My Bronco’s Rear Defroster Cable(s) Fell Off. Now What?

You look up in the rearview mirror, and there you see it in the back –– dangling. The rear defroster contact tab has come off the glass of your hard top, and now the lead is hanging in space. 

Whether it happened on its own or from some items shifting/snagging in the cargo space, one or both the driver- and passenger-side tabs coming loose is not unusual in the Bronco (and Jeep/Tahoe/Escalade/etc.) world.

images: Bronco 6G

So, the question is, how do I fix it? We have answers.

Under Warranty

If your Bronco is still under warranty, head to the dealer. Depending on your dealership, you’ll either be told they will replace the back glass, or they will solder it back on. 

Not Under Warranty

If your Bronco is no longer under warranty, you can still head to the dealer. Like Broncos under warranty, some dealers will replace the entire window; others will attempt a repair.

As an idea of cost, repair labor would start at a half hour a side, or one hour for both. Dealerships set their own pricing, so exact totals may vary, but you could expect parts and labor to run about $100-150 for one side and $200-250 for both.

If your dealer goes the route of replacing the back glass, glass alone can cost up to $1,139.67. Some Bronco owners have said their dealership recommends going to a glass shop for this version of the repair instead. 

Back glass replacement, under warranty or not, will likely force one more cost: re-tinting, if you’ve darkened your windows. I have seen one report of an owner having their dealership tint the new glass on their warrantied repair, so you could ask for the same, but don’t bet on getting it.

Another option is to attempt the repair yourself, either with solder or silver-filled epoxy.

Soldering requires extra care so you don’t crack the glass with heat, but Bronco owners have successfully reattached their defroster tabs. Use a silver-bearing solder instead of tin/lead alloy solder, and take all the necessary precautions, like avoiding work on cold glass. If you prefer to try the epoxy route, look into rear defroster repair kits like Permatex Rear Window Defogger ($12) or Frost Fighter Rear Defroster Tab Bonding Kit with 80% silver in the adhesive ($55). Your results may vary, so attempt any repair at your own risk.

Preventative Measures?

Some aftermarket add-ons are available to help prevent contact tabs from coming off. They likely won’t stop spontaneous detachments but may help protect the tabs during direct hits. If the thought of that gives you some peace of mind, check out options like StickerFab’s 21 Offroad Rear Defroster Connector Protectors ($20) or various options on Amazon (search rear defogger guards for Ford Bronco 2021+).

Have your contact tabs came off? Bronco Nation’s Rapid Red 2021 Bronco Badlands lost both early on, but we’ve seen no issues with the others in our fleet. My own Bronco has held strong as well –– hopefully your Bronco follows suit!