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New PiP owners: Please check your front windshields for the night time "ghosting" issue

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by cooljw, Mar 4, 2013.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i thought it was my eyesight, but then, i got out of the car and... yep, eyesight.:eek:
     
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  2. bfd

    bfd Plug-In Perpetuator

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    There's nothing to say that shipment of bad windshields didn't get installed. So the poll is helpful in that it might show this is not an isolated incident. But chances are that most windshields don't display the problem. That said, N=23 is pretty small data. N=223 with similar results might mean something.
     
  3. mrolfer

    mrolfer Junior Member

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    I have noticed this too. It appears to me that it is a flaw caused during the process of tempering the glass for the windshield. This used to be much more common back in the 70s but not acceptable now and from Toyota.

    I did file a complaint with NHTSA.
     
  4. Adam Leibovitch

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    Has anyone had their windshield replaced by Toyota yet?
     
  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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  6. 510bg

    510bg Member

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    Just drove out last not I don't have this issue on my PIP
     
  7. uropip

    uropip Member

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    Same here. 2013 model. No ghosting or multiples

    LG-MS870 ? 4
     
  8. cooljw

    cooljw Member

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    Yes mine was replaced a couple weeks ago, and the new windshield actually made the problem WORSE. Took it back to the dealer, who had Toyota techs come out and verify that the problem did indeed still exist. So, they agreed to replace the windshield AGAIN.

    Apparently the bad glass is not isolated to just the factory installed stuff.
     
  9. plchung

    plchung Junior Member

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    Not sure if my experience was related to yours when I first got my PIP for 2 months. Check the attached picture. The red arrow shows the fuzzy area on the windshield (hard to see). What happened was that I brought my PIP to a body shop for body work. The windshield became like that after two days seating in the body shop. I had to go back to the body shop to ask what they did to my windshield. But they couldn't figure out. In the end, the body shop replaced a factory windshield for me.
     

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  10. plchung

    plchung Junior Member

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    picture enlarged.
     

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  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    I had a 2011 and now have a 2012 and nither car had/has the proplem.
     
  12. cooljw

    cooljw Member

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    I just wanted to post an update for everyone. Next Tuesday Toyota is repurchasing my car due to the windshield problem. I'm on my second replacement windshield from Toyota and it did not fix the problem. So, they offered to repurchase it. In the end I did not have to hire a lawyer, but did threaten to sue a couple times. I will have to sign a NDA saying I won't talk about it , so if anyone has any questions ask them now.

    I have been shopping for a replacement PiP, and it appears that the most recent PiPs coming off the boat no longer exhibit the problem (but don't know for sure since I've only looked at about 10 cars).
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good for you, all the best!(y)
     
  14. Gruvin2

    Gruvin2 Junior Member

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    Wow, just wow. I chalked this up as my glasses/contacts being the issue while night driving. It is VERY noticeable when behind LED lights. I clearly see 2 sets of lights assuming it was just me all the while. It was driving me nuts. So glad it's NOT my eyes!

    I'll be going to my local dealer and see what they will do for me as well. I'll post once I know more.
     
  15. cooljw

    cooljw Member

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    Yep, the important thing is to report the problem to your Toyota dealer ASAP (because if you end up returning your car to Toyota, the miles on it at the reporting date may be used in the repurchase price calculation).

    The dealer will probably tell you they've never heard of the problem before and depending on who you get, will give you the runaround. This is when you need to push push push, get Toyota corporate involved, escalate things (hire lawyer or write a Lemon Law letter to Toyota corporate yourself). If you can get the dealer to advocate for you great, if not go direct to Toyota corporate.
     
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  16. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    wow.
    fyi, Oregon has some insane deals on PiPs right now. 2013 Base for $5k off MSRP (+Fed and state rebates makes it $9k off), 2012 Advanced for even bigger discounts.
     
  17. ch170

    ch170 New Member

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    Hi Lensovet, do you have any specific dealers you can point me to with deals on the 2012 advanced? I've found a few with Clearwater Blue but I'm wondering if there's an easier way to search than going to each individual dealership's site and looking at their inventory. Thanks in advance!!
     
  18. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    no, unfortunately there's nothing easier than that. the dealer i was referring to seems to have finally cleared out their inventory – just a single 2013 Base PiP left that's $5.5k off MSRP including the TFS rebate ($3k). Granted, Northern CA has exactly the same TFS rebate, so it might not be worth it to make the trek from CA anyway.
     
  19. cooljw

    cooljw Member

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    There are a few 2012 advanced left in San Diego.


    SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 ?