NHTSA Complaint #10690742 — 2012 FORD F-150

ON FEBRUARY 19 2015 I REMOTE STARTED MY F150 IN THE DRIVEWAY TO WARM IT UP. I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND PUT ON THE REAR DEFROSTER TO CLEAR THE MIRRORS AND REAR WINDOW. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS LIKE AN EXPLOSION INSIDE VEHICLE. I LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE GLASS. PREVIOUSLY THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER ON MARCH 27 2014 FOR AN INOPERATIVE REAR DEFROSTER SYSTEM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS AN OPEN IN THE RESISTER IN THE DEFROSTER GRID AND THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. FORD CORPORATE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE WINDOW COULDN'T SHATTER BY TURNING ON THE DEFROSTER AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THE UNIT. I CALLED THE FORD CORPORATE NUMBER AND LODGED A COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER. THEY HAD THE DEALER SEND THEM PICTURES OF THE SHATTERED GLASS. FORD CORPORATE DENIED MY CLAIM AND I WAS TOLD TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE GLASS COVERAGE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS INSURANCE FRAUD IN MY OPINION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY GLASS REPAIR SHOP AND THE OWNER TOOK A CAREFUL LOOK AT THE SHATTERED GLASS AND SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED IT NO CHARGE SINCE THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE. FORD IS LAYING THE BURDEN OF A DEFECTIVE GLASS ASSEMBLY OFF TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *JS