CT 200h Model (2011-2017)

Help! Ghosting Effect on Windshield

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-21-13, 12:21 PM
  #1  
lilpei321
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
lilpei321's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Help! Ghosting Effect on Windshield

Please reply if you are experiencing this!

I bought a CT200H in December and I noticed during lowlight and nighttime driving, lights (headlights, taillights, street lamps, and traffic lights) triplicate--one light above and below the actual light. It is really distracting and dangerous especially when I have to watch for oncoming traffic--it can be blinding. For a while, I thought something was terribly wrong with my vision! I took my car to the dealership, the shop foreman was able to duplicate the condition with my car AND his own CT200H! I specifically asked for a CT as a loaner to see the same thing would happen, and although it was less severe, the distortion was still there. The dealership had no solution and sent me away to talk to corporate. Corporate called it a "characteristic" and not a defect, and there was nothing they could do. After much deliberation, Lexus agreed to replace my windshield with the loaner I took home since I said it had less distortion. I think this is unacceptable because I have never had this "characteristic" in my previous car or in the cars I've ridden. I have read numerous accounts of people having the same issue with the Prius, but nothing with the CT200. If anyone out there is experiencing this, please reply so that at the very least, I am not alone on this. Thank you very much in advance.
Old 03-22-13, 02:28 PM
  #2  
leonar40
Driver School Candidate
 
leonar40's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: IN
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Wow, sorry to hear about that. I can say that this is definitely not a normal "characteristic" of the CT200h in general. Maybe there was a bad batch of glass used for a certain subset of cars? Not sure. I drive on a 2-lane country road every morning in the dark so I have oncoming headlights on me the entire time and I have nothing of the sort.
Old 03-26-13, 02:38 PM
  #3  
ctecho
Driver School Candidate
 
ctecho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

After reading this post, I noticed the effect the OP is experiencing. Prior to reading this thread, I didn't think this effect was distracting. After reading this thread it still doesn't affect me. I only notice it if I'm paying very close attention to the lights while driving at night.

Anyhow, I guess it happens because the windshield consists of three layers: a layer of clear acoustic insulation sandwiched between two layers of glass (see this article: http://pressroom.lexus.com/article_d...rticle_id=2079). I suppose the triplicate image you see is the result of refraction from the three different layers in the windshield.

It's not a defect, but I wouldn't pass it off by calling it a characteristic, either. I don't think you can get around this other than replacing your windshield with glass that does not include the acoustic insulation.
Old 03-27-13, 07:08 PM
  #4  
corradoMR2
The pursuit of F
 
corradoMR2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 8,296
Received 289 Likes on 210 Posts
Default

No ghosting from my CT and it's over 2 years of ownership.
Old 05-30-13, 10:07 AM
  #5  
RayGS3
Lexus Test Driver
 
RayGS3's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: California
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I noticed this effect last night when driving my 2013. The "triplicate--one light above and below the actual light" effect is quite obvious when the light is 1 to 2 cars away and less obvious when it's close. Especially thos LED dot type tail light or traffic light, I can see many dots above and below.

Wonder any of you went to Lexus and got it resolved?
Old 05-30-13, 10:21 AM
  #6  
RayGS3
Lexus Test Driver
 
RayGS3's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: California
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Here's the news coverage
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...ide&id=9008629
Old 05-30-13, 12:08 PM
  #7  
sears1234
Pole Position
 
sears1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WA
Posts: 260
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Is this happened on Toyota and Lexus only?

Will this affect the normal vision or just oncoming headlights?
Old 06-03-13, 12:12 PM
  #8  
lilpei321
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
lilpei321's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default @RayGS3

In the end, because I told Lexus Corporate that the loaner was better, they agreed to do as "one- time courtesy," replace my Lexus windshied with the loaner's after market windshield. I figured that since all the Lexus windshield were going to be nuissance to a certain degree, I agreed to this offer, except I suggested that I drive all the loaners until I found the best one. Suffice it to say, Lexus was not happy about this, as if I was pushing my luck. Anyway, the dealership was much nicer and accommodating about my suggestion. They listed all their loaners and let me drive as many as I needed/wanted until I found the best windshield. Once I picked the best loaner, they had replaced my windshield with a brand new version of the loaner's windshield. Because it is an after market windshield, I asked the dealer to compensate me for the loss in value. They offered 2 free service credits-- even though the aftermarket is probably half the value of the OMD.. at this point, I was just over it. The replacement no long triplicates lights, so I guess the problem is now taken care of...
Old 06-04-13, 05:12 AM
  #9  
Billisme
Driver
 
Billisme's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I don't drive much at night so I guess I haven't noticed this effect. Makes me want to go out tonight and see what all the hub-bub is about.
Old 06-05-13, 02:16 PM
  #10  
HennessySK
Rookie
 
HennessySK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Don't be complaining about increased wind noise now.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vmkrs
RX - 4th Gen (2016-2022)
32
02-27-22 09:49 AM
Ceann
ES - 7th Gen (2019-present)
0
01-08-19 10:57 PM
f22s2k
IS F (2008-2014)
16
04-12-13 10:40 PM
jobber99
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
8
06-20-07 11:04 AM
mossnojoke
Automotive Care & Detailing
3
01-14-06 07:16 AM



Quick Reply: Help! Ghosting Effect on Windshield



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:12 AM.