Rear Window Defrost Indicator
OK to driveTypically Amber (illuminated) on the dash
Rear window defroster is on. It switches itself off after 10–15 minutes.
What it means
Confirms the heating grid in the rear glass is active. The system draws significant current, which is why it times out automatically. Broken grid lines (from scraping or tint removal) show up as stripes that never clear.
Can you keep driving?
Yes — informational.
What to do now
- 1
Let it time out on its own rather than leaving it on.
- 2
If sections of the glass never clear, the grid lines are damaged — a conductive repair kit fixes small breaks.
Likely causes
- • Defroster switched on
Typical fix cost
$0; grid repairs $15–$300 (conductive paint kit to glass replacement)
Ranges reflect mainstream US parts-and-labor pricing; your vehicle and region will vary.