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.
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
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
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 passengerâs side window une
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
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
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear passengerâs side door glass fractured without impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or rep
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
See attached document for complaint.
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
See attached document for complaint.
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
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 20â45 MPH on a six-lane highway, the contact attempted a hard acceleration, and there was an abnormal banging sound heard. The
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
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.
The back seat windows r very cloudy. When super sunny sometimes hard to see things.
See attached document for complaint
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
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
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
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.
The rear window adhesion has failed causing the rear sliding glass window to fall into passenger area.
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.