2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Visibility Problems

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the rear sliding glass defroster element overheated. The contact was unsure but thought that the defroster had activated independently. The contact stated that the heating element had caught fire, burned a hole through the weather stripping, and shattered the rear sliding glass. The contact extinguished the fire with a can of soda. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11705028

Incident

Dec 14, 2025

Mileage

106,000 mi

I purchased a 2016 Silverado in 2021.I am writing regarding previously completed recall (N192265660) for my 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, which addresses issues related to the rear window defroster overheating and the potential for thermal events. The recall repair was performed in 2020, but I am experiencing a recurrence of the issue. We live in Wisconsin, on a cold morning last week, the rear window of my vehicle shattered while I was inside. I believe this was caused by overheating of the rear defroster, since I literally watched it happen in my rear-view mirror, despite the recall repair having been completed. The fracture lines in the glass very distinctly show the source where it shattered, leading directly to the heating element for the defroster. This was a known issue addressed by the recall, and I am concerned that the problem was not fully resolved, as the damage was substantial and could have escalated into a fire hazard. On [XXX], the day of the incident, I tried to get a service appointment to have it looked at and was told there was nothing they could do since the "recall had already been done" to my truck. I contacted customer service and was able to have the truck looked at by a GM Service Center after they set up an appointment for me. The Customer Service manager even documented and diagnosed the cause as being the rear defroster that shattered the window, yet they still denied any help or offer to repair it. After nearly 6 weeks of back and forth with GM customer service, and then eventually escalating to the "Product Assistance Claims Team" I was still denied any help having the issue resolved even with every piece of evidence showing this was a failed recall repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11641892

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

Passanger side windshield wiper, complete failure at highway speeds while using. The wiper broke off, flew into traffic behind me. No warnings, no visible issues.

NHTSA ID

11636316

Incident

Jan 16, 2025

My local Chevy dealer has confirmed that the human machine interface (HMI) module has failed on my 2016 Chevy Silverado, causing the back-up camera to be inoperable. The camera is absolutely necessary at night when backing up due to window tinting and I believe this to be a safety-related issue. There currently is a nationwide back order on a replacement HMI module.

NHTSA ID

11574745

Incident

Feb 29, 2024

Rear window shattered after a few minutes of defroster use. Seems to be a problem on these years of Silverado but no recall on mine. No warning, window just popped on its own, safety issue to have window failure during driving.

NHTSA ID

11517631

Incident

Apr 8, 2023

I remote started my vehicle and the rear defrost caused the back window to shatter. I had previously thought I heard what was a speaker going out/crackling, but upon further research, it appears it was the electronics in the rear defrost arcing. This appears to be a known issue with no US recall.

NHTSA ID

11502963

Incident

Jan 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact noticed smoke coming from the rear driver's side seat. The contact referenced the failure to TSB: N192265660 (Rear Window Defroster) The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11502652

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

Mileage

38,000 mi

This morning I turned on my rear defrost, and the rear window shattered. There is a memo entitled "GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS DCS5273 / N192265660". However, when I contacted GM this afternoon (800-630-2438) they had not heard of this memo.

NHTSA ID

11449811

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

While sitting in a parking lot with the rear defrost on, the rear window shattered. There were no visible impact marks. My child was covered in small glass shards. I drove home and will be contacting my insurance company shortly.

NHTSA ID

11440314

Incident

Nov 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a local mechanic. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,205.

NHTSA ID

11439366

Incident

Nov 4, 2021

Mileage

43,205 mi

COLD WEATHER (25-30 DEGREES?) ON 12/24, SO REMOTE STARTED TRUCK AND BEGAN DRIVING (REAR DEFROSTER AUTO STARTS). HEARD SLIGHT SIZZLE NOISE, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS...THEN WIFE (RIDING IN BACK) HEARD IT GET WORSE, THEN A LITTLE SMOKE, THEN REAR-WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE POPPED/CRACKED/SHATTERED (TRUCK HAS A SLIDING REAR WINDOW, SO 3 SECTIONS). DIDN'T BLOW OUT, BUT IS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. TAPED IT TO KEEP PIECES FROM BLOWING APART. TALKED TO DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER CARE, AND THEY ADVISED OF AN OPEN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT ONLY APPLIES TO VEHICLES IN CERTAIN STATES (COLD WEATHER)...INCLUDING MI, BUT I'M 1 HOUR SOUTH IN NORTHERN IN. #N192265660-01 IS THE PROGRAM NUMBER (REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENTS - US ONLY _(MAR 25, 2020). THE PROBLEM ALSO SEEMS TO BE MORE COMMON IN CANADA WHERE A FULL RECALL IS IN EFFECT. AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, GM CUSTOMER CARE (CASE # 9-6442774509) SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING AND REFERRED ME BACK TO DEALER...WHO I WILL ASSUME WILL REFER ME BACK TO CUST CARE AGAIN. I'M WAITING ON THEIR RESPONSE. MAKES NO SENSE THAT THEY WILL REIMBURSE ONLY FOR VEHICLES IN CERTAIN STATES. I'M IN THE SAME COLD CLIMATE AS MICHIGAN AND MANY OF THE OTHER IMPACTED STATES. LOOKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS TO REPAIR, BUT FOR NOW I'M WAITING TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE WILL PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT GM IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE CLEARLY WILLING IN MANY OTHER STATES). ANY SUGGESTIONS?

NHTSA ID

11385463

Incident

Dec 24, 2020

Mileage

65,800 mi

N192220470, A RECALL SUPPOSEDLY ONLY IN CANADA FULLY DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. MY REAR GLASS EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED A CORNER. NO OBJECTS HIT IT, NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

11372609

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

31,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ST CLAIR CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 3050 KING RD, CHINA TOWNSHIP, MI 48054, (810) 637-1546), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT HAD BOTH REARVIEW MIRRORS AND THE BACK UP CAMERA REPLACED, AND AN UNKNOWN SENSOR AND THE VACUUM BAG WERE REPROGRAMMED TWICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V645000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,967.

NHTSA ID

11278531

Incident

Oct 8, 2017

Mileage

17,967 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A FAULTY DEFROST FUSE COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHLAND CHEVROLET (1420 OGDEN AVE, SUPERIOR, WI 54880, (715) 392-5111) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOLAR CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (4770 W ARROWHEAD RD, HERMANTOWN, MN 55811, (218) 727-7481), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE COVERED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11269402

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

43,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I HAD THE REAR DEFROSTER ON. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, SO I ROLLED-DOWN MY WINDOWS TO VENT THE FUMES. ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER I ROLLED THEM BACK UP I HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' AND SAW THAT MY REAR WINDSHIELD, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED, WITH A FIST-SIZED HOLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

NHTSA ID

11207431

Incident

Apr 18, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY. REAR DEFOGGER ENABLED. NOTED A BURNING SMELL IN REAR OF TRUCK WHEN IT HAPPENED. TRUCK HAS REAR POWER SLIDE WINDOW. DRIVER SIDE PANEL WAS THE PIECE THAT SHATTERED. TRUCK WAS PARKED BUT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. TEMPERATURE IN MID 20S

NHTSA ID

11183951

Incident

Mar 2, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

WINDSHIELD HAS WHAT LOOKS TO BE WATER SPOTS ON IT CANNOT BE SEEN WHEN WINDSHIELD IS DRY BUT WHEN MOIST OR RAINING WINDSHIELD BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH I TRIED SPOT REMOVER WITH NO LUCK CHEVROLET REFUSED TO AKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A DEFECT AND I EVENTUALLY PAID TO REPLACE WINSHIELD MYSELF EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAD TRUCK LESS THAN A YEAR I RECENTLY TRADED THE VEHICLE FOR A 2017 AND IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE I AM DONE WITH CHEVROLET!!!! LAST ONE I WILL OWN

NHTSA ID

11022585

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

Mileage

5,500 mi

WE ARE AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE CENTER. OUR CUSTOMER DROPPED THEIR VEHICLE OFF ON A PARTICULARLY RAINY DAY. THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS WAS COVERED WITH THICK CONDENSATION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFROSTER MODE WITH A/C ON WAS SELECTED. ON HIGH SPEED, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE AIRFLOW FROM THE VENTS. UPON LOWERING THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, THE FAN SPEED, NOISE AND FLOW ALL INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. AN INSPECTION BEHIND THE SEATS REVEALED SOME ITEMS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE CAB. EXTERNAL INSPECTION FOUND AN OUTLET VENT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. BACK INSIDE THE TRUCK THERE WAS NO INSIDE OR INLET VENT TO BE FOUND. REMOVAL OF THE CARPETING ON THE REAR WALL OF THE CAB REVEALED A HEAVY, RUBBER BACKED INSULATING MATERIAL THAT EFFECTIVELY SEALED OFF THE VENT. REMOVAL OF A SMALL PORTION OF THE INSULATING MATERIAL AND THE CARPETING IMPROVED AIRFLOW IMMEDIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY DEFROSTED THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHILE WE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THIS DEFECT IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVERS BOTH FROM A VISIBILITY STAND POINT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASED CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS DUE TO IMPROPER CAB VENTILATION.

NHTSA ID

10970431

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

43,670 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT MELT THE ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES OF WAITING FOR THE ICE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE ICE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,790.

NHTSA ID

10953742

Incident

Nov 26, 2016

Mileage

3,790 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A LOUD WINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,660.

NHTSA ID

10950097

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

12,660 mi

THE DEFROST FUNCTION DOES NOT PREVENT ICE BULID UP ON WINDSHIELD AND BLOCKS DRIVER VISION. CLEARS PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WELL ENOUGH. BUT WITH DEFROST FAN SPEED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND THE HEAT TEMPERATURE AS HIGH AS I COULD STAND IT, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING, WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT ICE BUILD UP AND BLOCKING DRIVERS VISION. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NEVER HAD A VEHICEL THAT HAD SUCH WEIRD ICE BUILD UP PATTERN.

NHTSA ID

10945219

Incident

Dec 17, 2016

Mileage

11,000 mi