NHTSA Complaint #10547069 — 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

DRIVING APPROX 30-40MPH ON STANDARD HIGHWAY. FLORIDA, 0700, 70 DEGREES, CLEAR WEATHER. HEARD A LOUD ALMOST EXPLOSION... BY THE TIME I GOT MY WITS ABOUT ME I REALIZED MY REAR WINDOW WAS BROKEN. I HAD NOT BEEN HIT, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROJECTILE, AND NOT NEAR OPPOSING TRAFFIC FOR SOMETHING TO BE KICKED UP. SHORTLY BEFORE THAT, I HAD ON BOTH MY FRONT VENT DEFROSTER TO CLEAR THE MORNING WINDSHIELD FOG, AND THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. I SMELLED A SORT OF RUBBER BURNING SMELL; AFTER 2 MINUTES, I PRESUMED IT WAS MY AC UNIT, SO I SHUT IT OFF TO SEE IF THE SMELL WOULD DISSIPATE. I DID NOT SHUT OF THE REAR DEFROSTER. ABOUT 60S LATER IS WHEN THE SPONTANEOUS BURST HAPPENED. I HAVE SINCE RUN THE FRONT AC AND WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, AND NO HOT RUBBER ODOR. I HAD JUST RUN THE REAR DEFROSTER 3 DAYS AGO AS WELL, NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN. I DO FIND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ONLINE IN THE 4RUNNER, BUT DO NOT FIND ANY TOYOTA, OR OTHER SAFETY BULLETINS, FORMAL NOTICES, OR LIABILITIES. *TR