Lift gate window exploded

[phottomatt]

On a very cold day, around 12f, I fired up the Yukon with the remote start which turns on the rear window heat (and A/C for some reason but thats another thread). When I went to throw something in the back I noticed an odd smell but assumed it was exhaust, then while driving I noticed a smell like hot wires/ electrical. I noticed the rear window defrost was still on so I turned it off, then the rear window exploded. The sequence of events are a little fuzzy, having a window explode while driving tends to rattle a person so I can't really be sure that I turned the heat off before it exploded. Getting a rapid cooling after being hot would make glass explode though so that's the theory I am sticking with. Anyone else have rear window heat issues?

 

[wjburken]

We had the rear hatch glass on our 2008 Yukon XL do the disappearing act a few years ago while my wife was rolling down the highway. Wife said it was like Thanos snapped his fingers and it just started to disintegrate. My guess was some localized heat spike caused it.

Someone else on here had a similar thing happen to their rear hatch glass a while back as well except I think they were just parked when it happened.

 

[phottomatt]

Dropping it off at the dealer today, insurance will cover the window, hopefully they can figure if there's a problem in the wiring.

 

[Thrust]

Let us know what the dealer says. I've heard of it happening on F150 rear windows.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

It sounds like a defect in the glass. All safety glass components need to be stress relieved during the manufacturing process, but occasionally some glass does not get totally stress relieved in the process, and these defective glass items are subject to 'explosion', when exposed to a large temperature fluctuation. These issues are more common in hot climates where the sun on the glass causes the issue.

 

[CMoore711]

Never had this happen, but the tabs for the rear defrost that are welded (or soldered) to the rear glass so the rear defrost can function keep snapping off. I've soldered each one back on twice now.

However, it is currently winter and very cold in Ohio and one is currently popped off, not allowing my rear defrost to function. Because of the potential of this happening when I go to solder it back on in the cold winter weather I have held off in doing so. Really don't want to go through all of winter with no rear defrost but if that's what I have to do to prevent this from happening I will.

 

[repairman54]

I've used the tab repair kits on cars with fixed glass and it worked but not on my hatch window with the swinging weight of the wire hanging off it. I heated up the tab holding it with pliers and stuck it on with molten soldier on it and stuck it on. Used some conductive grid repair paint around it to make sure connection was good and it's held up for 2 yrs. now. Knock on wooden head LOL
I've seen snow melt water run down onto windows on vehicles parked in the sun break windows.

 

[Tahoe14]

I thought there was a repair kit that several members on here have used with good results.

 

[wjburken]

I thought there was a repair kit that several members on here have used with good results.

I think it’s frost fighter that everyone has had good luck with.

 

[oldretiredafguy]

I never use the remote start on super cold or hot days. I want to be able to control which accessories are turned on, not "Hal".