2007 Toyota 4Runner Visibility Problems

Driving along the freeway in winter conditions I used the rear defroster for the back window, this caused the back glass to explode loudly, shattering glass onto belongings, animals and the road behind us. This caused drivers behind us to act evasively and myself as well making a winter driving condition more dangerous, not to mention the spray of glass that reached the back seats of my car with passengers. This has been well documented by other drivers and been acknowledged by Toyota in letters and technician bulletins for replacement of the windows, there are no warning lamps, it just goes from working correctly to exploding.

NHTSA ID

11632738

Incident

Dec 26, 2024

Parked at a stop light and the rear windshield shattered.

NHTSA ID

11448259

Incident

Jan 20, 2022

DURING USE OF MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, THE REAR WINDOW POPPED AND SHATTERED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11366328

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

178,000 mi

MY REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER USING THE DEFROSTER. ONCE I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AFTER PARKING IT IN MY JOB'S GARAGE IT BUSTED ON IT'S OWN. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY 4TH GENERATION 4RUNNER OWNERS BUT TOYOTA WON'T RECALL OR EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE ANY LONGER. NOW I HAVE TO EITHER NEVER USE MY REAR DEFROSTER AGAIN WHILE LIVING IN COLORADO OR RISK IT SHATTERING AGAIN AND HURTING PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IF I HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11176664

Incident

Feb 11, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED, THE REAR WINDOW FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAMER TOYOTA (11041 SEPULVEDA BLVD, MISSION HILLS, CA 91345, 818-365-9621) WHERE BURNT WIRES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 216,800.

NHTSA ID

11172187

Incident

Jan 16, 2019

Mileage

216,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. AFTER THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED, THE REAR HATCH GLASS EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED ON APRIL 30, 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY KALISPELL TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 2845 U.S. 93 S, KALISPELL, MT 59901, (406) 755-6060). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. *TT UPDATED 12/13/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11130240

Incident

Sep 17, 2018

Mileage

118,000 mi

CPSC:SECURED MY TWO CHILDREN INTO THE MIDDLE SEATS OF MY 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, SECURED MYSELF INTO THE DRIVER SEAT, AND LEFT MY RESIDENCE. LESS THAN 2 MILES INTO THE DRIVE, I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL, NOT A SMOKY SMELL, BUT AN INTENSE BURNING AROMA.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE GLASS WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING.*JS

NHTSA ID

11074782

Incident

Sep 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO SMOKE OR FLAMES PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1709181574. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT TECHNICIANS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,989.

NHTSA ID

11031998

Incident

Sep 18, 2017

Mileage

130,989 mi

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON (RIGHT ADVICE CUP HOLDER) CAUSING REAR WINDOW TO SHATTER WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS STATIONARY AT A LIGHT AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917503

Incident

Oct 19, 2016

Mileage

133,376 mi

MY VEHICLE, 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. LIVING IN MAINE, THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN ANY HUMAN WOULD LIKE. IN ANY EVENT, MY HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CONTINUES TO LITERALLY FREEZE UP AND WILL NOT WORK. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB (AC002-07) ON THIS EXACT ISSUE. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY I'M TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALER AND BY TOYOTA DIRECTLY THAT I NEED TO ASSUME ALL COSTS FOR REPAIR, YET IF THE VEHICLE WAS "IN WARRANTY" THESE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN WARM CLIMATES FOR THE DURATION OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THIS ISSUE WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL A RECENT MOVE. I'M UNCLEAR HOW THIS ISSUE IS NOT SEEN AS A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS NOT BECOME A STANDARD VEHICLE RECALL FOR REPAIR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN IMPAIR THE VEHICLE'S ABILITY TO PERFORM SAFELY. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE IN OVER A WEEK DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN A FREEZING COLD VEHICLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I CANNOT GET AIR MOVEMENT TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. WITH NO HEAT, OR THE ABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THERE EXISTS AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE A 20 MONTH OLD CHILD AND OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH NO MECHANISM FOR WARMING ITSELF IS IN MY EYES "UNSAFE" THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AN CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

10382310

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

Mileage

70,020 mi