud bang. Upon inspection I discovered my left rear window panel was completely shattered. Vehicle was stationary at the time and still in park. Not sure of root cause. Did research problem and found several similar issues. Most were determined to be related the the defrost system. Apparently ford is aware of the issue but to date has not issued a recall nor have they issued a bulletin.
2013 f150 ford parked outside on driveway. Sunny with temperature roughly 32 degrees fahrenheit. Remote start used to warm up truck. Walking out to truck when a loud bang/gunshot type of sound happened without warning. Walked around truck and saw that driver's side of the power sliding rear window (3 sections) had started to spider crack. This part of the window then continued to crack until the whole section was spider cracked. (the sharp edges of glass were on the inside of vehicle window.) the vehicle was taken to dealer for evaluation but was told it is out of warranty. The dealer estimated replacement cost is $1,200-1,300 usd. (parts and labor).
Back window shattered, power sliding back window (drivers side, 3 part back window). Used rear defrost for a few minutes and it blew up at a stoplight, sounded like a gunshot.
Power rear middle window shattered when truck was sitting still in parking lot. Rear window defroster was on while driving truck. Windshield wiper come on every twenty seconds with switch in off position
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford f-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and remotely started, the rear drivers side glass shattered without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,450.
2013 ford f-150 lariat super crew: april 17, 2015: driving south on rt 95 to boston, my wife (driver) turned on the rear window defroster to clear fog from windows and side mirrors. There was a sudden loud "gun shot" type of noise that startled us both. We looked at windshield to see if we had been hit and for cracks; there was nothing. Once stopped and looking over the truck we discovered that the rear window/back lite on driver's side had shattered. I ran my hand over the entire window searching for an impact point, or mark and there was absolutely nothing. We both wondered aloud as to how this window just shattered on its own. Once home, I went on the internet to look up possible causes and discovered that there are many, many cases of the exact same thing happening to ford pickups. I called ford customers service today and spoke at length with "angela" who seemed to understand the safety issue of windows shattering while driving but after putting me on hold to check with someone, said that there is nothing ford can do until a recall is issued, if ever. I told her that there is nearly 60 complaints on this issue on the federal safety agency site, along with scores of others in ford forums, etc. This number apparently is not enough of a safety issue for ford to respond, but common sense dictates that its only a matter of time until something very serious occurs from ford f-150 windows shattering while driving in traffic. This is a serious issue!
The vehicle heater kicks out of recirculation mode after 5 or 10 minutes. This often brings outside auto fumes into the vehicle. In order to stop the fumes and use recirc again you have to push that button, taking your eyes off the road. The dealer says to use 'max air' but that results in hot air blowing in your face. Both situations require distracted driving, a safety risk. I would like for the recirc mode to remain as long as I want.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2013 Ford F-150?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history