Rear Window Defrost Connection

[powder4breakfast]

Passenger side came off our 2018. The dealer replaced the whole glass under warranty without trying to fix it.

As for the Explorer Sport as a loaner, we had one and absolutely loved it. We traded it in for the Expedition mostly because the middle second row seat has a very narrow seatbelt width. With one car seat and one booster, the middle person is left without much room... all kids. Then we added a quarantine puppy (now a 9 month old 90lb Giant Schnauzer) and we suddenly needed more space. We would have put a kid and a dog in the third row and been almost tapped out with little room left.

 

[Johnb21]

Mine broke off too. 2018 with 32k miles. The dealer is installing new glass. I guess they know this is a problem. After some other issues, it is clear to me Ford is having some major supplier quality issues.

 

[Big H]

That’s crazy, do you guys use the rear defrost often or the glass to load things in and out?

Just curious.

Yhat may cause the solder to become brittle from many on-off cycles; especially with auto-start. Also, small or large impacts to the wiring or attachment point when loading items in and out of the rear glass may also make it weaker.

I have the extended warranty but not looking to find out or use it lol seems to be a common problem on these though. Having the movement of the rear glass is a great plus for the expo; bummer about the poor design.


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[Gumby]

That’s crazy, do you guys use the rear defrost often or the glass to load things in and out?

Just curious.

Yhat may cause the solder to become brittle from many on-off cycles; especially with auto-start. Also, small or large impacts to the wiring or attachment point when loading items in and out of the rear glass may also make it weaker.

I have the extended warranty but not looking to find out or use it lol seems to be a common problem on these though. Having the movement of the rear glass is a great plus for the expo; bummer about the poor design.


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I hardly ever pop the glass only to load things, very rarely. I do use the remote start every day and often multiple times during the day. As you know, using the remote start also activates the rear defrost. Not sure that is what the cause is probably more so a poor soldering job on that side.

 

[Calidad]

Mine did the same on month 3. The wire coil is too short and has pretty good tension on it all the time. I rarely use the glass hatch and the location of the connection makes it prone to snagging stuff when using the glass hatch. It was my number one “oh thats going to break first” things that I noticed. I was correct .
I’ll likely fix my self given the dealers will probably screw up something else like the glass alignment etc.

 

[Rufus4bz]

I dropped my '19 Platinum off this week at the dealer with the passenger side contact detached from the glass. They said the normal fix for an older car is dielectric epoxy to attach it back on. They said that it would fail again within a year. They ordered a new rear hatch window.

 

[5280tunage]

I don't understand, it's a soldered connection. Heat the glass with a heat gun, use a solder iron and suction tool to remove the old, solder on new.

 

[Rufus4bz]

You got me, if it was out of warranty, I would solder it myself and call it a day.

 

[5280tunage]

Hope you know I didn't mean you, I was speaking from the perspective of why the dealer/ford is going these routes.

 

[Rufus4bz]

Nope, I knew exactly where you were going. I questioned it myself to the service writer. They have an outside window service repair these and that's the procedure they use, dielectric epoxy. He was not a fan of this. The next option was replace the glass.

 

[Gumby]

Just at the dealer and of course it's not repairable. Only replacing the glass is the option. OEM is $1350, aftermarket is half that and no warranty left.... At least the sun is shining?

 

[5280tunage]

not even the "epoxy" remedy others have talked about? That's insane. Sorry to hear about the issues. Are you capable of trying to solder it yourself? No harm if it doesn't work right, you're in the same place.

 

[Gumby]

not even the "epoxy" remedy others have talked about? That's insane. Sorry to hear about the issues. Are you capable of trying to solder it yourself? No harm if it doesn't work right, you're in the same place.

I would love to spend a few hours trying to spot weld this, but alas time is a commodity that is in short supply these days....

 

[JimW]

I just join the club. 2018 30k miles passenger side. Going to the dealer next Thursday. We will see what they decide.
I had this happen on my 2007 Escalade (same setup). Fixed two times then I had to replace the glass out of warranty.

 

[Highlightreel]

I guess I'm now at this party as well. Noticed the passenger side swinging thinking it was a person walking behind me across the street. I do remote start and sometimes use the glass but rarely use rear defrost, even in MN. Hard to believe the fix is to replace the window but looks that way.

 

[5280tunage]

i'd say in warranty that's the fix, but if you're out of warranty and you don't mind trying, there are options.

 

[RC Fan]

I used the Permatex Rear Defroster Repair kit. That was 4 or 5 months ago. No issues with installation, or function.

 

[Big H]

lol guess I spoke too soon. Quite annoyed about this but still under warranty so will get it replaced. I have never used my rear glass since owning the truck. Only time I recall it ever being opened is when the salesman showed me the feature.




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[Thomas Hardesty]

This jem happened just as the snow started falling yesterday. Now I have to ask the people in the third row to hold their breath as to not fog up the rear window.

Dealer said there is a simple fix... Going in tomorrow morning.

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[Thomas Hardesty]

I left the window open in up position, then opened the tailgate. Bad move! My passenger side rear defrost cable broke the soldered plate off the window. I was thinking that JB Weld may work? Or taking a slider ring iron and trying to re solder it? Thank God I live in Florida