Complaint 2239025

Complaint Summary

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Owner Narrative

Description of Safety Defect The vehicle has experienced significant optical distortion in the driver’s primary line of sight with three separate replacement windshields. The distortion has included noticeable rippling, warping, and a “funhouse” effect that causes straight objects and the surrounding environment to appear distorted when viewed through portions of the windshield directly in front of the driver. Component or system that failed or malfunctioned The affected component is the windshield/front windshield glass, specifically its optical quality in the driver’s field of view. The vehicle has had three windshield replacements, and visual distortion has been present with each replacement. The current windshield is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is also available for inspection. The concern is not simply cosmetic variation at the edges of the windshield. The distortion occurs in the driver’s normal viewing area and is noticeable during ordinary driving. How was safety put at risk? The distortion affects the driver’s ability to clearly and accurately perceive objects and road features through the windshield. Straight objects can appear wavy, bent, or distorted, and the image can appear to move or change shape as the vehicle or driver’s head moves. Because the distortion is located directly within the driver’s normal line of sight, it can interfere with accurate visual perception while driving and can be distracting. This creates a potential safety risk because the windshield is the primary viewing surface through which the driver observes traffic, road markings, vehicles, pedestrians, and other hazards. The concern is particularly significant because the distortion is present in the driver’s primary field of view rather than being limited to a peripheral area. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed? Yes. The optical distortion in the current windshield was personally demonstrated to and confirmed by the dealership service ma

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.