Component

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

2,715 NHTSA complaints about visibility:glass, side/rear issues across 47 makes and 444 models.

The visibility:glass, side/rear is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,715 filings from 47 manufacturers and 444 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 29 crashes, 10 fires, 146 injuries, and 15 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 224 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and FORD ESCAPE. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

2,715
Complaints
444
Models Affected
29
Crashes
10
Fires
15
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD F-150 224
2 FORD EXPLORER 139
3 FORD ESCAPE 86
4 DODGE CARAVAN 81
5 PONTIAC VIBE 69
6 FORD WINDSTAR 52
7 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 47
8 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE 38
9 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 36
10 JEEP LIBERTY 34
11 HONDA CIVIC 34
12 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 32
13 FORD TAURUS 32
14 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 29
15 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 29
16 HONDA ACCORD 28
17 TOYOTA CAMRY 26
18 PONTIAC GRAND AM 26
19 TOYOTA COROLLA 25
20 FORD EXPEDITION 25
21 CHEVROLET BLAZER 25
22 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 23
23 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 22
24 FORD FOCUS 22
25 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 22
26 TOYOTA SIENNA 21
27 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 21
28 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 21
29 BUICK LESABRE 20
30 FORD EDGE 18

Recent Complaints

2022 SUBARU FORESTER

I was driving to work in the morning and was going down a slow side street when I heard a soft noise behind me. When I looked in my rearview I noticed that my back window was cracked all over it thoug

2025 FORD MUSTANG

The contact leased a 2025 Ford Mustang from Avis Car Rental. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a cliffside highway around a curve, the rear passenger’s side window une

2024 RIVIAN R1S

The contact owns a 2024 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear windshield shattered without impact. The contact's husband was outside and heard an abnormal cracking

2015 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear sliding glass. The contact stated that the rear slidi

2025 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger’s side door glass fractured without impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or rep

2008 CHEVROLET HHR

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while warming up the vehicle, the rear window exploded without warning or impact. There was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. There

2023 NISSAN ROGUE

See attached document for complaint.

2019 JEEP CHEROKEE Crash

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing, the backup camera failed to operate, and as a result, the driver crashed into another vehicle. The rear gl

2024 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

See attached document for complaint.

2019 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated while stopped at a stop sign the rear driver's side door window inadvertently shattered with no warning. The contact stated her child was located

2021 TESLA MODEL Y

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 20–45 MPH on a six-lane highway, the contact attempted a hard acceleration, and there was an abnormal banging sound heard. The

2017 FORD F-150

Rear window shattered this morning during start up. I auto started the vehicle this morning at approximately 3:35. When I went out to get on about 7 minutes later, smoke bellowed out the door. I quick

2018 FORD F-150

I was stopped at a traffic light and all of a sudden my rear window exploded. It sent glass forward richoceting of the front windshield into my eyes. It was like a gun shot was fired into my truck.

2023 HYUNDAI PALISADE

The back seat windows r very cloudy. When super sunny sometimes hard to see things.

2018 GMC SIERRA 1500

See attached document for complaint

2016 BUICK CASCADA

The rear window on the Cascada is known to separate from the convertible top material, likely due to an insufficient amount of primer used during the assembly process, which creates stress points allo

2022 FORD MUSTANG

The Mustang window is supposed to retract approximately 1/2" when the door is opened or shut. My vehicle does this BUT the window will not return to the fully closed position when the door is shut. Th

2018 FORD F-150

Rear window is held in place with a piece of trim, which is held in place by double-sided tape. It is a safety issue as the window can become dislodged and injured occupants. Ford is aware of this as

2019 FORD ECOSPORT

My back windshield shattered for no reason. I had my job watch 12 hours of video footage and nobody went near my car. I googled it and apparently it's happened to other people.

2016 FORD F-150

The rear window adhesion has failed causing the rear sliding glass window to fall into passenger area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:glass, side/rear issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,715 complaints about visibility:glass, side/rear problems across 444 vehicle models from 47 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:glass, side/rear defects?
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR issues have been linked to 29 crashes, 10 fires, 146 injuries, and 15 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:glass, side/rear problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:glass, side/rear issues is the FORD F-150 with 224 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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