Wiper problems of the 2011 Ford F-150 - part 1

96 problems related to wiper have been reported for the 2011 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2011 F-150.

1 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 03/29/2023

Back passenger side rear window shattered was in one piece until I closed my door while all other windows were closed which resulted in the window falling inside of truck and in back bed Ford states no recalls and never heard of it being a problem however when I look online at other complaints it seems to not only being isolated to me a coworker of mine had a newer model and hers shatter last year same thing was told to her by our local dealer.

2 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/25/2021

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and coming to a stop, the vehicle downshifted from 4th gear to 1st gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive from the complete stop. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the windshield wipers would continue to move after being turned off. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

3 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 04/02/2021

For no reason back windshield shattered while driving. No impact. 800 to replace. This is awefull. Glass everywhere with children in the car.

4 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/27/2021

After tapping the floor accelerator the engine went to full throttle and stayed there. Even after putting the vehicle in park the engine remained at 7000 rpm. Outside temp was -2f. Vehicle had been idling for 7 minutes prior to the incident. The event occurred while pulling into park at 10 mph. Almost hit a parked car and building but was able to brake and put the vehicle in park. After running at full throttle in park for at least 30 seconds the engine shut down. Also, the driver's side windshield wash spray stopped working a few days earlier.

5 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/21/2021

I was coming home from work on butler road 5 pm it doing 30 mph when I heard a big bang so I stop the truck got and looked to to see what caused it I saw nothing then I look up at the back glass I saw the right rear glass was shattered it was about 42 dregs out side I no defrosted on either.

6 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/11/2020

We were driving down the highway at 10:30pm going 55mph. All of a sudden, we heard a very loud bang that almost caused me to run off the road, thankfully I didn�t. I pulled over to investigate and there was nothing wrong until I looked at the back glass. The back glass on the passenger side was completely shattered. Out of no where. Mind you, there was nothing wrong with this prior. I haven't even had this truck for thirty days yet and this happened. I was especially worried because my 4year old daughter was in the back seat, on the passenger side. She could have been seriously injured due to this.

7 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 10/16/2020

Turned the back window defrost on since back window and mirrors were iced over. Was driving along when the back passenger window shattered. Have tonneau cover on box and no other cars around. Rear defrost light indicator now doesn't turn on.

8 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/18/2020

The rear window shattered on the passenger side of our vehicle. I cannot see out of it. The vehicle was stationary. We did not see anything happen to it (person) via our security cameras. I am worried it will shatter. This seems to be a common problem as I have conducted research on the internet.

9 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/15/2020

Turned on rear power slider window defrost but defrost light would not come on. However, shortly after a loud sound like a gunshot was heard and the rear window on the passenger side was found to be shattered. Temperatures were in the 30s fahrenheit at the time. Called local dealer and they responded they do not replace rear windshields so it was replaced by local auto glass vendor.

10 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 12/20/2019

Rear window shattered while using defroster . Defroster turned on with remote start and rear window shattered with no contact. Vehicle was in park when this happened.

11 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/08/2019

While driving rear window defogger was on and the rear passenger side glass just shattered.

12 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/07/2019

The rear defrost had been acting up not wanting to work every time I'd try and use it for the last 2 months. Well on the morning of November 7 I went to warm my truck up and tried my defrost and it didn't light up so I figured well its not working. So as I'm driving down the road I notice that my back glass was completely shattered on the drivers side of the back glass. I never heard anything break and there was no other sign of impact. Just out of nowhere. So I did some research into Ford f150s and back glass breaks and came across a lot of reports of people who were in fact having defrost issues. . So my best guess is the electrical in the heated glass shorted out or sent a massive power surge through the glass causing it to shatter. . Either way this is a recall issue that Ford should be held responsible for.

13 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/01/2019

Rear back sliding glass 'exploded/shattered' while rear defroster was on. The external temperature was near 30f.

14 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/01/2019

Turned on rear defrost which I rarely ever do. Driving down road a minute later and back glass shattered on passenger side. Right behind where my daughters head would be if I had been taking her to school that morning. 78,000 miles on vehicle.

15 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 10/31/2019

2011 Ford F-150. Turned on rear window defrost couple minutes later window shattered.

16 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 09/11/2019

In park or driving the windshield wipes will not turn off on the off position. I've shut the engine on and off and they turn on as soon as the truck turns on. Do not know how to stop them.

17 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 05/17/2019

I was driving home on may 17, 2019 from work. I was stopped at a stop light and heard a loud pop. The back window shattered on the passenger side of the vehicle. I had the defroster on clearing the dew and nothing else hit or struck the glass it just burst out of no where.

18 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 02/22/2019

Rear window passenger side shattered. Rear defrost would sometimes come on and sometime not. Suspect the window overheated and shatteres. Many of these incidents reported in us and canada.

19 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 02/13/2019

After parking the truck for several hours at a secure police department parking lot, on my approach to the car I used the remote start and when I entered the vehicle I immediately noticed that the rear window, behind the passenger seat was shattered. Inspection of the window I clear observed the bottom left of the window was a burnt mark on the outside. It's clear that the rear defrost when in remote start status malfunctioned and caused the window to crack. Researched on the internet, many Ford customers had the same problem.

20 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/20/2019

I started my truck and turned in the rear defrost. Approximately 2-3 minutes after starting the vehicle and activating the rear defrost I was on the roadway when I heard a loud sound and noticed my rear passenger side window was shattered but otherwise in tact. The window fractures covered the entire window. I inspected the damage and smelled what I believe was wires overheated/burning. The temperature outside was 9 degrees at the time. I believe the rear defrost likely malfunctioned and overheated the window too quickly causing it to shatter. At the time the damage occurred I was stopped at a red light.

21 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 12/05/2018

Heater blend door actuator commonly fails preventing defroster to operate, very common well known problem.

22 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 12/02/2018

At approximately 8 in the morning on 12/2/2018 I was at a stop getting ready to make a left turn, I had the window defroster/heat on, as well as the rear window defroster. Over the last year the rear window defroster light has illuminated intermittently but the defroster has always worked. As I started to move the vehicle, I heard a loud pop and thought someone had thrown something at my truck, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. When I got to my destination less than 5 minutes and about a mile later, I got out and looked at the roof for any sign of something hitting the roof, when I noticed a steady trail of smoke coming from the rear window area, noticed that the rubber had melted and the passenger side rear window had shattered completely. I believe this is due to an electrical short in the rear window defroster circuit, I have since removed the fuse for the rear window defroster which disables my mirror heaters. I request that NHTSA investigates this further as there have been thousands of cases of this issue and it is a known issue and Ford is aware of it. It is a safety concern as it could harm a child or someone sitting in the backseat if the glass shatters and blows out of the frame as well as scaring someone causing them to react by braking, steering, etc. And possibly causing an accident. As far as I know, Ford has not issued a recall and has denied responsibility. This should be addressed and fixed free of charge on Ford's behalf based on the fact that it is a known manufacturer defect.

23 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 12/01/2018

Early one morning when it was around 27 degrees out I started my 2011 F-150 and let it run about 10 minutes to warm up. I used my remote start, which turns on the window defrosters. Within 3 min of leaving for work I heard a sound similar to a breaking light bulb. Once I got to work I happened to move my rear view mirror and noticed my driver side rear window ( 3 part, double pane motorized rear window with defrost) was shattered on both sides (panes) I am 1 of thousands of people who apparently have had the same issue. Ford does not cover the glass on there vehicles in any way shape or form, even on there newest models, and apparently refuses to fix or rather, replace these windows when damaged by there inappropriately adjusted defroster. I believe this is a serious safety hazard. I frequently take my nephews and 2 year old niece places in this vehicle. Placed in the back seat for obvious safety reason. Now I dont even feel safe putting them in the truck at all. What do you think a 2 year old is going to do with tiny shards of broken glass? also take a glass mug, put it into the freezer for an hour, take it out and pour hot coffee into it. What does it do? these are common sense things.

24 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/12/2018

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, a loud thumping noise sounded from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear sliding windshield fractured. Jacky jones Ford Lincoln, inc. - 714 new hightway 68 , sweetwater, tennessee (423) 337-5066 - was made aware of the failure. An independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 157,882 ad.

25 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 11/02/2018

I have 3 issues to report: 1. The oss output speed sensor manufacturer recall number 19s07 in November 2018 I was sitting at a red light I went to go when the light changed and the truck felt like it was going to stall I tried to get to the side of the road and then the truck seemed to go into gear and seemed fine no warning lights or anything 8 hours later on my way home from work the powertrain malfunction light came on wrench light I stopped and had it checked codes 0720 and 0722 came up output speed sensor I took it to my shop where they gave me the technical service bulletin and told me to take it to a Ford service center which I did they ran another diagnostic and said they found the transmission lead frame faulty and charged me $1526. 00 and now I find out there is a recall for this issue. 2. Tsb15-0061 windshield wipers continue to operate in low intermittent when the switch is in the off position. Installed new wiper/multifunction switch twice and still have the problem. 3. The same time my wipers started acting up my horn stopped working both when you push down on the horn switch on the steering column and when you go to set the alarm. I asked the service mechanics about this and I was told it could be the (bcm) body control module Ford is recalling some bcm in Ford f150 but doesnt show up when I put my VIN number in.

26 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 10/05/2018

I was driving when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw smoke coming from the back window. Before I could pull off the side of the road the rear window shattered. The casing around the window had began melting and was dripping down the outside of the cab. Rear defroster was on and nothing impacted the window.

27 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 08/20/2018

Tl - the contact 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that he tried to turn on the defroster and it seized. The contact stated that his vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as an NHTSA id number: 11083627. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Jc.

28 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 03/15/2018

Back light (window) shatered. Just sitting there.

29 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 03/05/2018

While driving at about 35mph on my road I heard what sounded like a gunshot inside the cab and then discovered that my passenger side window literally exploded. This is a known issue and seems to be related to the rear window defrost. I called my local Ford dealer and they said this is not something they will replace. I'm not alone with this issue, this is happening to many f150 owners and no one is doing anything about it!.

30 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 02/23/2018

Issue: rear power slide window heated on the way to taking my son to school this morning I had my rear glass defrost on to help reduce the fog on the glass. About 5 minutes into our drive the panel of glass right behind his head shattered (rear window, passenger panel) with a very loud and scary boom. Upon pulling over and inspecting the glass both inside and out there was zero signs that anything had actually hit ht rear glass. It is still in the window and smooth in appearance from the outside, just cracked into a million small pieces. This is a major problem that Ford and or their glass mfg. Need to own up one. This costs us, the owners $500+ every time we have to repair this issue and eventually a child sitting in the rear is going to get glass blasted into their head. Please help us and keep out children safe!! thank you.

31 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 02/17/2018

Rear windows equipped with defroster and rear passenger side windows with slider windows shatter when the rear defrost button is used. My vehicle has the slider window and upon replacing at safelite glass they said they see this frequent on Ford trucks and that to prevent is to either not hookup defrost when window is replaced or not use the rear defrost.

32 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 02/17/2018

Rear right 3 piece window shattered by having the defrost on.

33 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/21/2018

About 5 minutes after turning on the rear window heater, a large bang sound was heard and the passenger side rear window panel was shattered. Outside temperature was about 34f.

34 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/09/2018

It was a cold morning and I switched on the rear window heat to clear the window. About 15 minutes later, as I was driving on the highway, there was a loud bang. It sounded like a gun had been discharged inside the vehicle. All dashboard indicators were in the normal range. As I left work later that day, I noticed that the passenger side of the rear window was completely shattered. All of the glass fragments had remained in the window frame. I believe that the window heat malfunctioned and caused the rear window to shatter. I researched the problem on the internet and found that this is a common problem with numerous complaints.

35 Wiper problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2018

Driver side rear view mirror spontaneously cracked. Rear defrost does not operate. Repair is replacement of entire rear window "windshield" over $1000. 00. Side mirror heater does not operate.


Other Visibility related problems of the 2011 Ford F-150


Fuel Economy of F-150 Vehicles
F-150 Service Bulletins
F-150 Safety Recalls
F-150 Defect Investigations