SERIOUSLY... THIS WINDSHEILD IS HORRIBLE!!!

[Kamuelaflyer]

Any chance the "pitting" is in the plastic layer(s) inside the outer glass layers?

It’s rather unlikely. The middle layer is made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB). PVB is a thermoplastic resin. Any flaws such as small bubbles or pitting in the resin layer would be readily apparent. Windshields with such flaws would never leave the factory.

A crack in the outer glass layer could lead to an issue with the PVB layer, but that is failure in the outer layer causing the PVB layer to fail. The driver and front-seat passenger would also be quite aware of any such failure.

Every online car forum is full of complaints about their car’s windshield being the worst windshield ever. There’s nothing unique about the Mach-E in that regard. The pits and chips are a mix of luck, the road conditions, traffic mix, traffic volume, and driving habits to a degree.

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[1969Mach1Mike]

They do have PPF (or is it GPF) for windshields now. Maybe the way to go.

2.5 years on my GT in busy northern NJ and I have a few small chips/nicks but luckily no cracks or repair needed. I do feel like there are more small nicks that show up with the right sun than on other cars I’ve had.

Or just pay the $1200 for KARR guard. It also covers dents from doors and hail. Anytime you buy a car that has a $800-1600 windshield just buy the coverage. I have used mine 4x now. New OEM windshields each time. Being in Colorado many insurers don't cover glass at all. Because a snow state and high desert winds are no friend to glass and paint.


For those saying to watch how close you are to other drivers. Sure some things can be mitigated but rock prediction isn't a hard science. You probably live in a humid state with tons of vegetation and roads that don't disintegrate yearly.



I can say 90% of my windshield damage has come from rocks bouncing over the center line /barriers from opposing traffic. Highway driving is unpredictable and full of idiots who don't clear their trailers off before driving 90 mph down a highway, uncovered loads and so forth. If you live in a snow state there are just gravel rocks everywhere. If you get in a passing lane (the left for you Texans /s) those lane edges in the center have the highest risk of mass amounts of rocks accumulated. It just takes one person to ever so slightly get near the lane edge and it's a shotgun of gravel to the other 3 lanes. Dry states? yeah wind carries gravel too...no vegetation and trees to keep serious amount of mother natures sandblasting from wrecking your paint. Then there is just plain old deteriorating asphalt debris. Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Utah....yeah our roads dismantle themselves every year. Rocks everywhere.

 

[Goodsam]

It’s rather unlikely. The middle layer is made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB). PVB is a thermoplastic resin. Any flaws such as small bubbles or pitting in the resin layer would be readily apparent. Windshields with such flaws would never leave the factory.

I would "swear" that my windshield glare is from the internal layer. Read that windshields can get tiny bubbles inside if the manufacturing does not pull a high enough vacuum when assembling. Noticed within a few days of getting the vehicle and thought it was pitting from the railroad transport or dots of a paint spray from the factory. Dealer tried clay barring what was thought to be external dots of some clear paint spray, but no change. Our replacement windshield is the same for the glare, from, I think, are almost microscopic bubbles, that shows if a bright light (sun) is in that view.

Now the next issue for me for the windshield is the glare, at night from headlights, that seems to spread out the points of light. I wonder if there is an anti-reflective coating that windshields can be made with? My eyeglasses are anti-reflective, but still get the discomforting views. Maybe it is my eyes! (cataracts, macular degeneration, etc.)

I did have the side and back windows tinted with a ceramic film coating, but I notice a slight rainbow effect at times, so I am fearful of putting on a windshield internal coating. The heat reduction from the ceramic is great, but wonder if glare would be reduced by any films.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I would "swear" that my windshield glare is from the internal layer. Read that windshields can get tiny bubbles inside if the manufacturing does not pull a high enough vacuum when assembling. Noticed within a few days of getting the vehicle and thought it was pitting from the railroad transport or dots of a paint spray from the factory. Dealer tried clay barring what was thought to be external dots of some clear paint spray, but no change. Our replacement windshield is the same for the glare, from, I think, are almost microscopic bubbles, that shows if a bright light (sun) is in that view.

Now the next issue for me for the windshield is the glare, at night from headlights, that seems to spread out the points of light. I wonder if there is an anti-reflective coating that windshields can be made with? My eyeglasses are anti-reflective, but still get the discomforting views. Maybe it is my eyes! (cataracts, macular degeneration, etc.)

I did have the side and back windows tinted with a ceramic film coating, but I notice a slight rainbow effect at times, so I am fearful of putting on a windshield internal coating. The heat reduction from the ceramic is great, but wonder if glare would be reduced by any films.

Take it to the dealer for warranty work If you’re convinced it’s a manufacturing defect. The odds of it being a defect in the resin layer is pretty low though.

 

[Fixbear]

It’s rather unlikely. The middle layer is made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB). PVB is a thermoplastic resin. Any flaws such as small bubbles or pitting in the resin layer would be readily apparent. Windshields with such flaws would never leave the factory.

A crack in the outer glass layer could lead to an issue with the PVB layer, but that is failure in the outer layer causing the PVB layer to fail. The driver and front-seat passenger would also be quite aware of any such failure.

Every online car forum is full of complaints about their car’s windshield being the worst windshield ever. There’s nothing unique about the Mach-E in that regard. The pits and chips are a mix of luck, the road conditions, traffic mix, traffic volume, and driving habits to a degree.

You might want to add in there that todays tires have micro sipes that continually pick up small stones and sand that eventually get cast out from centrifugal force becoming Airbourne.

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