Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear passenger's side window had shattered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford F-150. The contact stated two minutes after starting the vehicle and activating the defroster, there was an abnormally loud sound. The contact turned around and noticed that the rear passenger's side panel window was shattered. The contact stated that no one was injured. The contact stated that neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
I was driving this morning with the temperture around 30degrees. I turned on my rear defrost to thaw my mirrors and rear glass of frost. Within 10 minutes of leaving my driveway, while driving I heard a large pop that resembled a gun shot, my daughter started screaming and stated my back window had broken. There are burn marks on the defrost contacts, shards of safety glass off of my window that shot out when exploded with my 5 year old daughter in the rear seat and her car seat. Vehicle was in motion approx 55 MPH. The sound alone caused me to lock up my brakes out of instinct to investigate the loud noise that sounded like a gun shot and to examine the vehicle. This is a serious safety issue and needs to be addressed! There was a burning smell of what smelt like electrical wire burning present when this happened and minimal smoke in the back of the vehicle.
Was driving down the road and noticed the right side of the rear window smoking. Before I could pull over, the window exploded and the entire right side was shattered. My son was sitting in the seat directly in front of it. Upon further inspection, I noticed where the rubber seal around the window was melted from burning, and there was liquid draining from the area. I was traveling to take my kids to school and had my rear defogger in use. I have noticed numerous complaints about this issue from others, but Ford has not issued a recall.
Vehicle was parked in my driveway - I turned it on to warm up and turned on the rear defroster. Within a few mins, the rear window shattered and there is a burn mark and melting of the trim in the bottom corner of the window where the defroster wiring/sensor is located.
Takata recall. When pulling out into traffic on a very busy highway as the on coming traffic speed limit is 50mph, I'm pulling out on the highway with a safe distance between cars on this busy road as I accelerated my 2010 f150 fx4 super crew cab "with my family in the truck I might add" the truck just down shifts and it slams me and my family forward "like I hit a tree going 30mph" the truck shuts off completely and a symbol of a wrench pops up on the dashboard. With no power steering, no power breaks, no way to safely move the truck off the road at this point due to the traffic I was trying to avoid was passing me going at least 50mph almost getting rear ended by several cars and semi trucks, I push the flashers on and pray that nothing bad happens and coast until the truck finally comes to a stop after about 30-45 seconds. …
Sitting in my driveway on nov 8th, 2019 I started up my 2010 Ford f150 pickup. I sat in the truck while it was warming. We had frost the night prior so I turned on the rear window defroster. Not long after the passenger side of the back window shattered. It sounded like an explosion. Very scary. The glass stayed intact pretty much but it was all cracked. After I pulled myself together, as I was totally unprepared for something of this nature to happen, I was pretty shook up. I drove to menards to get some plastic to tape it up. As I did the pieces of the window started falling out, both on the inside and the outside. There was glass everywhere. I took my truck to manley motors in belvidere , illinois where they documented it, and also filled out a form and submitted to Ford corporate. I also called the Ford customer service line and submitted a claim. The claim number is cas24904981. …
While driving on a local road (approx. 45 MPH, raining, approx. 50 degrees outside) heard a sound that sounded like a gun shot. Looked around and didn't see anything next to me or behind me. When next stopped the truck got out to check to see if something happened to the truck body. Then realized the passenger side back rear window shattered. (it's a 3-part rear window.) looking very closely, the glass spidered, starting from the bottom corner closest to the center window up to the opposite top corner. The glass spidered inside the car. Outside the glass, although still intact, was buckled facing out. At the time this happened, the rear window defroster was on. When got back in truck to travel home, during the drive the window broke with small pieces of glass falling all over the back seat. …
I remotely started my f150 to warm up the vehicle on a morning that the outside temperature was 37f. While inside the vehicle I heard a load bang that sounded like glass breaking. Observed that rear passenger window shattered approx. Three minutes after rear defroster switch was turned on . Inspected glass both inside and out and observed that the glass was intact but the whole passenger side back glass what shattered as with safety glass would. I took the vehicle to the nearest dealer and they had seen the problem before but there advised it would not be under warranty or policy. Dealer gave me local csr to contact to discuss the issue and ask for policy. Glass estimate was around $621 for parts and 3 hrs of labor. Declined repair until speaking with csr to ask for consideration under policy. I don't know what I would have done if the glass would have fallen out during driver. …
Started the truck with auto start to let it warm up (out temp approx. 38* plus wind chill), turned on defroster in both front and rear. With in 60 seconds there was a loud bang like a gun shot and smoke coming from rear right passenger side back window. When I got out of truck to check it out there was a small flame at base of passenger side back glass and plastic was melting. The inside back seat was warm to touch, I was unable to get seat forward to see if there is any inside damage. There is melted plastic down outside cab of truck. I went on line to (http://www.carproblemzoo.com/Ford/f-150/rear-window-defogger-problems.php) and found that this site had others that experienced this same thing. Even after the truck was off, the back glass remained hot for about 15 minutes. The glass is shattered and is held in place by the after market window tinting.
Window & Wiper complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2010 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 171 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2010 Ford F-150, 20% of the model year's 843 complaints. The component named most often is glass, side/rear (45 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Ford F-150 window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2010 Ford F-150, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Ford F-150 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 8 fires and 2 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.