More Honda, Acura Owners Dealing With Shattered Rear Windows
Shattered rear windows are not limited to the 2023 Honda HR-V. Reports keep coming even though the problem has been known for quite some time now.
Several 2023-2024 Honda CR-V and 2019-2023 Acura RDX owners, among others, have also experienced a similar situation, as evidenced by complaints to U.S. authorities (NHTSA) and numerous posts on social media.
- Also: Honda to Replace Rear Window That Could Shatter on Some HR-Vs
- Also: Brand New Acura RDX Crossovers Recalled Over Steering Issue
In the case of the HR-V, the sealer used to secure the rear glass may come in contact with the heating elements of the defroster, creating a “hot spot” over time and weakening the glass. The automaker has launched a "voluntary product update campaign" to replace potentially faulty windows, but no recall has been issued because, as Honda claims, the tempered glass doesn’t break into large and dangerous shards that could pose a risk of direct injury.
However, when it comes the RDX, for example, the rear defroster may not be directly to blame. What’s more, the windows tend to shatter in a more alarming way, sometimes just by closing one of the vehicle's doors, likely due to the pressure change inside the cabin. This clearly demonstrates a weakness or design flaw in the glass.
What to Do?
There are currently no safety recalls on any Honda or Acura model to fix the problem and replace the rear windows that may shatter. A technical service bulletin has been created for dealerships to facilitate diagnosis and repairs. Apparently, owners have experienced shattering even with replacement windows.
The Car Guide contacted the manufacturer this week and received the following response:
“Honda Canada is aware of rare cases where the rear window shatters without impact on certain RDX vehicles. While Honda Canada is not currently taking any proactive measures in the market, we encourage any customer who believes this issue may have occurred with their vehicle to visit an Acura dealer so that the problem can be examined and, if applicable, repaired under warranty.”
In other words, owners with an expired vehicle warranty (Honda: 3 years/60,000 km, Acura: 4 years/80,000 km) have to pay for the replacement of a shattered rear window out of their own pocket, unfortunately—unless they can reach an agreement with the dealer.
Class actions involving the 2019-2023 RDX are ongoing in the U.S. None can be found in Canada.
