NHTSA Complaint #11419396 — 2019 FORD F-150

2019 Ford F-150 was turned on using Remote Start feature. I allowed the truck to run for about 10 minutes before getting into the driver seat. When I closed my Driver Side Door, the Rear Windshield shattered. I immediately exited the vehicle and took photos of the shattered glass. Broken glass fell into my back seat and even into the bed of the truck. Thankfully no one was sitting in the back passenger seats. My local Ford Dealership, where I am leasing said vehicle from, advised me to bring the truck in so they could have a look at it. I advised them that the back windshield was falling apart and glass was continuing to fall into the back seat and into the outside bed/trunk. A service advisor told me they can’t do anything unless I bring it in. I sent them the photos I took and clarified to them that the window will surely break apart more if I drive it. The dealership said that’s fine, just bring it in. I wrapped the back windshield, best as I could, with garbage bags. As to not allow for the falling glass to come into the vehicle and strike me or others while driving. When I arrived at my Local Ford Dealership, a Service Advisor told me that I was not the first case of this occurring. The Service Advisor told me she has seen quite a few Ford F-150’s come in with owners complaining about spontaneous shattering of the back windshield. I asked her what is the cause of such an unusual occurrence. The Service Advisor told me it had to do with the rear window defroster. My rear window defroster was turned on and active at the time and moment the back window shattered. The remote start feature for the truck, always turns the rear defroster on. A quick online search, will also prove that Ford has been neglecting this issue and has not been willing to help their customers fix their back windshields. This is absolutely unacceptable and an enormous safety hazard. Not only for passengers within the vehicle but motorist on roadways, who happen to be driving behind the truck.