2005 Toyota 4runner Wipers & Visibility Problems

Your rear hatch glass unexpectedly shattered while you were using the defroster, preceded by a burning smell. This appears to be a known issue that Toyota addressed with a limited warranty program (ZG7) from March 2017 to April 2018, but the company is declining to cover similar failures occurring after that window. The fix will likely involve replacing the rear hatch glass assembly and investigating the defroster heating element for defects.

Your rear window shattered while you were using the rear window defrost feature. This is a safety concern as it compromises visibility and leaves glass debris. The repair will involve replacing the rear window glass.

Your rear windshield suddenly shattered with a loud noise while driving in rainy, cold weather with the defroster running. There was no impact from outside objects—the glass simply broke, possibly due to thermal stress from the cold temperature and defroster heat. Fortunately, no glass struck your passengers. The fix will require replacing the entire rear windshield.

While your brother-in-law turned on the rear windshield defroster, your rear windshield suddenly shattered and exploded. The defroster motor and wiring had melted from excessive heat, which caused the glass to fail. A glass repair shop replaced the windshield, but the defroster motor and its wiring will need to be replaced by the dealer to prevent this from happening again.

Rear window shattered moments after using the defroster at a stop light

REAR HATCH GLASS EXPLODED WHILE THE ELECTRIC HEATED DEFROST SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE ELECTRIC DEFROST HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE WINDOW WAS IN ITS FULLY CLOSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILER PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 39 DEGREES AND DRY.

THIS MORNING DEC-23-2019,RAINING 60 DEGREE, I WAS DRIVING ON 91 FWY WITH REAR DEFROST ON FOR RAIN FOG INSIDE. ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER LEFT MY HOME,I HEAR BIG POP NOISE AND MY REAR LIFT GATE GLASS SHATTERED. I THOUGH I HAD A DRIVE BY GUN SHOT,I START SEARCHING INTERNET AND FOUND THERE IS ISSUE ON REAR DEFROST LINE GLASS OVER HEAT SHATTERED GLASS. I VISITED 4 RUNNER OWNER'S FORUM AND I FOUND LOT A PEOPLE EXPERIENCE FOR SAME BLOWN REAR GLASS. I CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE,AND NO ONE RECOGNIZE IT . FURTHER SEARCH,,,,I FOUND WARRANT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM-ZF7. AND THIS PROGRAM ANNOUNCE TO DEALER SHIP MARCH 2017 WITH WARRANTY 9 MORE YEAR EXTEND FROM A DATE OF PURCHASE?? MINE IS 2005 AND EVEN 9 MORE YEAR WARRANTY STILL NOT COVERED TIME OF THEIR RECOGNITION OF THIS PROGRAM. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY DENYING FOR EXPIRE DATE OF IT. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD NOTIFY TO VEHICLE OWNER TO NOT USE DEFROST LINE,,,,,,, AND SAFETY CONCERN,THEY SHOULD EXTEND WARRANTY FOR GLASS. I FEEL LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE MY KID ON MY BACK SEAT....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF COOL SPRING (1875 W MCEWEN DR, FRANKLIN, TN 37067, (615) 656-3240) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 213,000. *BF *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SHOWERED WITH GLASS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SHORT EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE DEFROSTER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RICK HENDRICK TOYOTA OF FAYETTEVILLE AT 910-498-0110 (LOCATED AT 1969 SKIBO ROAD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28314) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THAT SPECIFIC PART HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,391.

2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR REAR HATCH GLASS REPLACEMENT. *AS *TR

WHILE USING REAR WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, REAR WINDOW SHATTERED/EXPLODED. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM IN T-SB-0189-17. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ENDED THEIR COVERAGE. WHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECTIVE WINDOW/DEFROSTER; THEY WILL NO LONGER FIX THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT IS FAIR TO CONSIDER EXPLODING WINDSHIELDS AS A SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RALPH HAYES TOYOTA, 3525 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 368-9242), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF COVER BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL OFF ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

WHEN MY TOYOTA HAD REACHED APPROX. 31,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF JAMMED WHILE AWAY FROM HOME DURING A RAIN STORM. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY, SO THE REPAIR WAS COVERED. NOTE: I RARELY USED THE SUNROOF EXCEPT FOR VISIBILITY OR FOR VENTILATION IF PARKED OUTSIDE WITHOUT SHELTER FROM THE SUN, I USED THE TILT MODE ONLY, PROBABLY A MAX 50 TIMES.WIND NOISE WAS OBJECTIONABLE WHILE DRIVING SO THE ONLY TIME IT WAS SLID WAS TESTING AT NEW AND AFTER REPLACEMENT. I LIKE THE SUNROOF AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT, IF IT WORKS? AT APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES (EQUIVALENT MILES FROM NEW VERSUS FROM THE FIRST REPAIR TO NOW.) THE SUNROOF AGAIN FAILED, SAME CONDITION. USE HAD BEEN MINIMAL, LIVING IN COLD MOUNTAIN STATE, AGAIN, USE SINCE REPAIR APPROX.25-30 TIMES, CONDITION OF RAILS WOULD INDICATE ANY WEAR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROX $700 FOR PARTS, $2,000 FOR LABOR. UPON CONTACTING TOYOTA, THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY $700 ON PARTS BUT NO LABOR ($2,000.). THEY WOULDN'T DISCLOSE IF THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IS IT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA SUN ROOFS? THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON A COLD DAY, ACTIVATING THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER FROM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE. THE EFFECTS OF THIS CAN BE STARTLING AND POTENTIAL CAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO LOOSE CONTROL, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

DRIVING APPROX 30-40MPH ON STANDARD HIGHWAY. FLORIDA, 0700, 70 DEGREES, CLEAR WEATHER. HEARD A LOUD ALMOST EXPLOSION... BY THE TIME I GOT MY WITS ABOUT ME I REALIZED MY REAR WINDOW WAS BROKEN. I HAD NOT BEEN HIT, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROJECTILE, AND NOT NEAR OPPOSING TRAFFIC FOR SOMETHING TO BE KICKED UP. SHORTLY BEFORE THAT, I HAD ON BOTH MY FRONT VENT DEFROSTER TO CLEAR THE MORNING WINDSHIELD FOG, AND THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. I SMELLED A SORT OF RUBBER BURNING SMELL; AFTER 2 MINUTES, I PRESUMED IT WAS MY AC UNIT, SO I SHUT IT OFF TO SEE IF THE SMELL WOULD DISSIPATE. I DID NOT SHUT OF THE REAR DEFROSTER. ABOUT 60S LATER IS WHEN THE SPONTANEOUS BURST HAPPENED. I HAVE SINCE RUN THE FRONT AC AND WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, AND NO HOT RUBBER ODOR. I HAD JUST RUN THE REAR DEFROSTER 3 DAYS AGO AS WELL, NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN. I DO FIND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ONLINE IN THE 4RUNNER, BUT DO NOT FIND ANY TOYOTA, OR OTHER SAFETY BULLETINS, FORMAL NOTICES, OR LIABILITIES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE CAUSE OF THE SHATTERED WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT WINDOW MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED A BURNED CIRCUIT BOARD AND FAULTY CABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFOGGER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

SUN VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT HOLD IT'S UPRIGHT POSITION, IMPAIR VISION OF DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. *TR

04-06/MY AUTOMATIC OPENER ON MY MOONROOF WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT OPERATING THE BUTTON CORRECTLY. 11-06/I OPENED MY MOONROOF AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE ONCE IT WAS FULLY OPENED. IT THEN WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE CABLE THAT PULLS THE MOONROOF SNAPPED AND DESTROYED THE HOUSING UNIT. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD BUT WAS 2000 MILES OVER MY WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE PART WAS $2100 AND LABOR WAS $850. TOYOTA PAID FOR THE PARTS DUE TO MY REQUEST FOR 'OUT OF WARRANTY ASSISTANCE', BUT STILL WAS THE PART DEFECTIVE? SHOULD I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TOO FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD?

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GLASS "EXPLODED" WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MONTANA. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA OF OUR TOYOTA WHEN THE GLASS BROKE. NOTHING SUCH AS A BIRD OR ROCK STRUCK THE GLASS IT SIMPLY SHATTERED! DRIVER AND PASSENGER CUT BY FLYING GLASS, BUT NOT BADLY INJURED. *JB

2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT V8 - 14800 MILES - BUILT MAY 2005. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES WITH A LIGHT RAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROX 18 MILES AFTER BEING PARKED INSIDE OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY WITH NO VEHICLES NEAR. THE GLASS 'EXPLODED' INTO THE VEHICLE REAR SEAT WITH A LOUD BANG. HAD THERE BEEN ANY PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN CUTS. THE GLASS BROKE INTO THOUSANDS OF TINY PIECES. *JB

DT: THE FIRST TIME THE OWNER DROVE THE CAR HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE WEIGHT OF THE DRIVER CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO SHIFT. THERE WAS NOT A LOOSE FEELING BUT THERE A MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT FELT UNSTABLE AND INSECURE. THE OWNER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT COULD COME OFF WAS THE TRACK. HE OWNER FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TIGHTENED THE BOLTS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE WAY HOME. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, AND TOYOTA SAID THEY WERE ABOUT TO FIX THE SEAT PROBLEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT AWARE OF WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BE REPAIRED, AND WHAT THE FIX WILL BE. THEY WILL REPLACE THE SEAT AT A COST OF $1,500. THE OWNER CALLED TOYOTA, AND WAS ASSURED THAT A FIX WAS IN THE PROCESS. THERE WAS NO TIME FRAME OR INDICATION OF WHAT THE FIX MAY BE. *AK THE VEHICLE'S SUNROOF STARTED TO CLOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. *NM