Take Action: Rear Defroster Ineffective

[innsxtc]

Hi everyone,

BACKGROUND:I'm a new owner of an awesome G35 coupe and other than the rotten gas mileage (which looks like there is nothing that can be done about), the only complaint I have is with the "rear defogger/defroster". I have had no luck in having it clear my back window in less than 15-20 minutes and even then it doesn't always finish the job before the button automatically shuts off.

I have had several other cars (including Hondas) that have always cleared the window in 5-10 minutes tops.

I have gone back and forth with the dealer and with Infiniti Consumer Affairs and have been told by all of them that the system is working "as designed" and that they can't do anything about it even though they have had many other people complain about the same thing.

So I'm taking a different route and would love to get all of your help as well (if you feel the same way I do about this SAFETY HAZARD of a problem not being able to see out the back window). I have logged a complaint with the NHTSA in hopes that if they get enough complaints they will go after Nissan to get them to issue a bulletin to have this problem fixed!

HELP REQUEST:If you can also voice your opinion with the NHTSA it will help expedite the process. You can call them at 1-888-327-4236 or email them at https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/email.cfm.

I would appreciate your help with this as even the guy at the dealer said he'd love to see this problem fixed.

Thanks in advance!

[telcoman]

Hi everyone,

BACKGROUND:I'm a new owner of an awesome G35 coupe and other than the rotten gas mileage (which looks like there is nothing that can be done about), the only complaint I have is with the "rear defogger/defroster". I have had no luck in having it clear my back window in less than 15-20 minutes and even then it doesn't always finish the job before the button automatically shuts off.

I have had several other cars (including Hondas) that have always cleared the window in 5-10 minutes tops.

I have gone back and forth with the dealer and with Infiniti Consumer Affairs and have been told by all of them that the system is working "as designed" and that they can't do anything about it even though they have had many other people complain about the same thing.

So I'm taking a different route and would love to get all of your help as well (if you feel the same way I do about this SAFETY HAZARD of a problem not being able to see out the back window). I have logged a complaint with the NHTSA in hopes that if they get enough complaints they will go after Nissan to get them to issue a bulletin to have this problem fixed!

HELP REQUEST:If you can also voice your opinion with the NHTSA it will help expedite the process. You can call them at 1-888-327-4236 or email them at https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/email.cfm.

I would appreciate your help with this as even the guy at the dealer said he'd love to see this problem fixed.

Thanks in advance!

I never had a problem with mine. My rear window generally stays clear as my G35 is garaged. However last winter in a few snow storms I can't recall ever having a problem. I wonder if this is an issue with new coupes?

Telcoman

[innsxtc]

I own a 2005 with only 9,000 miles on it. I'm referring to having the car outside overnight and having due on the window in the morning and trying to clear it off. It takes forever to completely clear it all (at least 15-20 minutes or more). I'd love to hear from people who live in wintery climates and have to clear frost off their rear window, I would imagine that would take incredibly longer.

[G_whizz]

I'm in Toronto, we get whacked here pretty good... I used to have an 05 and never had a problem.. I have an 07 now and haven't experienced a problem yet either... good luck!

[joe603]

My 05 is good...does haze in < 1min

[innsxtc]

Can you let me know how long it takes for it to clear the frost on your rear window in Toronto?

That would at least tell me if there is a problem with mine or not and if I may just need to have mine replaced (although the dealer says it is working as normal but 20 minutes without even fully clearing the window does not sound normal to me).

[telcoman]

I own a 2005 with only 9,000 miles on it. I'm referring to having the car outside overnight and having due on the window in the morning and trying to clear it off. It takes forever to completely clear it all (at least 15-20 minutes or more). I'd love to hear from people who live in wintery climates and have to clear frost off their rear window, I would imagine that would take incredibly longer.

Are you only turning on the rear defroster or do you turn the heater on as well?When i did leave a vehicle out all night & it was covered with due, I would go out a few minutes before I was ready to go, start the vehicle, turn on heater & defroster & within 5 min everything was clear and the car was warm.I do see people driving with heavy coats, scarves, gloves etc. I drive in a short sleeve shirt all year round. I pick up coffee a few miles from my house & by then the car is warm & I take off my coat. If you are not turning on your heater then that could be your problem? The condensation and due forms on cold windows. Once the car is warm & the rear glass warms up that along with the rear defroster will get rid of the due.

Telcoman

[virginfiniti]

I park my car outside also and I too have noticed this also. I own an '07 G35 Sedan. I would leave the rear defroster on until it would shut off by itself. I almost took it into the dealer because I thought it was broken. None of the morning dew cleared off. Then one day, I decided to turn on the heater inside the car full blast with the rear defroster on and it cleared the rear window in about 3 minutes. So like telcoman says, turn on heater in the car in addition to the rear defroster. Worked for me. Hope it works for you!

Hi everyone,

BACKGROUND:I'm a new owner of an awesome G35 coupe and other than the rotten gas mileage (which looks like there is nothing that can be done about), the only complaint I have is with the "rear defogger/defroster". I have had no luck in having it clear my back window in less than 15-20 minutes and even then it doesn't always finish the job before the button automatically shuts off.

I have had several other cars (including Hondas) that have always cleared the window in 5-10 minutes tops.

I have gone back and forth with the dealer and with Infiniti Consumer Affairs and have been told by all of them that the system is working "as designed" and that they can't do anything about it even though they have had many other people complain about the same thing.

So I'm taking a different route and would love to get all of your help as well (if you feel the same way I do about this SAFETY HAZARD of a problem not being able to see out the back window). I have logged a complaint with the NHTSA in hopes that if they get enough complaints they will go after Nissan to get them to issue a bulletin to have this problem fixed!

HELP REQUEST:If you can also voice your opinion with the NHTSA it will help expedite the process. You can call them at 1-888-327-4236 or email them at https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/email.cfm.

I would appreciate your help with this as even the guy at the dealer said he'd love to see this problem fixed.

Thanks in advance!

[telcoman]

I park my car outside also and I too have noticed this also. I own an '07 G35 Sedan. I would leave the rear defroster on until it would shut off by itself. I almost took it into the dealer because I thought it was broken. None of the morning dew cleared off. Then one day, I decided to turn on the heater inside the car full blast with the rear defroster on and it cleared the rear window in about 3 minutes. So like telcoman says, turn on heater in the car in addition to the rear defroster. Worked for me. Hope it works for you!

Cold glass and high humidity is what causes dew to form on windows. Once the glass warms up from both the heater and defroster, no more dew.

"You don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Bob Dylan

Telcoman

[smockers83]

Cold glass and high humidity is what causes dew to form on windows. Once the glass warms up from both the heater and defroster, no more dew.

Pretty basic stuff right there...there is no need to take action, lobby the government, and whatever else you plan on doing. The defroster will melt snow off the window in less than 15 minutes. The defroster only heats the glass, you have to take into consideration the temperature right next to the glass, so turn up your heat or get that A/C going and get drier air in that car if its humid out. Sorry, no help here.

[innsxtc]

I sure appreciate all the responses and it sounds like I may just need to use a workaround to get around the slow defroster problem which is to wait until the car engine warms up (5 minutes roughly) and then use the car heater to warm the inside of the car to finally get rid of the dew outside.

I guess I'm just spoiled with my other cars having defrosters that got rid of dew and such in about 5-10 minutes without having to use the heater.

I'll give the heater thing a try and see how it works next time.

[telcoman]

I sure appreciate all the responses and it sounds like I may just need to use a workaround to get around the slow defroster problem which is to wait until the car engine warms up (5 minutes roughly) and then use the car heater to warm the inside of the car to finally get rid of the dew outside.

I guess I'm just spoiled with my other cars having defrosters that got rid of dew and such in about 5-10 minutes without having to use the heater.

I'll give the heater thing a try and see how it works next time.

Set your temperature for 70* on automatic. The heater & A/C is integrated. This should be on as soon as you start the vehicle. Turn on defroster front & rear if necessary. You can even go back in the house for a few minutes. By the time you return the dew should be gone & the inside of the vehicle warm. I don't understand why you are reluctant to use the heater?

Telcoman

[jpu1]

At these prices, a workaround ain't cutting it for me. When I bought my '04 off lease the rear defogger cleared fog in <1 minute. The first time I tried it on exterior frost it did nothing through 2 or 3 duty cycles. It now does nothing at all to fog or frost. No fuses are blown and no foils are cut (that I know of). I will be taking the thing to the dealer shortly, hoping I don't get the runaround you guys are talking about.

[innsxtc]

Good luck at the dealer, let us know how it goes.

My Acura Legend clears ice on the rear window in about 3-5 minutes, but the G doesn't do a thing and yet the dealer tells me it is working as designed.

[tollboothwilley]

I live in Utah, and we generally get a lot of snow, but this year it has been insane. Its been the best skiing/snowboarding I have experienced in the past 10 years. With all the added snow, I've been using my defroster a lot, and I had no problems. I scrape windows when its been outside through a storm and the defroster keeps it nice and clear, even if its still snowing. If i let it, it would melt the snow in about 10-15 is my guess.

Fog clears in less than a min, my guess is about 30 sec

[telcoman]

[QUOTE=jpu1]At these prices, a workaround ain't cutting it for me. When I bought my '04 off lease the rear defogger cleared fog in <1 minute. The first time I tried it on exterior frost it did nothing through 2 or 3 duty cycles. It now does nothing at all to fog or frost. No fuses are blown and no foils are cut (that I know of). I will be taking the thing to the dealer shortly, hoping I don't get the runaround you guys are talking about.[/QUOTE

Prior to making a trip to the dealer, be sure the heater/A/C is set on autoAdjust temp to 70 or 71 degrees. As soon as you start your vehicle you should see a LED lit. You can put on the rear defogger however, you will notice that as the temperature gauge starts to move towards the normal range as the vehicle begins to warm up, the blower motor for your heater/air conditioner will begin to increase speed. The integrated heater/air conditioner blower along with the rear defroster will clear your windows in a few minutes. You need to warm the entire vehicle for all this to occur. Failure to have the heater set on automatic will cause the problem you describe.

"You don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Bob Dylan

Telcoman