While traveling in North Texas recently on a smooth asphalt highway at approximately 65 mph and an OAT of about 55 degrees F, I experienced a loud in-cab explosive noise and suddenly noticed that the driver's side of my rear window had shattered completely. The truck is an 04 F250 CC with a manual rear sliding window. Nothing had been near the glass on either side. When the initial breakage occured, there was a hole in the center of the window section that was about 2.5 inches diameter and the window was pushed outward somewhat toward the bed. In seconds it had shattered into many many pieces. I put duck tape on what was left of the window section and called FMC customer service who gave me the names of dealers in Denver where I was scheduled to RON. Next morning I took the truck to a Ford dealer in Denver who said it would be covered under Ford warranty (truck is 4 months old and 7K mi.). Dealer replaced the entire window section promptly and with much courtesy. Upon checkout the dealer informed me that FMC had refused to warrant the window replacement and that the dealership would have to eat the costs. Needless to say, I am very dissappointed in FMC and thankful the dealer did the right thing. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem with a F250 Crew Cab?

 

I have never had this happen in my pickup but the new Volvo tractors we use at work have had the door windows shatter for no apparent reason. Evidently the window is put in a bind at a certain position and, if left there, it can shatter given the right temps and conditions.

Good on you for finding a dealer that would stand behind their word, even in a town where you do not live. Maybe post the name of the dealership somewhere so we can all see one that is VERY reputable?

Dave / Believer45

 

Hopefull no one was shooting at you . . .

We were once out in the yard at an Uncles house when there was a loud bang. We turned around and the window on his boat had just shattered. It was a flat window and the only thing that we could figure was that the sun was hitting it just right.

This was out in the country and we know that no one else was around to have tossed anything at the window - very strange for sure.

 

A friend with an 02 SD CC told me that if you have the rear windows rolled down less than an inch without rain/wind deflectors installed, the airflow over the rear windows will cause massive vibrations and can break the rear window. A guy he works with had it happen to him. Don't have a SD yet so I can't verify the vibration issue.

 

I wouldnt be disappointed in FMC - I actually am suprised the dealer replaced it for you, usually they dont do anything for you on broken tempered, except call a auto glass shop to replace it and triple your bill - unless you can prove it was a poorly installed window. Ive never heard of wind vibrations breaking windows, (Ive been replacing glass for 15 years) did you have your drivers side windows down? Maybe a passing car threw a piece of sand or gravel thru your side window???

 

The description of the initial 2.5" hole appearing before complete disintegration sounds more like an object moving at high velocity hitting the window than some sort of stress breakage. If one or more side windows were open, a rock or bullet could have passed through and hit the rear glass, then exited out the rear window without much of a trace.

 

No windows were down. All were completely up. A friend was following directly behind me in another 2004 F250 PSD so I am confident no foreign object struck the window. This piece of glass appears to be slightly curved, so all I can figure it was caused due some type of stress. I just can't believe FMC would not stand behind their product any better that.

 

While riding down the road something similar happen to me. My son and I were riding down the road when all the sudden we heard a loud bang on the rear window . I did not see anything but my son said it was a Coke can that hit the window . After we had stopped there was an empty Coke can in the bed of the truck. I guess if the conditions are right an object could become airborne and hit or bust the rear window. I thought for sure my rear window had cracked when I heard it hit. It was kind of funny after this happen I remembered reading this post . Just something to think about.

 

I work in an office with 1/2" thick single pane windows, I am about 100 feet from an expressway. Semi truck tires have shot out broken concrete "stones" through that thick glass a few times in the past 10 years. Don't discount a rock/stone hitting your window, even with your buddy following behind you it would have been easy to miss. Was anything laying in your box?

 

This maybe new to Superdutys (or at least the one you have), but it isn't new to cars/vans. Ford recalled the Mercury Villager for rear window blowout a few years ago and Nissan recalled some minivans as well. I think Ford even recalled the Explorer a few years ago for this.

Also, I have the rain guards on all my windows and have had all of them down one inch or so at speeds of 50 to 75 and my rear window never blew out. I have on 03 Crew cab.

Fish.