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8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$640
Average Mileage:
66,050 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace window (6 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
2012 Ford F-150 windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2012 Ford F-150 Owner Comments

problem #11

Jan 152019

F-150 XLT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife was driving into work this morning and heard a loud pop. She thought it was a gun shoot but notice when it got light outside the the back glass had shattered. I called the local dealer and asked him about this and he said he had never heard of it happening. After looking online it appears that this is a common problem and I bet the service person is spoke with had to have heard this before.

- John O., Dawsonville, GA, US

problem #10

Jan 012016

F-150 XLT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Not sure the exact date, but one morning I got in my truck to drive to work and realized my back drivers side window was shattered. I wasn't sure what happened or the cause, until I read some similar posts. Now it makes sense and I'm sure it had to do with the rear defrost. It was a hot summer morning as well. Had to pay $800 out of pocket to fix it. Very frustrating!

- Adam S., Greenwood, IN, US

problem #9

Nov 102018

F-150 Lariat 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Been a Ford man my whole life. Spent plenty of money on Ford Trucks from brand new Expedition Limited to Eddie Bauer Bronco to my Lariat. I will continue to buy Ford, although I will never put my grand child's car seat facing rear again as there was glass all over her face. Not good with no apparent reason. Not a happy camper.

- Robert V., Bowler, WI, US

problem #8

Jan 182018

F-150 XLT 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,692 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headed out for my lunch break, and the rear passenger back window shattered. The rear window defroster had been malfunctioning and I believe this is the root cause. I had taken the truck to the dealer (Courtesy Ford in Brooklyn, CT), and after two days with the truck charged me for diagnosing that I need a new rear window that they couldn't repair. I had no idea that the window could explode! Called my insurance company to find out that I didn't have full glass coverage and I have a $500 deductible for the repair. After searching Google online, I see that this is a common issue and FORD has done nothing about it. This is my third Ford truck, and I'm not happy.

- Miguel M., Woodstock Valley, CT, US

problem #7

May 012016

F-150 STX 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

click to see larger images

rear window shattered while driving

Rear glass popped and shattered into tiny pieces while setting still in driveway, was in hot sun, about 80 degrees out, No apparent reason whatsoever. Plain window with factory tint is $250 installed at my home. Truck has 50K on it.

- agman48, Maypearl, TX, US

problem #6

Dec 082015

F-150 XLT 3.5L Ecoboost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,789 miles

I had been having trouble with the rear defroster not working most of the time. This morning when I pushed the button, it came on. About a minute later I heard a crackling sound coming from the rear, right side. I turned off the rear defroster and the radio. The next thing I heard was a loud bang. When I looked back in the mirror I saw that the right rear section of the power sliding window was shattered. The auto glass place said it will cost $780 to replace.

- Bernard E., York, PA, US

problem #5

Jul 222015

F-150 Lariat 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,270 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I turned on the rear defroster and with in a minute BANG the window blew out. I went to Ford and they played dumb! (Of course) As I shopped around auto glass shops they all were to familiar with the problem, they all said they do about 3 to 4 a month. With that info I did a search and found multiple sources with this same issue and yet Ford does nothing. This is funny that they know nothing. ASS HOLES and they want to keep outsourcing, so they can make more money. Fickle the product, we saved $20 and the Ford loving people can pay another grand to keep the vehicle they paid an arm and a leg for.

- Christopher D., Levittown, PA, US

problem #4

Mar 012015

F-150 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I was driving about 35 mph on a residential street during light snow conditions. The rear window had snow snow on it so I turned on the rear defrost to help melt it away. A few minutes later I heard a clicking sound coming from the right side of the rear window. I turned off the rear defrost thinking there may be something wrong with it. About 30 seconds later I hear a loud bang which seemed to come from the center of the roof. It sounded like someone dropped a brick on it, very loud. I arrived home and looked back at the rear window and notice it had shattered on the same side I heard the clicking noise. When I searched the Internet I now see this has been reported on many different websites as a known problem. I also see many complaints that dealers are not repairing this under warranty.

- Michael S., Hanover, PA, US

problem #3

May 132014

F-150 XLT Ecoboost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

click to see larger images

rear window shattered while driving

May 13, 2014: Standard morning, temp approx 50 Degrees F. I turned on the rear defrost due to heavy condensation, but noticed the light did not illuminate on the button. I pressed it again, and there was a delay, but it came on as advertised. I drove approx 4 miles and stopped at the local gas station when I noticed a strange odor coming from the rear area inside the cab. I shut down the truck, looked around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I went into the store and grabbed my coffee, and when I was about to get into the truck, I heard a loud "bang" that sounded as if something fell from the sky and hit the roof of the truck! I quickly looked around, but did not see anything out of the ordinary. I got into the truck, and noticed the smell was a bit heavier. I got out and opened the right rear door, and as I looked around, I noticed that the loud "bang" was the right rear window pane had completely shattered! I placed my hand on the glass carefully, and noticed that it was VERY hot to the touch! I have yet to contact Ford as well as my dealership, and I fear that since I am past the standard 36K warranty, that I am going to end up eating all of this cost. I will report back as soon as I can get this resolved. I do not like the idea that there may be a serious fault in the electrical system/heating element for the rear window. I am very glad that my daughter wasn't sitting back there when this happened! The window is actually bowed out from the outside and bulging. Feel free to respond!

- matchgrip1, Rising Sun, MD, US

problem #2

Apr 282014

F-150 FX4 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,360 miles

click to see larger images

rear window shattered while driving rear window shattered while driving rear window shattered while driving rear window shattered while driving rear window shattered while driving rear window shattered while driving

I have been reading on here about the Ford F-150's passenger rear window exploding when you press the defrost button. This happened to me today when driving to work and what I worried about most was the fact my 10 month old baby sits facing that glass grenade. Now I don't mind if there are issues with my truck and you guys fix them.... however I have phoned 2 dealerships in my local area (Barrhead, Alberta, Canada) and one says they never heard of this issue and I should "bitch" elsewhere (real nice). The other dealer says they know about this problem but Ford Motor Corp doesn't want to do anything about it???

So I bought all this extra warranty and now I have to pay for a defect in Ford's product line?? Worse is that even if I pay for it I have to wait for it to happen again because there is no fix for this!!!! This has become UN-acceptable and I need some help in dealing with this, all I ask is for Ford to step up and do what is right in this matter.

- Chris R., Barrhead, Alberta, canada

problem #1

Jan 172014

F-150 FX4 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,250 miles

Normal routine in the morning, started truck, turned on front and rear defrost and didn't even make it out of my apartment complex and the left portion of the sliding rear glass shattered. And the rear defrost stopped working instantaneously.

- Patricia K., Houston, TX, US

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