2011 Prius - Windshield triples light source images

I have a 2005 prius pkg 6 with HID's and a 2011 prius 4 with solar & performance pkg. & I have never noticed what you see... hhhuummm

 

it's odd that you are not getting any responses, let us know what you find out. have you asked others to look thru it?

 

2010 and have never seen this problem. As far as I know the 2011 windshield was not updated or changed.

 

have you had an eye exam lately?

 

Have a 2011 Prius IV, purchased in August, and I just started seeing this exact same issue a couple of weeks ago. Had a friend in the car with me a couple of times, and he is also seeing it. However, when we're in his car (not a Prius), neither of us see the effect, so it certainly isn't our eyes (that WAS my first thought the first time I saw this).

I have the Crystal Fusion coating on the windshield, so I have taken it to the dealer's auto detailing team to see if there was something on the windshield. They've washed it several times, both with regular and alcohol-based glass cleaners, and they've used the Crystal Keep maintenance solution, all to no avail.

Definitely seeing the same parameters as srevelation -- more visible at night, and much more visible with red/orange lights than with green. I've even started noticing multiple "ghosts" -- two above, two below -- when looking at a traffic light at some distance. As I approach they converge into the actual light source. I'm probably going to take it back to the dealer and talk with their service manager this time, and I'll likely bring a copy of this thread since I now know it's not just me or my vehicle.

 

It was definitely something that I just started seeing. The first night I saw it, I definitely thought I'd be needing to go to the eye doctor because the effect was so clearly visible. Also, as I noted previously, I had a friend (who owns a different type of vehicle) in the car and he saw it immediately as well. Not seeing it in other cars, or even through other windows (i.e., side/rear) of my Prius.

Also, one other question - did you have "Crystal Fusion" or any kind of coating applied when you purchased your vehicle? It sounds like you did not, if you're saying others at the dealership are also seeing the problem.

 

I don't see where you've indicated whether you wear glasses. Do you? I do, and have had cars in the past where my seat/windshield angles produced additional ghost images that seemd to reflect back on the glasses. If you are seeing the ghost without glasses, does changing the seat height or backrest angle change anything? This may well be one of those things that we don't see until we start thinking about it, then it's all we see.

 

it sounds like there may be a few (very few) windshields with this problem. i would request that it be replaced. again. you may have to get toyota involved.

 

We've now been in twice to the dealer for this; both times they said it was normal...washed the windshield inside and out and tried to sell us crystal fusion. Nope. Headlights in the distance appear triple,"ghosting" ten feet above and below the oncoming car's headlights & narrowing as you approach. Tested another '10 prius, and got the same results. I'm interested to see if the earlier models have this as well and if Toyota will start replacing glass. 20/20 vision, no glasses... love the milage, hate the view.

 

My guess it is a coating of some kind such as a poorly applied coating of Rain-X. To remove all doubt, throughly clean your windshield. I've used a wet sponge with Bon Ami sprinkled on it--then rinse thoroughly. That will usually remove any applied coatings, as well as oil and grime that may be present. If the "tripple" illusion still appears, then the windshield itself is obviously at fault.

 

That was the original premise on my end as well. Had the windshield cleaned multiple times about as thoroughly as possible, without any change in the condition. I haven't had a chance to get back down to the dealership to look into it further, but I will still be asking questions next time I get down there.

 

Further on this one -- I was back at the dealership last night and was able to arrange to take out another 2011 Prius as a rental for a couple of hours. I saw the exact same effect in the rental vehicle, if not even somewhat more pronounced.

I've worked with both the dealership's general manager and their service manager, and they have been as helpful as possible with the situation. The service manager contacted Toyota's technical department in California, and he stated that Toyota has received a few reports of this issue and that they are attributing it to the angle of the windshield. To me, at least, if the angle of the windshield is the cause of the prismatic effect, then there is definitely a design flaw in the vehicle, because I certainly have never seen this effect before in any other vehicle I've driven, and it is certainly not normal behavior through windshield glass.

At this point, it looks like I'm in a wait-and-monitor mode to see if something comes up more widespread from other Prius drivers. I am giving consideration to reporting the issue to the NHTSA to at least get it in their database as a potential issue.

Re: earlier Prius models ... had a 2007 prior to purchasing the current 2011 I own, and I never saw this effect.

 

I just bought a 2011 last months and I haven't noticed any prisming affects nor has my wife mentioned anything. Will be actively looking for it now and will let you know what I see.