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2014 LTZ rear window defroster shorted and shattered window.

19K views 32 replies 18 participants last post by  whitewalt316 
#1 ·
Driving to work this morning at 4:45am, on the interstate, no traffic around me and I heard this amazingly loud POP then what sounded like sand or gravel under the tires. I thought a tire had gone flat at first but quickly dismissed this thought as the car seemed to drive fine. I noticed in my rearview mirror that my rear window was very hazy and opaque looking.

Apparently my defrost had shorted in one small area and overheated causing the glass to shatter. I had the windows in the car tinted about 6 weeks ago and have used the rear defrost multiple times since then but this morning was the coolest it had been (63 degrees) since the tint job was done.

Not sure if this is the reason why this happened or if this is just a random event.

So my question to the forum is have any of you had this problem and/or anyone aware of a possible internal GM memo or directive documenting this sort of thing as an ongoing issue.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, In the photos you will see silver tape along the edge of the window. I did that after I got to work to help stabilize the window for the drive home (54 miles).
 

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#2 ·
I own a 2014 Impala 2LTZ - no tinted window film.

Your vehicle insurance comprehensive (glass breakage) coverage should pay for the repair - minus any deductible. I would not put tint film on the new rear window glass.

I have never heard of this type of breakage - I would suspect that the film and/or installation had something to do with it.
 
#3 ·
I have never heard of this on any car and tint shouldn't bother it. There are tons of cars out there with tinted windows that have window defoggers on them.
 
#5 · (Edited)
#6 ·
Insurance may or may not cover it, depends on who you have and what type coverage. I know farm bureau in TN does not cover glass under comp unless you ask for that coverage to be added, typical ded is likely higher than the cost of the glass anyway. Best as I recall when I had allstate or state farm, glass coverage was built into the policy and there was a zero deductible.

Have heard of issues with the rear defroster shorting out, but had not ever heard of glass breakage as a result.

I have had a windshield shatter when washing the vehicle. Cold water on hot glass, figured the glass probably was compromised somewhere with a chip or small crack I was unaware of.
 
#7 ·
My deductible is more than the repair will cost so...........

As for the Short causing the glass to shatter, I always say go big or stay home!!!:giggle:

Now that I think about it, might need to check the defrost fuse to see if it blew or not.
 
#8 ·
Damn, how much is your deductible?
We've got $250 deductible on ours for comp through USAA.

I had Allstate back in the 90s with my 91 S-10. They did have a $0 deductible on the glass... well until I had 3 windshields replaced then they said I was going to have to start paying the deductible for comp. Funny thing is after that I never had a cracked or broken windshield again.
 
#9 ·
Damn, how much is your deductible?
We've got $250 deductible on ours for comp through USAA.
Think we took our ded to $500 when we added our oldest daughter to our ins to help offset. Not sure how much the back glass costs.
 
#12 ·
Yea I looked online last night and saw the rear window was around $400. Cheaper than I imagined.
 
#13 ·
No doubt, it could be a lot worse.
...
BTW, for those interested, some insurance policies offer a rider wherein you can pick up 0- or low-deductible glass breakage coverage for a nominal annual fee. This deductible is separate from any deductible for collision/comprehensive.

For example, you might still have a $500 deductible for collision, but only a $50 or 0 cost for a new window.

Doug

.
 
#16 ·
jita1, I am doubting the window tint had anything to do with it either. Anyhow, got the window replaced today. I am happy it is done but not terribly pleased with how the work was performed.

Safelite, came to the house and did the work. I have three issues with the procedures that the technician used.

First, the repair tech did not try to cover or catch any of the glass shards that fell into my rear speakers, down onto my leather interior inside the car or keep them from falling down behind the rear side panels so it can rattle around inside the body of the car forever. I hope I was able to get all the glass out of my speakers with my vacuum, as for the interior and rear package tray area I used my own shop vac and cleaned up glass for nearly 45 minutes before I let him proceed and put the glass in. Now granted he did have a vacuum in his truck and he made an attempt but it would not have been near so bad if he would have put a cover of some sort in the car before removing the shattered back glass.

My second issue is the primer sealer he painted on the car around the window seat area before install. He used black primer on a white car and did it by hand, he did not tape anything off for a clean edge. The line is wavy and visible with the window installed. Not to mention the several spots he did that are under the trunk and not covered by the window at all.

Third is he never cleaned up the glass that was left on my driveway, I had to clean it up! There is still glass on top of the car too! :icon_bs:

I personally will think twice before I just let someone go to work on my car next time just because they are with a reputable (or I thought) company.

Is the window replaced, yes. Could he have done better and been more cautious absolutely and for that I am disappointed. :WTF:

Ok, enough of my rant.

BTW, I thought the shark fin on top of the car was the radio antenna. The rear window is labelled as antenna also. Which is which?
 

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#19 ·
Three weeks my rear window just shattered and pop...outward like a brick went from the inside to the outside...the weather temperature was around 30-35 degrees with some winterery mix of rain and light snow...I got in my car the rear window was fogging with no visibility I put on the rear defrost on and drove the car for 5 minutes and had no success as I reach my destination and parked and got out the window still foggy just popped...cost 400 to repair...I'm thinking this is a Impala defect
162098
 
#29 ·
The exact same situation happened to me. Literally same weather conditions etc. I’ve owned several cars over the course of 18 years and never had this happen before. So incredibly frustrating. I’ve found/had more problems with my Impala than any other vehicle combined!
 
#23 ·
Yeah, I'm pretty certain that I read an entry in my owners manual on my 2014 Impala Lt 1Lt that stated that one should never put anything whatsoever onto the windows where the defrosting wires are at. If your tint was placed onto these wires I would imagine that this is why it busted in all honestly. Because one's windows certainly shouldn't have shattered at 63 Degrees. That's for sure. I know it's been a while since this happened, but just came across this post.
 
#24 ·
Driving to work this morning at 4:45am, on the interstate, no traffic around me and I heard this amazingly loud POP then what sounded like sand or gravel under the tires. I thought a tire had gone flat at first but quickly dismissed this thought as the car seemed to drive fine. I noticed in my rearview mirror that my rear window was very hazy and opaque looking.

Apparently my defrost had shorted in one small area and overheated causing the glass to shatter. I had the windows in the car tinted about 6 weeks ago and have used the rear defrost multiple times since then but this morning was the coolest it had been (63 degrees) since the tint job was done.

Not sure if this is the reason why this happened or if this is just a random event.

So my question to the forum is have any of you had this problem and/or anyone aware of a possible internal GM memo or directive documenting this sort of thing as an ongoing issue.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, In the photos you will see silver tape along the edge of the window. I did that after I got to work to help stabilize the window for the drive home (54 miles).
 
#25 ·
Driving to work this morning at 4:45am, on the interstate, no traffic around me and I heard this amazingly loud POP then what sounded like sand or gravel under the tires. I thought a tire had gone flat at first but quickly dismissed this thought as the car seemed to drive fine. I noticed in my rearview mirror that my rear window was very hazy and opaque looking.

Apparently my defrost had shorted in one small area and overheated causing the glass to shatter. I had the windows in the car tinted about 6 weeks ago and have used the rear defrost multiple times since then but this morning was the coolest it had been (63 degrees) since the tint job was done.

Not sure if this is the reason why this happened or if this is just a random event.

So my question to the forum is have any of you had this problem and/or anyone aware of a possible internal GM memo or directive documenting this sort of thing as an ongoing issue.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, In the photos you will see silver tape along the edge of the window. I did that after I got to work to help stabilize the window for the drive home (54 miles).
 
#27 ·
USN24 Did you figure out what happened. This happened to me and I got another back glass put in and I turn on the defroster and it got real hot. I had my hand on the glass and had to take my hand off. I quickly turn off the defroster. Just trying to find out something about this or take to dealer. Mine is a 2014 ltz also.
 
#28 ·
Mine has been tinted for a few years. I am noticing the tint is getting kinda cloudy looking or something. It has a lifetime warranty so I may take it in.
 
#31 ·
same EXACT thing...and i mean EXACT.
was driving, about 1 mile from house and yes, defroster was on
head that super loud pop-- thought someone had chucked a brick thru window.
didnt even really know what happened as it was dark out. noticed the destroyed window when i got to work. (tint held it together)
and more of the same: Safelite came out and basically bashed the rest of it out (following the edge) to get the old glass out. glass EVERYWHERE including ground.
I had to go back into work, so i left him alone....huge mistake
Glass was left on the rear window deck, and a TON of it was left in the nooks and crannies of the back---could hear glass sliding back and forth every time i turned. I was @#$@ing pissed
that and the new glass they put in was "wavy" at the exact point there you look thru the glass from your review mirror, there was a wave in the glass that caused annoying distortion..
.i mentioned all of this to safelite-- they never even responded,

I will NEVER use them again

i used insurance as we have $100 for glass replacement....BUUUUUTTTT... i found out later that even the glass replacement it considered a "claim" against insurance... so my glass and one of our other cars needed windshield--so ALL were considered "claims"...
Insurance agent called and said we were going to be rated because of all the "claims"....sigh...
 
#32 ·
Driving to work this morning at 4:45am, on the interstate, no traffic around me and I heard this amazingly loud POP then what sounded like sand or gravel under the tires. I thought a tire had gone flat at first but quickly dismissed this thought as the car seemed to drive fine. I noticed in my rearview mirror that my rear window was very hazy and opaque looking. Apparently my defrost had shorted in one small area and overheated causing the glass to shatter. I had the windows in the car tinted about 6 weeks ago and have used the rear defrost multiple times since then but this morning was the coolest it had been (63 degrees) since the tint job was done. Not sure if this is the reason why this happened or if this is just a random event. So my question to the forum is have any of you had this problem and/or anyone aware of a possible internal GM memo or directive documenting this sort of thing as an ongoing issue. Thanks in advance! BTW, In the photos you will see silver tape along the edge of the window. I did that after I got to work to help stabilize the window for the drive home (54 miles).
 
#33 ·
Driving to work this morning at 4:45am, on the interstate, no traffic around me and I heard this amazingly loud POP then what sounded like sand or gravel under the tires. I thought a tire had gone flat at first but quickly dismissed this thought as the car seemed to drive fine. I noticed in my rearview mirror that my rear window was very hazy and opaque looking.

Apparently my defrost had shorted in one small area and overheated causing the glass to shatter. I had the windows in the car tinted about 6 weeks ago and have used the rear defrost multiple times since then but this morning was the coolest it had been (63 degrees) since the tint job was done.

Not sure if this is the reason why this happened or if this is just a random event.

So my question to the forum is have any of you had this problem and/or anyone aware of a possible internal GM memo or directive documenting this sort of thing as an ongoing issue.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, In the photos you will see silver tape along the edge of the window. I did that after I got to work to help stabilize the window for the drive home (54 miles).
I’ve had it happen twice , it happened to me today which is why I’m here
 
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