A manufacturing issue in certain Honda HR-Vs has the potential to cause the rear window to shatter spontaneously, which could result in the rear compartment being exposed to the elements and glass debris being scattered both inside the vehicle and onto the road behind it.
As of now, the issue has not led to a recall or an official investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, numerous owners have lodged complaints about this problem on the NHTSA’s website.
Most recently, the rear window in a 2023 Honda HR-V being tested by Consumer Reports shattered while it was being warmed up one cold morning. Now, the organization is calling for a recall of the vehicles, in order to “help get the word out and maximize the number of owners who get their cars fixed.”
Voluntary Recall
Although it is not launching a recall, Honda told Carscoops that they would be initiating a voluntary product update campaign to remedy this problem, which it says is related to an issue with the defroster. It is working to get replacement parts as soon possible, and says that it expects to start replacing windows in April or May 2024.
“Our investigation has revealed that during the assembly process for some vehicles, the sealer used to secure the rear glass may come into contact with the heating elements of the defroster, leading to a hot spot and weakening of the glass over time as the defroster is used,” Honda said in a statement.
Read: Acura RDX Owners File Lawsuit Alleging Spontaneous Shattering Of Rear Windshield
Although the source of the problem being the defroster may suggest that this is only a problem for owners in the northern part of the country, complaints have been coming in from all over. One, submitted on January 23, came from an owner in Las Vegas, who said their glass shattered while they were on the highway. They add that the sound of the breakage was similar to gunfire, which startled them.
The potential for this issue to frighten drivers into weaving or swerving is one of the reasons that Consumer Reports and the Center for Auto Safety believe that Honda’s response should be upgraded to a safety recall.
However, for now, Honda says that owners whose rear glass breaks because of the defroster can reach out to their nearest dealer, or to its customer service line (800-999-1009) to arrange a potential repair.
