14th Gen Rear Defroster still shattering rear windshields?

[ChemGuy]

Hey all, recently found this forum and haven't quite figured out the best way to use the search function so forgive me if this has been asked multiple times already. I recently traded my 12th gen in on my new (to me) 21 XLT 5.0 and I'm curious if the rear defrost is still shattering rear windshields? I never used it in my previous truck because it was almost a guarantee that it would shatter at some point but I am putting a cap on this truck and would like to be able to use the defrost.

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[dhrandy]

I haven’t seen it brought up in this forum. I use it without issues.

 

[powerboatr]

mine has come on a few times so far at first start, so far so good

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Used mine a handful of times with no issues at all.

 

[ChemGuy]

Nice, glad to see at least a few of you haven’t had issues. Truck sits in a garage at home but outside for 13-14hrs while I work so it’ll be nice to use it and not worry about it.

 

[jeffrt]

Used mine all last winter with no issues. My 2010 shattered on me a few years ago with the defroster on, so I do have the same fear as you. So far so good!

 

[KBKEITH]

Pretty sure it was a spotty issue with the 21s, but have not heard of this at all on the 22s.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Nice, glad to see at least a few of you haven’t had issues. Truck sits in a garage at home but outside for 13-14hrs while I work so it’ll be nice to use it and not worry about it.

Well... There is a BIIIIIIG difference between a Houston winter and Wisconsin winter... You'd probably walking around in shorts and a t-shirt saying something to the effect of "You call this winter?! This is positively balmy!"

But yeah, you should be fine.

 

[Jaysonics]

Only had my 2022 for a short time but no issues so far. Also had no issues on my 2019. My 2014 was a nightmare tho. Hopefully they've figured it out by now

 

[ChemGuy]

Thanks for the input guys, those of you with previous 12th understand the anxiety around it ? Seems like I’ll be safe to use it.

 

[TJE]

I've used mine several times in wyoming. Always comes in when I remote start first thing in the morning. Zero issues.

 

[Mash150]

Cold snowy weather here in Canada for a lot of the time, and I’ve not heard of this issue. Second winter on my 21 and no problem. Many truck owners here as well and if this was an issue I’m sure there would be many complaints hitting the news.

 

[Snakebitten]

I've always had a sneaky suspicion that the ones that pop are the ones in a bind of some kind while they are heating up.

It's a big piece spanning a fair amount of real estate. The cab wouldn't have to be flexed but a small amount, invisible to the eye, to introduce a bit of pressure at some spot in the sheet.

Why else would some (most) never pop, yet some pop more than once?

Just a hypothesis.

And I'm not saying that a newer version isn't less prone because perhaps it is manufactured to be able to withstand that stress force better?

 

[tony72cutlass's']

I've always had a sneaky suspicion that the ones that pop are the ones in a bind of some kind while they are heating up.

It's a big piece spanning a fair amount of real estate. The cab wouldn't have to be flexed but a small amount, invisible to the eye, to introduce a bit of pressure at some spot in the sheet.

Why else would some (most) never pop, yet some pop more than once?

Just a hypothesis.

And I'm not saying that a newer version isn't less prone because perhaps it is manufactured to be able to withstand that stress force better?

You bring up a super interesting point! I just had a look through and ε for steel is 0.0000065 / °F. For aluminum, ε is 0.0000128 / °F.

So aluminum cabs expand almost twice as much when subjected to the same temperature difference!!

 

[ChemGuy]

Cold snowy weather here in Canada for a lot of the time, and I’ve not heard of this issue. Second winter on my 21 and no problem. Many truck owners here as well and if this was an issue I’m sure there would be many complaints hitting the news.

Definitely, it was very very common in the 12th gens and I definitely read about it a lot. I’d see multiple people posting about broken windshields every winter on the 12th gen pages. I’m glad to hear that it’s not a common thing with the new trucks.

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