Rear Window?Not the Movie! (Why Some Rear Windows Don't Go All the Way Down)
July 12, 2020
Alfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. But there is one thing that some drivers DO find mysterious. Why don't the rear windows in the second row of many of these vehicles go down all the way?
You've probably seen or owned one or two. That rear side window only goes down about a third, a half or three-quarters of the way. Yet there are some similar vehicles where the window goes down all the way. What gives?
There was the rumor going around that the restriction on how far those windows could go down was a child safety feature. The thought was that if those windows couldn't open up fully, a child (or pet) would be less likely to fall out. But it turns out the real reason is that the way the rear doors were designed, there was just no room for the window to go down all the way into.
Many vehicles are configured so that the rear wheel arch continues into the rear door. That arch restricts the space that would accommodate the window, so they had to stop the window somewhere higher than bottom of the door.
Seems buyers would prefer those back windows to go all the way down, so many manufacturers are changing designs to make that happen. Longer vehicles can have their wheels pushed further back so the wheel arch isn't an issue. Some have altered the position of the rear window track.
If you have any questions about your rear side windows, you may want to consult your service advisor to check yours. If they ARE supposed to go all the way down and they're not, it could be due to a few problems: corrosion, broken or bent window regulator components, electrical issues, etc. But if they're not supposed to go down all the way? At least now you know for sure.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
Mileage Headed Downhill? (What Causes Bad Fuel Economy?)
October 12, 2025
Name someone you know who enjoys spending a lot of money on gasoline. Yeah, me neither. Thats because it costs quite a bit to keep fueling your vehicle. One way to save money on gas is to get good fuel economy, and most of todays vehicles are designed to maximize your mileage. But you might f... More
Don?t Skip Out on These! (Vehicle Maintenance Items You Should Never Postpone)
October 5, 2025
Maybe that little sticker on your windshield is giving you the reminder that its time for your vehicle to have an oil change. Youve thought, Aw, I can skip this one and save myself a little money. When it comes to things you should never ignore on your vehicle, timely oil changes are number one... More
Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)
September 28, 2025
So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle. O... More