Rear Windshield Shattered this morning
- Thread starter busbeepbeep
- Start date
Husker Z
New member
Ford trucks have a recall on them due to this. They have an issue where a small leak occurs, shorting out the defroster and when it comes time to turn on the defrost, BANG, the window shatters. It just happened to a good friend of mine and when they took it in Ford immediately owned up to it.
May not have been a recall, but it was a "known problem" and it was taken care of right away.
I would contact Toyota.
May not have been a recall, but it was a "known problem" and it was taken care of right away.
I would contact Toyota.
It's likely just thermal shock.
The way tempered glass is manufactured, it is under a very high (but equalized) level of stress as it sits. That straining against itself makes it extremely strong, but if anything unbalances it too much, whether a mechanical impact or thermal shock, it will rip itself apart in a catastrophic manner.
In a related but opposite sort of scenario, I had a ton of snow on my roof and went to work, but it was a sunny & warm day, at least in the direct sunlight. It warmed the interior of my T4R up pretty high over the course of the day, and the snow on my roof melted and the blanket of snow started to slide down over the top of my windshield. I caught it in the act a few hours later, the top several inches of my windshield (which wasn't all that new, but was in pretty good shape) had numerous cracks.
This sort of thing just happens when cold is focused on a tiny area of warm glass, or heat is focused on a tiny area of cold glass. Or, quite possibly if a defroster warms cold glass up to melt the ice, but there's a little spot where a more massive chunk of snow or ice is pressed against the heated glass.
To the folks who had the glass pop while the defroster was on, is there any chance there was a mass of snow or ice piled-up on the rear wiper blade and in contact with the glass? If not, I'd guess it was just a defect with the defroster filament causing the glass to heat unevenly, or maybe a weak spot defect in the glass that was aggravated by less of a thermal shock than the normal window should've been able to withstand. Either way, the problem is likely solved by replacing the window, so long as it's not a pervasive defect.
Certain models from just about every manufacturer have issues with their moonroofs. Just hit Google with "exploding moonroof" for many, many tales of woe.
The way tempered glass is manufactured, it is under a very high (but equalized) level of stress as it sits. That straining against itself makes it extremely strong, but if anything unbalances it too much, whether a mechanical impact or thermal shock, it will rip itself apart in a catastrophic manner.
In a related but opposite sort of scenario, I had a ton of snow on my roof and went to work, but it was a sunny & warm day, at least in the direct sunlight. It warmed the interior of my T4R up pretty high over the course of the day, and the snow on my roof melted and the blanket of snow started to slide down over the top of my windshield. I caught it in the act a few hours later, the top several inches of my windshield (which wasn't all that new, but was in pretty good shape) had numerous cracks.
This sort of thing just happens when cold is focused on a tiny area of warm glass, or heat is focused on a tiny area of cold glass. Or, quite possibly if a defroster warms cold glass up to melt the ice, but there's a little spot where a more massive chunk of snow or ice is pressed against the heated glass.
To the folks who had the glass pop while the defroster was on, is there any chance there was a mass of snow or ice piled-up on the rear wiper blade and in contact with the glass? If not, I'd guess it was just a defect with the defroster filament causing the glass to heat unevenly, or maybe a weak spot defect in the glass that was aggravated by less of a thermal shock than the normal window should've been able to withstand. Either way, the problem is likely solved by replacing the window, so long as it's not a pervasive defect.
Certain models from just about every manufacturer have issues with their moonroofs. Just hit Google with "exploding moonroof" for many, many tales of woe.
Thermal Shock?? That would be MORE disturbing if it was. Here in the North East where temps can get to -20....if thermal shock was an issue..anyone who ever turned on their defroster in this weather there would be windows breaking all over the place. This is the first window on any vehicle in any temperature I've ever heard of doing this.
busbeepbeep
Member
I'm in New Orleans, no snow here. It was probably 50-60 degrees on the morning it happened to me. I got my rear window replaced in 2010, and I've been scared to hit the rear defrost button since. Not once have I tried it since. :moping:
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That sounds like a design defect to me. That should NOT be happening. If snow was a problem I'd have had every vehicle I've ever owned have a rear window explode. Toyota engineers are pretty smart people...I can't believe that they would think that snow wouldn't be a problem. I'm sure they took snow into account when they designed the defogger.
Maybe it was a short in the defogger...who knows...but I'm pretty sure it's NOT suppose to happen. Either a defect or a mechanical problem.
Snow, itself, isn't the problem. The properly-working defroster itself (which gradually heats a window rather evenly) is not the problem. A window that is almost all warm, with a very small spot that is very cold, that is the problem. A window that is all cold with a very small, very hot spot (such as a short in the defogger grid) can also be trouble.
So, the basic issue is part of the glass contracting or expanding faster than another part. When it doesn't expand or contract as a unit, it rips itself apart. It's why you can use the heavy, tempered Pyrex baking pans in the convection oven or microwave, but if you try to use them on the stovetop in place of a saucepan, BOOM! Or you bake something and then take the glass pan out of the oven & add sauce or something that's room temp or less...BOOM! The glass simply can't handle the sharp temperature gradients that are caused by direct conduction.
And again, glass with a weakness defect is even less able to handle a severe temperature gradient.
Druss
New member
I have been making glass for autos for over 24 years and can say it could be a vent. A vent looks like a scratch but is actually deep cut located on the perimeter of the glass or around a drilled out hole in the glass for hardware to mount produced during cut out stage of the raw glass or the glass edge hitting something hard before being tempered. I would think changes in temp may cause movement to mounting points and/or close contact material to the glass putting pressure on this week point that is a ticking time bomb. I have actually jumped up and down on side windows and they will not break but just handling vented glass has exploded in my face many times.
zerowkul98
New member
So this explains why back in 1991 when i was driving my pop's 87 Ford Bronco II, when i pulled it into the garage (heated), i got out and was looking for my key to the house door and SMASH!!! The passenger side front window just blew apart.
Ducman
New member
Toyota Glass
There is something weird about the glass in these trucks.
Last year my rear driver side window shattered for no reason. It's hard to tell from the picture but it actually exploded outward and feathered from the inside out. No one was in the truck, it was parked in my driveway at the time.
I replaced it myself... was a pita.
Then a few months later my windshield developed a big long crack for no apparent reason. Safelite replaced that.
Crossing my fingers the rear glass doesnt go next as I've seen many posts about those. :nono:
There is something weird about the glass in these trucks.
Last year my rear driver side window shattered for no reason. It's hard to tell from the picture but it actually exploded outward and feathered from the inside out. No one was in the truck, it was parked in my driveway at the time.
I replaced it myself... was a pita.
Then a few months later my windshield developed a big long crack for no apparent reason. Safelite replaced that.
Crossing my fingers the rear glass doesnt go next as I've seen many posts about those. :nono:
Bringing this back from dead as it just happened to me and I did a quick Google search. 7.30am this morning (Christmas eve) driving to work. 35 degrees outside (Houston, TX), rear defrost on, I had the rear window down half way like I always do because it just feels great. All of a sudden GUSSHHHHHHHH. Didn't even stop (good thing no cars were behind me), whole thing just shattered. I blame it on the cold/defrost mixture but hey, ISN'T THAT WHY THE STUPID DEFROST IS THERE??? Anyway, I called my glass guy (I work at a shop) $180 bux installed for the OEM tinted/defrost window. I guess MERRY FREAKING XMAS TO ME! :der:
Just thought I would post this in here since it seems that it's a common problem.
Everyone have a merry xmas.
Just thought I would post this in here since it seems that it's a common problem.
Everyone have a merry xmas.
blueshirts0819
New member
similar situation happened to my 4runner when my wife drove the truck to work. But it was the driver side rear side panel glass cracked and shattered in little pieces. She claimed she was driving around lunch time just hear a pop sound and saw the bottom corner glass cracked as if a rock hit it. Cost about 275 to replace it. I really think some one is throwing rocks on the highway.
Or, testing out their airsoft rifle.
blueshirts0819
New member
Well, that too also.
Atlanta_man
New member
I thought the rear window defrost was disabled (like the wiper) when the window was even a tiny bit down... off to look at the wiring diagram now
I do know that the rear wiper will not turn on if the rear window is even slightly open.
lol, i haven't touched the defrost ever since. I do have to roll the window down to open up the gate because the cable busted also for the latch. Which I also need to repair but I can not seem to find anything about it. I was about to make a thread on here to figure some things out.
2006 4Runner Rear Window Exploded
This describes what happened to me yesterday. Added issue is that the glass pieces affected my ability to open the liftgate (it's closed and can't be budged). My 4Runner is in the shop right now, looking at $450 to $750 if the liftgate motor needs replacing.
I've noticed that people posting on this forum were going to report their glass issues to Toyota. Anyone get a response? Does Toyota cover part of the cost? I haven't seen any recalls regarding this.
This describes what happened to me yesterday. Added issue is that the glass pieces affected my ability to open the liftgate (it's closed and can't be budged). My 4Runner is in the shop right now, looking at $450 to $750 if the liftgate motor needs replacing.
I've noticed that people posting on this forum were going to report their glass issues to Toyota. Anyone get a response? Does Toyota cover part of the cost? I haven't seen any recalls regarding this.
I know this is a Lazarus move, but I want to add my name to the list that this has occurred with.
first snow of the year, fired up the defrost, went stopped at a local gas station for a sandwich and soda (1am) came out, defrost cycle had completed noticed an odd smell, (thought it might be the sandwich lol) got home put it in the garage figured i should try to track the smell just due to some recent wiring i had done (v3 Triton in the rear signals) rolled the window down, noted the smell, figured more investigation was called for, lifted the rear gate, and after 30-90 seconds - "POP" - showered with what used to be my rear window.
the smell is like hot rubber, it is particularly strong from the passenger side just to the right of the rear wiper blade.
first snow of the year, fired up the defrost, went stopped at a local gas station for a sandwich and soda (1am) came out, defrost cycle had completed noticed an odd smell, (thought it might be the sandwich lol) got home put it in the garage figured i should try to track the smell just due to some recent wiring i had done (v3 Triton in the rear signals) rolled the window down, noted the smell, figured more investigation was called for, lifted the rear gate, and after 30-90 seconds - "POP" - showered with what used to be my rear window.
the smell is like hot rubber, it is particularly strong from the passenger side just to the right of the rear wiper blade.
