RoadVitals

2014 Ford F-150 Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
142
Latest Nov 8, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 1,515 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 142 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 142, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Nov 8, 2025

The rear-view camera began working intermittently, and displaying a scrambled image when it did not work. It then stopped working all together and now only displays a blank screen. This began about 2 years ago, and it finally stopped working altogether about 1 year ago. I want to report it because the current rear-view camera recall stops at the 2015 model year, but my 2014 has the same problem.

NHTSA ID
11698336
Incident
Jun 1, 2023
Visibility
Filed Sep 9, 2025

Rear backup camera shows a blank screen intermittently / unpredictably. The dealership was unable to replicate it (because it occurs intermittently) while in for another repair so no repair attempt was made. It makes backing out of parking spaces safely difficult. It's been like this for about 5 years. I can make it available for inspection.

NHTSA ID
11686124
Incident
Sep 9, 2025
Visibility
Filed Mar 30, 2025

Rear camera stop working while driving in reverse

NHTSA ID
11651573
Incident
Mar 30, 2025
Visibility
Filed Feb 7, 2025

Turned on rear window and heated mirror defrost. Rear window cracked loudly and broke in a spiderwebbed manner after about 10-15 minutes of the defrost being turned on. Tempered glass kept it from blowing completely out. May have caused injury if a passenger had been sitting in rear crew cab seat at the time. Spoke with Safelite auto glass repair, was told they see this frequently with F150 trucks and think there is a problem with defrost function not shutting off like it should, causing excessive heat to window which eventually breaks the glass.

NHTSA ID
11641380
Incident
Jan 29, 2025
Visibility
Filed Jan 9, 2025

Rear glass shattered spontaneously. There are many reports of this issue over a wide range of model years and no acknowledgement from Ford. Vehicle was parked with engine running and rear defrost on, no prior damage to the rear window. The drivers side rear glass shattered suddenly with a loud bang and rained small glass slivers down on rear occupants. Was quoted $1080 by a glass installer for replacement. They said this is a common issue with these trucks.

NHTSA ID
11635060
Incident
Jan 9, 2025
Visibility
Filed Feb 6, 2024

Started the truck by using the remote starter got in the truck and while still in park position the rear slide window popped and shattered, come to find out has happened to lot of other people. They said that the defroster comes on automatically along with the remote iven if not needed . Just bought the truck

NHTSA ID
11570424
Incident
Feb 6, 2024
Visibility
Filed Dec 4, 2023

Back passenger side small window (one of three across the back, with a sliding center) spontaneously shattered tonight. It’s in the upper 30s and nothing hit it. I had just started the vehicle and began to move when two of my daughters and I heard a loud sound. My daughter said the window shattered. It’s still altogether but is spidered all over. There’s no evidence of anything hitting the window inside or out. Weirdest thing. I looked online and it seems this has happened to a lot of ford truck owners. The speculation is the rear defrost over heating. But I think since I saw so many online that had the same thing happen to them, I wanted to file a complaint. Ford should be replacing these windows. Obviously it’s a manufacture defect. Thanks.

NHTSA ID
11558452
Incident
Dec 4, 2023
Visibility
Filed Feb 8, 2023

Rear window shattered when truck was parked. I was opening front door to get inside at the time.

NHTSA ID
11506243
Incident
Feb 8, 2023
Visibility
Filed Jan 31, 2023

Back window shattered for unknown reason. The back window on my truck just shattered for reasons unknown. After doing some research this is a known issue with f150 trucks. The back window has a defroster installed

NHTSA ID
11504804
Incident
Jan 30, 2023
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2023

2 complaints 1st was my back window spiderwebbed without being hit when it was super cold in wisconsin on Dec 22 2022. It was a loud bang really startled me and I had no clue what happened until the next day. 2nd my wipers will turn on by them self sometimes and there is no intermittent wipers just the medium speed where there is no hesitation or delay.

NHTSA ID
11500073
Incident
Dec 22, 2022
Visibility
Filed Dec 14, 2022

Rear window on left side shattered on its own, Believe the rear defrost controller is to be be the issue, or faulty glass.

NHTSA ID
11497489
Incident
Dec 1, 2022
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Nov 29, 2022

Tonight I was using my rear defrost on my F-150 and I noticed the glass looked weird. Got out and my worst fear was true the back glass had shattered. I have only owned this truck since April I'm the second owner.

NHTSA ID
11495410
Incident
Nov 29, 2022
Visibility
Filed Sep 2, 2022

2014 F150 Lariat owned since it was new. Windshield wipers failed to come on during Florida thunderstorm while driving on I-10 Westbound from Jacksonville Florida. Was totally unable to see out of the windshield and had to pull over until the rainstorm subsided. Checked all relevant fuses and relays and wiper switch. Nothing so far has been able to fix this Safety Defect. Ford knows the part is defective because the Windshield wiper motor is not available from Ford or any dealer, and there is no expectation by the dealer than anything will ever be available to fix this Safety Defect.

NHTSA ID
11482633
Incident
Aug 18, 2022
Visibility
Filed May 2, 2022

34 degree morning at around 8 AM. Used my remote start, and had the vehicle running for a few minutes. Got into my vehicle and the passenger side rear glass (sliding rear windshield) was shattered.

NHTSA ID
11463005
Incident
May 2, 2022
Visibility
Filed Apr 6, 2022

The rear defrost functionality has stopped on my 2014 F150 with sliding rear window. This causes visibility issues in certain weather conditions.

NHTSA ID
11459935
Incident
Apr 30, 2018
Visibility
Filed Mar 22, 2022

Whe the truck was started to allow the interior to warm up, the back glass shattered. Happened at 50 degrees outside temp with defrost on.

NHTSA ID
11457897
Incident
Mar 21, 2022
Visibility
Filed Mar 13, 2022

I turned on my defroster this morning, to defrost my rear window and mirrors. I heard a loud bang got out to look around to see if someone hit me, noticed that my driver side rear window had completely shattered

NHTSA ID
11456524
Incident
Mar 11, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2022

Unknown. Rear window suddenly shattered cause may be from defroster system. I’ve been reading several other drivers having the same issue with their rear window suddenly shattering when having the defroster running

NHTSA ID
11452254
Incident
Feb 14, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2022

DRIVER SIDE BACK GLASS SHATTERED DUE TO WINDOW DEFROST ON REMOTE START UP. HEATING ELEMENT IN GLASS SHORTED OUT, ARCED, BEGAN SMOKING AND SHATTERED THE GLASS.

NHTSA ID
11452196
Incident
Feb 16, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 9, 2022

Truck has the heated 3 piece power rear window. I used the remote start on the truck while parked in an open detached garage while outdoor temperature was +5 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately 10 minutes of warmup time I approached the truck and the driver side section of the glass made a exploding sound. The window stayed in place but was shattered into thousands of small pieces. It only takes a few moments of internet searching to easily see that this is a know problem that has happened to over a thousand Ford F150 owners of simular years to mine 2014. When "remote start" is used the Rear Window defrost system automatically engages. There is a manufacturing or design flaw in the window or defrost control system on these Trucks. I was visiting my Mother in Wauwatosa WI 53226 when this incident occurred.

NHTSA ID
11451176
Incident
Jan 28, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 21, 2022

During commute to work this morning I heard what sounded like a rock hit the top of my truck. Seemed strange since I was on Highway 101 and not under anything. Later I noticed that the rear window on the driver’s side was spidered completely throughout. Internet search suggested this was just one of many times Ford F-150 trucks have had this happen, but no recall has been issued. Not happy as this repair will be approximately $750 of my hard earned money Had I been transporting one of my family members in the back it could have been worse.

NHTSA ID
11448427
Incident
Jan 21, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 18, 2022

I have researched this problem of the rear window defroster not working and the rear window exploding. There are several hundred cases of this but nothing has been done. Ford has not been receptive to fix this issue and I think it is time to hold them accountable. They will offer to replace the window at over $1200. This is something that should be a safety concern since you really can't clean this without getting into the bed of the truck which is dangerous especially in winter time. This also affects the side mirrors. I am quite fed up with these companies not being held accountable.

NHTSA ID
11447946
Incident
Nov 15, 2019
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jan 14, 2022

Back power and heated glass shattering as I turned on rear defrost with child in the back seat!!

NHTSA ID
11447568
Incident
Nov 20, 2021
Visibility
Filed Dec 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after her husband activated the defroster, it caused the rear windshield to shatter. The local dealer and several other dealers were made aware of the failure. All the dealers informed the contact to take the vehicle to an auto-glass dealer to replace the windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11444601
Incident
Dec 21, 2021
Mileage
140,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 19, 2021

I was driving with my defrost on front and rear windows at night time. I was stopped at a light when I heard a loud bang followed by a crackling noise. I safely found a spot to park close by and inspected if anything hit my truck. Nothing. My rear window on my cab was completely shattered. No evidence of anything hitting it. My truck bed was completely empty and had the canopy on. There was nothing in between the rear truck and canopy. What the heck? Had to be the rear defrost. There are multiple stories on the internet just like mine, with zero recall!!!! Ford make this right. Now I’m out 780.00 due to Fords faulty defrost wiring.

NHTSA ID
11441065
Incident
Nov 18, 2021

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .