For most drivers, the rear defroster button is an afterthought. You jab it on cold mornings, watch the frost melt into streaky rivulets, and then forget about it until the next weather event.

It looks like a simple pattern, but it's actually a safety feature in disguise. Peer into the window tech that melts ice at ...

Most cars are equipped with defrosters for the windshield and rear window to improve visibility by clearing fog, ice and snow. Most defrosters rely on the heat from a car’s engine, but some vehicles ...