Back in 2010, I went to my local Lexus dealer to have a cracked windshield replaced in my 2010 RX350. They installed 3 different OEM windshields and all had the same optical distortion in the lower left of the glass.

All of the defective windshields I have seen have distortion in the same spot: the lower left. Sitting in the driver's seat, you can look through the bottom left of the window (about 8" or so from the bottom), move your head up and down slowly near the edge, and see objects magnified. When looking out the window to make a left turn or driving slowly through a parking lot, the distortion is very disorienting--like looking through bifocals of the wrong prescription...

This week, I purchased a new 2013 RX350 (presumably the same windshield that the 2010 uses) and I see the same distortion in the same spot.

Is this problem endemic to the 3rd generation RX? Any others notice this on their vehicle?

 

Anyone with HUD (mine isn't here yet) care to speculate if perhaps this is part of the layer of material put in the windshield for the projection? I'm not personally clear if that is in the whole windshield, on all vehicles with and without HUD or only those with it. I thought the special windshield was only on vehicles with HUD, but perhaps not.

BTW, krypttic, CONGRATS on your new RX!!! ...and I love your color combo -- same as mine that's on it's way!

 

My RX doesn't have the HUD, and the problem area is not where the image would be projected, so I don't think it's that.

Anyone else go out to their vehicle and bob their head up and down to check?

 

I have HUD and didn't notice any kind of distortion like that on the windshield. And I take a good look when cleaning it both inside and out.

 

I never really noticed but I will take a good look tonight

 

Went to the dealer today and saw the same distortion on 3 of 4 other RX's (one 2012 and two 2013's). The service rep saw it too.

They won't replace my windshield until a special Lexus tech that visits once a week takes a look at it and confirms that the giant "magnifying glass" embedded in my window is actually a defect. Sigh...

 

I looked at mine tonight and could not see it. Maybe I somehow missed it...

 

Im a very picky and observant person and I haven't noticed anything like u described on my RX. I'll check again tomorrow morning.

 

I've attached a photo of the area in question here.

 

Sandi,

Sorry, even with my bifocals on, no reality distortion field.

My landlord had his trailer parked in front of my RX. His trailer has diamond plate on it and it look symmetrical and no distortions when viewed through the RX windshield.

 

Does the windshield glass in the RX 350's that are made in Japan come from the same source as those made in Canada? I wouldn't think so, but who knows.

 

My glass is stamped with the Lexus and Pilkington logos. It is a Canadian build. I'm not sure if the Japanese builds use different glass.

A photo of the stamp on my glass is attached.

 

The distortion is not in my 2010 450h (I went out and looked before posting). The glass in my car has a different label (more info) and the manufacturer is Nippon (Japan). It states on the label that it is "lamipane" glass. Mine states DOT 23. I now realize that DOT 23 is a reference to the manufacturer.

http://www.glasslinks.com/pdf/dotnumbers.pdf

Is the multipane glass in the windshield a difference between the 450h and 350?

One observation ... it seems like the DOT 15 on your glass does not match the manufacturer name on the glass. Perhaps they were sourcing the glass from another company.

 

Mine is also a Canadian build from 2/2012. I can't see any distortion in the glass.

 

I went and checked today and I dont see it.