NHTSA Complaint #741877 — 2001 FORD F-250

DRIVER OF THE TRUCK LIZABETH SALINAS, DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 25 FROM COLORADO SPRINGS TO DENVER, VERY COLD OUTSIDE, APPROX 17 DEGREES , WELL BELOW FREEZING, I HAD THE HEAT ON THE LOWER VENTS ONLY, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES I SWITCHED THE HEAT TO COME OUT THE DASH VENTS, SOON AFTER WITHOUT WARNING THE GLASS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW EXPLODED. I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE IN THE CAB, THE MAJORITY OF THE GLASS WAS IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT AND FLOOR, GLASS WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAD THE GLASS REPLACED WHILE I WAS AT WORK IN DENVER ($240.00 MY EXPENSE) DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE PAINT OUTSIDE RIGHT DOOR AND SIDE OF TRUCK ALSO THE RUBBER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THE INSIDE PLASTIC DOOR SURFACE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE PAINT AND BODY WORK ON THE TRUCK, IT IS FORDS RESPONSIBILITY ANYWAY. I AM SUFFERING AN INJURED LEFT SHOULDER AND EAR ACHE IN MY RIGHT EAR. I NOTICED THE VENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE DASH WAS FACING DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT WINDOW. I BELIEVE THE HIGH HEAT BLOWING DIRECTLY ON THE GLASS CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE DURING OUR COLD WEATHER. THESE VENTS NEED TO BE LOWER SO THEY DON'T DIRECT INTENSE HEAT DIRECTLY ON THE GLASS, THIS MODEL TRUCK HAS THE LOWER CUT FRONT PART OF THE WINDOW TO ACCOMODATE THE NEW LARGER SIDE VIEW MIRRRORS. LUCKILY I HAD NO PASSENGER AND MAINTAINED CONTROL, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. DURING WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS MOST FAMILIES CHOOSE TO DRIVE THEIR TRUCKS, TURNING ON THE HEAT IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.*AK