NHTSA Complaint #10690132 — 2012 FORD F-150

INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY 2-21-15 AT OR ABOUT 3:30PM. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30MPH WHEN A VERY LOUD BANG WAS HEARD INSIDE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OVER A QUICK GLANCE AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE REVEALED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE PORTION OF THE 3 PIECE REAR GLASS OF THE CAB HAS SHATTERED. THE GLASS REMAINS IN PLACE BUT HAD "SPIDERWEBED" AND IS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. UPON INSPECTION ON THE OUTSIDE, NO SIGNS OF IMPACT ARE VISIBLE AND THE POINT OF ORIGIN OF THE CRACKS APPEARS TO BE THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER WHERE THE GLASS IS COVERED BY THE RUBBER MOLDING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS ABOUT 25 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND SNOWING, ALL SNOW HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM VEHICLE PRIOR TO DRIVING AND THE REAR DE-FROST/DE-FOGGER HAD BEEN RUN AND TURNED OFF ABOUT 10 MINS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS GLASS WITH THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN THESE CONDITIONS, SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO THIS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ARTICLE WRITTEN ON THIS SUBJECT. I PLACED A CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE GLASS AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED THROUGH FORD (FORD ESP PREMIUM) DOES NOT COVER GLASS. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GIVEN AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE 3/36 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FAILURE OF THE DESIGN FROM THE FACTORY THAT FORD IS AWARE OF. *TR