NHTSA Complaint #11383787 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A NEARBY PARK, PARKED THE VEHICLE, TOOK MY DOG OUT OF THE BACK, AND CLOSED THE THE REAR LIFTGATE/HATCHBACK IN A NORMAL FASHION. WE WERE JUST WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR WHEN THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. IT WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH FLYING GLASS. THE WHOLE WINDOW BLEW OUT. IT WAS SO EXTREME THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PARKING LOT JUMPED OUT OF THEIR CARS IN ALARM AND CAME OVER TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. NOTHING HAD HIT THE WINDOW. NOTHING WAS TOUCHING THE WINDOW. THE TEMPERATURE WAS NOT EXTREME--COOL AND DAMP BUT NOT COLD. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THIS AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE FLYING GLASS. IF IT HAD HAPPENED SECONDS EARLIER I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR MY PET COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED, OR BOTH. I NOTE THAT I HAD PUSHED THE REAR DEFROST BUTTON WHILE DRIVING TO CLEAR UP SOME FOGGING BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND THE BIG DOG WAS BACK THERE, BUT THAT WAS NORMAL USE.