Rear Window explodes

[cuda_jim]

There is a bulletin on the latch for your truck and others. If the latch allowed the glass to pop open I could see the glass breaking while driving down a bumpy road ect. Maybe I'm just 'grasping at straws' for you but it may help defray some of the cost for replacement?? Might be worth a try.

ASI Resolution - Liftgate Glass Unlatches on Rough/Bumpy Road Surfaces (Replace Liftgate Window Latch) #04-08-66-004A - (Jun 22, 2004)

Liftgate Glass Unlatches on Rough/Bumpy Road Surfaces (Replace Liftgate Window Latch)

2004 Buick Rainier

2002-2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer EXT

2002-2004 GMC Envoy, Envoy XL

2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada

This bulletin is being revised to provide the correction and warranty information, which is now available for Advanced Service Bulletin Number 04-08-66-004. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-08-66-004 (Section 08 -- Body and Accessories).

Condition
Some customers may comment that the rear liftgate window unlatches when driving on rough/bumpy road surfaces. This condition may be very difficult to duplicate.

Cause
The liftgate window latch may be the cause of this condition.

Correction
Replace the liftgate window latch. Refer to the Liftgate Window Latch Replacement procedure in the Body Rear End sub-section of the Service Manual (SI Document ID #743110).

Part Information
Part Number
Description

15132517
Latch, Liftgate Window


Parts are expected to be available from GMSPO on June 25, 2004.

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

B5924
Latch, Liftgate Window - Replace
Use published labor operation time

[wafrederick]

It is a common problem with the fullsize vans too and heard of one doing this.It was sitting in park and the owner heard something like gunshot.

[BRD]

I'd keep looking around the GM-related boards & blogs for updates on that problem. On Monday of this week the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled that Ford is going to have to stand trial on a 2002 Explorer's liftgate window that exploded on a tech who was replacing the hinge supports. Acc to his expert witness the prob with windows of this type is that the assembly tends to put too much torsion on the tempered glass if the hinges aren't located & torqued down with a high degree of care per factory assy specs. I don't see how GM's could be materially different from Ford's because they both buy tempered glass from the same sources and the design is alike in principle. Funny thing on the way to trial. It turns out that, beginning model year 2004, Ford added content to the Explorer service manual (the one shops use) that lays out step-by-step, bolt-by-bolt, inch-pound by inch-pound, the installation and torquing procedure when the liftgate has to be removed & replaced. The expert testified that the '04 instructions constituted an "adequate warning." The trouble was Ford hadn't issued it for earlier years. The case is DeLuna v. Ford on the 3rd Circuit's web site (google will hit it) if you're interested.

[Rick2u]

It just happened to me last Saturday while the car was in the driveway. My neighbours across the street noticed it. I also went to my GM dealer who was sympathetic but none the less gave the canned response of "Due to the fact that I was above the 3 yr 60,000 km mark" I was SOL. I checked around and found varying replacement prices. $995.00 - $1300.00. It now seems that it is a design problem and maybe GM should take heed. I have always bought GM and might think differently on any future purchase, especially Trailblazers.

[BRD]

As McDonald's brags, "Millions sold." Check the avail info for updates. If you look at that Ford case, it'll have the plaintiff's attys listed. Contact one of them, find out who's working on similar GM cases around the country. The U.S. autos do get sued a lot, often for injuries that weren't their fault, so we know why they don't like to say anything that could be construed as an admission of error. OTOH, when they KNOW they've used a failure-prone component or a selected design requires particularized skill in assy or maintenance, they'd do themselves a huge favor with the shrinking customer base to alert the public sooner and have a process in place to inspect and/or fix the problem before it leads to injuries or a govt-ordered recall.

[83cutlass]

I don't believe this is a design flaw, possiblly a quality control problem at the glass factory or an installation problem. Tempered glass is a safety feature so that the glass breaks into a million tiny fragments instead of 10's of large, sharp, dangerous pieces. I work at a GM dealer and I've seen 2 or 3 rear glasses blown out in the past year. These were fixed glass rear windshields, not liftgates. So yes it does happen occasionally.

[maxwedge]

Guys, this thread is going on 2 years, we are done unless something new comes up, then start a new thread, thanks.