Side/rear Glass problems of the 2005 Ford Escape

The rear window of my 2005 Ford Escape blew out with no warning. I pre-started the car for approx. 3 mins, turning on the heat and defrost. I left my driveway and no more that a half a mile away the rear window exploded, blasting glass throughout the roadway and car. The only injuries I had were to my neck. Pieces of glass struck my neck causing two minor lacerations.

The rear window in our 2005 Ford Escape spontaneously exploded as I was driving along the road. The temperature was about 5 degrees celsius and it was raining. I was using the window defogger and the rear wiper. The explosion sounded like a shotgun blast and a large amount of glass flew into the vehicle. There was also glass on the rear bumper. My daughter and two of her friends were in the back seat when this happened, and glass flew in toward them. I maintained control of the vehicle, but was quite startled by the loud explosion! the driver's side hydraulic lift was hanging outside of the vehicle and the passenger side lift was still attached to a chunk of glass and in place in the frame of the window. My guess is that the hydraulic lift failed, exerted pressure on the window, and caused the explosion.

Back windshield exploding on 2005 Ford Escape.

This is the second time the rear window has exploded! the first rear window exploded 12. 11. 07 on a mild (55') rainy day while driving aprox 65 miles per hour on the highway with no other traffic. Yesterday (2. 11. 08), the same window gave way on a side street at aprox 35 mph with no other traffic. Yesterday makes the third window I have replaced in less than 12 mos. The first window (rear right passenger) exploded in while entering a freeway ramp with no traffic on the right side of the car. Most people go a life time with never having an exploding window while I have had 3 ! the glass repair shop I was referred to by the Ford dealership has stated that by observing the broken window, they are confident that at neither time was the defrost mechanism to blame. If I had not been close to my office on all three occasions. . . . . . . . . . I am confident that nobody would ever believe my stories!.

The driver's window of my 2005 Ford Escape limited makes a horrible squealing sound when opening and closing. This has been occurring for about a year. When taken in for routine maintenance, I have noted this problem. I always get the same report "weather strips are dry" and were lubed. This fix does not alleviate the problem. Since the car was only a little over a year old when the problem began, I find it hard to believe that the weather strips have dried out.

After a cold night with freezing rain, vehicle had a small layer of ice on rear window which was easily scrapped off after having rear defroster on. Defroster was on approximately 10 minutes. After pulling out of driveway and going approximately 100 yards the rear window exploded. The whole window shattered into tiny pieces. The window was replaced but not by Ford who claimed they were not responsible.

I bought a brand new Ford Escape ~ 1. 5 years ago. I was driving down the road at ~ 40 mph and suddenly my back windshield exploded. Shards of glass blew into my trunk as well as the back seat. When I went to the Ford dealership, they explained this was not covered under warranty and would not help me. I contacted my insurance company and they referred me to a local glass shop since the dealership was so over-priced. There was no evidence of a foreign object hitting my exterior window, so I would like to warn all Ford Escape owners of this hazard to you and your families.

Driving 2005 Ford Escape on 4 lane highway at approximately 70 mph. Outside temperature around 85 deg. Air conditioner was running. Rear driver side door window shattered for no apparent reason. No rock or other projectile found inside the vehicle. No exterior damage on door or surrounding area. Had noticed "squeaking" noise from that general area for quite some time before window shattered. No passengers in rear seats, but would have been injuries if passengers present. Police report was made. Unable to determine cause.