NHTSA Complaint #10667064 — 2013 FORD F-150

THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED! AFTER HAVEN DRIVEN FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF IN -04 DEGREE F TEMPERATURES, WITH THE MIRROR DEFROSTER ON, WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I GOT OUT AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE TINKLING SOUND THAT SHATTERED GLASS MAKES AS IT FALLS TO THE GROUND. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE REAR WINDOW AND IN COMBINATION WITH THE MIRROR DEFROST SYSTEM IS A CRUDE "OPEN LOOP" HEATING SYSTEM THAT WORKS ON A TIMER INSTEAD OF A TEMPERATURE FEEDBACK LOOP TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE GLASS. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ALSO TIED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRROR DEFROSTERS, SO WHEN YOU TURN THE MIRROR DEFROSTER ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ALSO ON. I HAVE A CAP ON THE TRUCK SO THE REAR WINDOW DOESN'T SEE AS MUCH COLD AIR AS THE MIRRORS DO, BUT ALL THREE STAY ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. THERE IS A TIMER CIRCUIT THAT TURNS THE DEFROSTER OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES AND THE MIRRORS IMMEDIATELY FROST BACK UP ONCE IT TURNS OFF, SO I HIT THE BUTTON AND THEY COME BACK ON AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY 10 MINUTES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES OR THE MIRRORS ARE UNUSABLE. I DON'T NEED THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, BUT I NEED THE MIRROR DEFROSTER. SO MY THEORY IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE "CHEAP" DESIGN OF THE WINDOW DEFROSTER SYSTEM, THE REAR WINDOW OVER HEATED TO THE POINT THAT THE PRESSURE DEVELOPED INSIDE THE CAB WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR SHATTERED THE OVERHEATED GLASS. THE VERY SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ON 12-10-2014. *TR