Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Truck was started using auto start and I drove roughly a mile down the road smelt burning and looked in the back seat, I saw smoke and promptly pulled to the side of the road shut the vehicle off then I heard a loud pop and saw the back drivers side window shattered.
The rear window on my 2017 GMC Sierra shattered unexpectedly without any impact. The vehicle had been remote started in very cold weather and the rear window glass suddenly shattered while the truck was parked. There was no rock strike or external damage that would explain the failure. I later learned about GM Customer Satisfaction Program N192265660 regarding rear window defroster thermal events affecting certain 2014–2019 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks. Based on the sudden failure and the conditions at the time, this appears consistent with that issue. The Auto Rear Defog feature in the vehicle settings was turned off, however the truck had been started using the remote start feature when the glass shattered. Photos of the shattered window are available. I am submitting this report because the rear window defroster system may cause the glass to overheat and shatter unexpectedly.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the defrost was turned on, but the defrost failed to function as intended. There was a loud pop, and there was brown and yellow smoke in the rear of the vehicle. The contact turned off the defroster. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact exited the vehicle and inspected it. The contact stated that the rear driver's side sliding glass was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,200.
While using the rear defrost my daughter smelled burning. Moments after the smell the rear window exploded. This is a sliding three part window and it shattered on the passenger side. My daughter was hit by the exploding glass.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that after remote starting the vehicle, upon entering the vehicle, the contact became aware of a burning odor in the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle, and the back glass was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed defrost resistor. The contact was informed that the defrost resistor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that five years prior, a recall repair was performed, and the defrost resistor was replaced under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
My rear defrosters shorted out causing a small fire and causing the window to explode. The recall for this issue has already been performed on this vehicle...
Started my truck to go to the store. When me and my son got in we could smell like hot plastic burning. Figured someone was burning trash so we proceeded to the store. About a mile down the road it sounded like someone fired a gun inside the cab of the truck. So being a combat veteran it triggered me! I instantly swung for the back seat thinking someone was back there and noticed the rear sliding window on the drivers side had blown and shattered. I found a recall online that gm had put out about this specific issue happening. So when I called Varney Gmc of Bangor Maine. They told me the recall had Ben done at 97000 miles and there was nothing they could do unless I paid for it…
BACK WINDOW STARTED SMOKING NEXT TO HANDLE TO OPEN SLIDING WINDOW THEN SHATTERED THEN STARTED FALLING OUT. I WAS MOVING AND IN IN REVERSE BACKING UP WHEN THIS HAPPENED. (LEFT SECTION OF BACK WINDOW)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR POWERED SLIDING WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE WINDOW WAS CLOSED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER DON FRANKLIN GMC (3380 RICHMOND RD. LEXINGTON KY) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
DISPLAY SCREEN TO BRIGHT WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY IS SO BRIGHT YOU CAN NOT SEE YOUR EXTERIOR MIRRORS OR OUT ANY OF THE WINDOWS TO SEE SURROUNDING AREA. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE BLINDED WHILE BACKING UP. WHEN TOOK THE TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THIS. AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS???
ON SCREEN DISPLAY FOR BACKUP CAMERA. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ON SCREEN DISPLAY IS SO BRIGHT THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OUT THE WINDOWS, THE REARVIEW MIRRORS OR THE SURROUNDING AREA. THIS DISPLAY DOES NOT DIM WITH THE REST OF THE LIGHTS. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN TRYING TO BACKUP THE VEHICLE.
REAR SOLID/HEATED WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE STATIONARY IN THE DRIVE WAY
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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