This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The line that sprays the windshield washer fluid freezes up ALL THE TIME when it is cold out. This makes it almost impossible to see at times. I end up having to pull over on the side of the road and try to get it working again. The thing I found that works the best is pinching the hose in different areas and then pouring washer fluid on the line through the spaces in the cover. I was out for the last three hours and it never worked a single time! This is EXTREMELY dangerous to both myself and my passengers (which includes my wife and 10 year old son)...but also to every other driver or pedestrian out on the road. Every time I take it into a Ford dealership they claim not to know anything about the problem and they don't know how it can be fixed. I know how it can be fixed. Run the hose on the INSIDE of the hood like every other vehicle so that the engine heat can keep it warm. Instead...Ford runs it in this plastic cavity in between the hood and the windshield. And if it's not bad enough that it's exposed to the cold....they then put vent slits in the housing even further exposing it to the elements. The fact that washer fluid, that is designed not freeze in the first place, is somehow freezing in the lines so neither nozzle works is crazy to me. I have never had this happen on a vehicle before, but is a CONSTANT problem with my Platinum F-150.
Windshield washer fluid line (under hood) constantly freezes up- causing sprayers not to spray which is EXTREMELY dangerous from a visibility standpoint. Windows become quickly caked with slush and dirt from wet/ snow-filled roads. This happens multiple times, regardless of the type of windshield washer fluid that is used. Husband constantly needs to stop/ get out to correct the issue. Husband has taken our vehicle into one auto repair shop- they were unable to correct the issue. Spoke w/ another this weekend and the auto repair tech said it is a known issue and he actually has the same issue w/ his truck. He wasn't aware of a fix. He stated that he actually carries around extra water bottles so he can spray his windshield at stop signs when the windshield becomes hard to see through. My husband is not a mechanic-- but he believes the issue may be the placement of the windshield washer fluid line. Please google this issue-- there are multiple complaints online.
My name is [XXX]. My girlfriend and I bought a used 2016 F-150 truck back in July 2021, about 3 months earlier. We were driving yesterday (Oct 19, 2021) out from a Panera parking lot and suddenly, all we heard was a loud bang, almost like a gunshot. We did not know what it was originally so we looked around and saw the rear window had exploded into million pieces and shattered. Luckily, we did not have any pets/children/people sitting in the back, otherwise this would be a trip to the emergency room as the shatters were all over the back seat and inside the truck bed. When we came home, we looked online and found multiple incidents that this happens with the F-150 and Ford has not issued a public recall or done anything to prevent it. We called our dealer that we bought the truck from and they denied/pretended to not know what we were talking about and gave us a 3rd party to get a quote to repair the glass (which we found out it was almost $1000!) We tried and called another Ford dealer, and alas, same thing happened. They blatantly denied and pretended that they did not know or hear anything like that before, even though, if you do a quick google search, thousands of owners had had this issue! This is a safety issue and Ford needs to own it and do something about it. For us we were lucky to not transport anyone with us, otherwise I would imagine pieces of glass would be implanted in faces, eyes, bodies, ...The vehicle that we were driving is in top shape and insured. All maintenance is done and up to date, even recalls have been done on the truck. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Rear window glass spontaneously shattered. Sounded like a gunshot when it happened. Defroster was on. There are numerous instances on various Ford forums of this problem having occurred on F150s
1. THE WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. i HAD T PULL THE FUSE TO GET THEM TO STOP. aS A RESULT, THE WIPERS LEFT SEVERAL SCRATCHES ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. 2. THE DRIVERS SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DOES NOT FULLY EXTENT TO THE FULL HEIGHT SIMILAR TO THE PASSENGER SEAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT. AS A SHORT PERSON THIS MIKJES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. ADDITIONALY, THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEAT HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK.
- Fredericksburg, VA, USA
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Rear window/windshield shattered for no apparent reason when getting into the vehicle and closing the front driver side door. Vehicle was parked in driveway.
While driving in northern Michigan in 10 degree weather during heavy snow falling I was unable to use defrost function to clear windshield, upon cycling through all heat options found that only the dash vents were working. Took it to dealer for repair and they stated the A/C blend door actuator motor failed. Ford oem replacement part is backordered until mid-March, they installed an aftermarket one but it does not function properly, now waiting for oem part to replace it with. Only 57,000 miles.
Windshield wipers started locking up in cycle, full speed or intermittent mode. Replaced $150 wiper motor myself, cured problem. Vehicle only had 48,000 miles, could have stopped working completely at any time, very dangerous.
I remote started my vehicle and a few minutes later I loaded my daughter into her carseat and began driving. I drove about 10 feet and stopped to get out when I realized I forgot my wallet inside. At that time, while the vehicle was stationary, I heard a loud smashing sound. I looked back into the direction the sound came from and saw that the entire back window was shattered and some glass had fallen onto my daughter. I contacted a local Ford dealership and then Ford Motor Company and neither company acknowledged my concern. Ford didn't even get any personal information from me before they disconnected my call.
This evening on 1/28/2021 at 6:55pm, while parked at a shell gas station in St charles, il about to get gasoline, the entire back window suddenly exploded. There was a very loud bang, followed by a burning smell. The rear defroster was not turned on, the inside cabin was set to 72 degrees farenheit. I was the only one in the vehicle but I kept thinking, what would have happened if my children were in the back seat. There was glass strewn about the inside and exterior of the vehicle. I have called the shell station located at 2500 E main St, St charles, il in an attempt to acquire the video surveillance which should show that there was no outside damage or impact. Additionally I was on the phone with a friend at the time who also heard the explosion. The vehicle was completely stationary.
I remote started the truck while parked in my driveway first thing in the morning, while I got my son ready for daycare. The weather conditions was raining and roughly 35 degrees. Once my son was loaded into the car seat I closed his door and heard the window crack. I looked back to see the back rear windshield had spider webbed and shattered. The glass was blown from the inside out on the driver side. I have photos of were the defrost strip had arced/separated causing the window to shatter. I looked online and saw several other examples of this on the exact same model of truck. I was recommended to prevent this in the future was to pull the defrost fuse.
While driving in a remote area no trees, people or anything that could have hit the window, when the rear windshield exploded. The evidence seems to point towards the rear defrost heating elements getting too hot. Its important to note that the heat defrost was not on at the time. Outside temperatures 55 degrees and sunny. The fix is not complete yet but I have an appointment at safelite auto to get the windshield replaced. I called Ford, they said that it is not covered under warranty and there's nothing that they can do. The total cost of the repair is $679.
After parking, shut my drivers side door and the rear windshield started to crack and fall apart. Noticed my rear defroster melted the rear window decal. After online research I believe I am having the same problem others drivers have had with a defective rear defroster that over heats the rear window and heat stresses it to a point where a simple door shutting action will be enough to crack and shatter the windshield.
While driving my truck I started smelling smoke. As I made a turn I saw smoke coming from under the rear seat. I tried pulling over asap but had to drive another 100 yards. A loud bang went off when I pulled over. As I exit the car I found my rear window had shattered into thousand of pieces. My truck smell like a fire and window damage is very dangerous.
I started my car with remark start around 7:25 am got into the truck at 7:30 drive to work parked and when I came back from work the rear window was shattered. My truck has claimant control and seems to have turned on defrosters in the morning.
Same issue as report 11308430 - activated remote start with truck in driveway; when I came out to drive away, the rear windshield was shattered. The climate settings are set to the factory default for remote start. There was no indication of the defroster connection issue mentioned because this was a warm summer day and the default setting indicates that the defroster should not have engaged and the dealership saw no evidence that it did. The truck is certified pre-owned, but Ford claimed this to be an issue with the glass, which is not covered under this warranty, thus Ford was unwilling to provide assistance with the repair cost.
I got in my truck this morning 5/24/2020 closed my drivers door and heard a loud pop like a gun shot. I looked back and my rear glass exploded. Glass went everywhere. The truck had not been driven anywhere for 3 days. The truck has 42000 miles. The truck had 38 miles when I purchased it. This happened again in 2018. I went and got in the truck and started it. I heard a loud pop and the sliding glass in the rear window exploded. The truck had under 20000 miles. Ford would not cover it. I have read articles that state the problem may be the defroster getting to hot and shattering the glass. All I know is this is the second time in two years for this truck. The truck was not moving each time.
Remote started my 2016 F150, truck ran no more than 5 min. I was about ten feet away walking toward the vehicle, I heard a loud bang like a gun shot, starting looking around and found my rear slider window shattered. I never use the rear window defrost function. After researching this I found out when you remote start this vehicle it turns the defrost on. I have had a vehicles with rear window defrost, never had one do this. It was pretty expensive repair. Thankful my grandchildren were not in the rear seat at the time. ( vehicle was stationary ) this seems to be a common problem with these rear windows on these trucks.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Otsego, MN, USA