[sharp859]

I recently noticed the windshield of my Ascent Limited has thousands of millions of glaring specks/dots when facing the sunlight in early morning or late afternoon. The windshield becomes so blurry and extremely annoying. This happens only in early morning when facing the sun or late afternoon. Or some bright oncoming vehicle's head lights. At other times, it just looks completely normal when you sit inside and see directly to the road, but if you see from angles your sharp eyes may catch it. Do you guys have this issue, or can you please check. I tried to clean using multiple glass cleaner no improvements, and I took to dealer and they spent some time and cleaned using steel wool, still there, and I requested for if they can replace my windshield, and as of now they are in touch with Subaru America. I made NHTSA complain as well and I feel this is quality control issue. It would be great if you guys can check your cleaned windshield and make sure you do not have any problem, if so I might get it replaced may be I got bad one . Thoughts comments appreciated.

 

[pro10is]

Mine is the same way. I've noticed this on other cars as well.

 

[Foveator]

I believe the laminated safety windshields have two layers of glass laminated together between a thin layer of strong plastic. Stress areas in the laminating process can easily be seen when wearing polarized sunglasses. They become more visible if you take off the sunglasses and rotate them while looking through them. I suspect that those "specks" are in the plastic laminating later and cannot be cleaned off from the surface of the glass. I have no idea if those spots are on every windshield or not.

In the optical eyeglass field, we can get those types of distortion in coatings if a lens is overheated during the manufacturing process.

 

[sharp859]

I think so too.

 

[sharp859]

So I feel this is a quality issue.. may be it is better to file a complaint https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ under Visibility/Wiper section, so they might ask Subaru to recall and have the it replaced for everyone with better quality, my previous car after 12 years I did not have this problem, once you clean the window it is striking clean on that car .

 

[Carl Abrams]

So I feel this is a quality issue.. may be it is better to file a complaint https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ under Visibility/Wiper section, so they might ask Subaru to recall and have the it replaced for everyone with better quality, my previous car after 12 years I did not have this problem, once you clean the window it is striking clean on that car .

That's because 12 years ago they didn't make windshields the way they do now. Since, you know, eyesight didn't exist in cars then.

You now have two layers of glass with special laminate in between designed to help with the eyesight system. This is still safety glass like we've had for years, but it's also now designed for sound reduction AND to make it easier for the cameras to see.

 

[GHP1]

That's because 12 years ago they didn't make windshields the way they do now. Since, you know, eyesight didn't exist in cars then.

You now have two layers of glass with special laminate in between designed to help with the eyesight system. This is still safety glass like we've had for years, but it's also now designed for sound reduction AND to make it easier for the cameras to see.

Your point Carl? I would think they would be of high quality and not chip so easy. Remember the recent Outback issues with windshields?

 

[bverant]

Subaru is replacing the driver's side front door window in my Ascent (when the glass is available) due to waviness/distortions (it was considered a defect). They should definitely be willing to replace the windshield for this defect.

 

[sharp859]

Yes I am working hard on it get it replaced, however I feel this issue might come back if this is widespread issue on the new one. So may be other Ascent owners out check this so it might be quality issue and real safety concern.

 

[pro10is]

To all reading this thread, you can check to see if your windshield is affected simply by driving toward the sun when it's low such as early morning or early evening. When the sun shines directly through the windshield, you will see thousands of spots if you have this.

Unless I miss my guess, I believe most, if not all will see this issue. I had this problem on my 2016 MX-5 and now on my Ascent.

 

[Karen in AZ]

I got caught in a dust storm in the Arizona desert a week or so after I got my Ascent. The windshield is so terribly pock-marked now that it's very difficult to see out facing into the sun. The winds were about 50+ MPH, and although the windshield looks terrible, the paint survived rather nicely. Insurance is replacing it (IF dealer ever gets the one they ordered). I waited until monsoon season was over in Arizona (end of September or so) to file a claim. I have full $0-deductible on glass, so it's not a horrible thing, but the estimated delivery date is about 6-8 weeks from when I filed.

 

[AnacortesArmyGuy]

Not a New Issue

My 2015 Forester had the same issue when purchased in November of 2014, and when pointed out to the dealership they admitted it was an issue for many of their cars. When I took a razor scraper to the windshield it removed these spots, so I can only assume they were the result of some type of overspray from something Subaru applied to the vehicle. I was reluctant to “scrape” the entire windshield, so I assumed that over time they would come off from routine cleaning of the glass and from car washing, and they did, but it took awhile. I did not notice this on my 2016 Crosstrek, but see it again on our new Ascent, so I’m prepared to give it some time like I did for our 2015 Forester.

 

[sharp859]

I really do not want scrape my car using blade .

 

[Carl Abrams]

I really do not want scrape my car using blade .

It doesn't hurt anything. It's just time consuming is all.

We use razor blades on windows all the time. How do you think we get the Monroney stickers off? Razor blades and glass cleaner. :tango_face_wink:

 

[sharp859]

Update: Finally got replacement approved, after few to and forth communication. Now waiting for the part.