[] We recently purchased a used 2003 Ford Focus SE. On the test drive before purchasing the vehicle we did not notice a problem with the windshield. While driving home we started to see a problem with image distortion on the drivers side of the windshield. When we got home we did a much closer inspection. We could see that the laminate in the windshield has separated from the glass on most of the drivers side especially in the drivers line of sight. The passenger side is fine. We later drove the vehicle after dark and had a very hard time seeing when a car approached from the other direction with its lights on due to the distortion. This is definitely a manufacturers defect and a safety issue. It has the OEM PPG Solargreen Glass windshield in it. We want to know if any other 2003 Focus owners have had this problem. Does anyone know if there was a recall or a technical service bulletin issued by Ford Motor Company for this problem? Does anyone know how to contact PPG the glass manufacturer directly? Thanks for your time and consideration in reading our message.
I have an 03 SE and have had zero problems with the windshield... so far. I'll have to check after reading this to see if I have the same markings on my windshield. Thanks for the possible warning unfortunate about your problem as I've never heard of this before. Do you know if it was treated in any way with an after market tint or other treatment? If youre still under 30k miles you still have a warrenty if you want to try the dealership. What about where you bought it from, have you reported this to them? GOOD LUCK with your situation!
There are no treatments or tint on the windshield. You can clearly see the laminate between the two sides of the glass is the problem. The bumper to bumper factory warranty is out. It still has the factory 5 year/ 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty that I have to transfer. The dealer I bought the car from offered to install a cheap $150.00 aftermarket windshield. I am very apprehensive about letting them install this windshield. The NTSB says a replaced windshield must not compromise any safety standards that were part of the original vehicle design when your car rolled off the assembly line. The windshield is a critical component of a vehicle's safety system. As a safety device, its role is to stay in place and keep the occupants inside the vehicle during impact. It is the back board for the inflating passenger side air bag and provides crucial crush resistance support for the roof, in case of rollover. I take this to mean that only a Ford Motor Company approved OEM replacement windshield should be installed in my vehicle.
Safety glass is used in all automobile glass. It is manufactured to reduce the likelihood of injury, if it breaks. The windshield is laminated glass. Windshields are made from a lamination process. A windshield actually consists of two pieces of glass, bonded together by a vinyl inter-layer (laminate). This vinyl layer cushions your head during impact. If a windshield breaks during impact, the broken pieces will generally adhere to the plastic lining. You can clearly see that the vinyl inter-layer (laminate) has separated and distorted on the drivers side of my windshield.
i used to work for a company in the uk that made this type of glass, the main cause of laminated glass to fail is moisture attacking the edge of the glass, if the pvb (poly vinyl butrate) is seprating from the glass it usually has a milky tinge where the pvb is returning to its natural state (opaque). The glass is bonded together with the pvb under immense heat and pressure (the glass actually goes into a huge pressure cooker for an hour or so)
I have never seen large scale delamination like you are saying, you would certainly see the join where the glass is still bonded. Either way i would take it to a windscreen specialist and see what they recommend - IF it has delaminated then that is one fragile windscreen you have - effectively driving with a 2.5mm to 3mm piece of glass (no windscreen laminate has glass thicker than 3mm that i know of) in front of your face [paranoid] - Its safety comes fron the fact that the glass will predominantly stay bonded together in an accident, dude if urs aint its a death trap.
I do believe your windsheild that is delaminating is a replacement windsheild. Ford has there own glass. PPG does not make the original glass for Ford.... and if it did, it would say ford on it. Ford has been the only manufacturer of there own glass for a long time. Other companies get it contracted out. check that out and maybe the dealers replacement offer isn't so bad.
I found the below listed information on a web site advertising PPG automotive glass.
Vehicles supplied with PPG OEM glass in the North American region for 2002/2003.
Manufactured with PPG Automotive Original Equipment Glass*
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Ranger
Ford Taurus
Ford Thunderbird
Ford Windstar
Lincoln Aviator
Mercury Grand Marquis
Mercury Sable
*This list includes some of the vehicle windshields supplied by PPG in North America. Makes and models may vary on a regional basis.
The Ford Focus is not named in the above list. The last statement with the * leads you to believe that the list is only a portion of the Ford Motor Company vehicles that had PPG windshields installed in them.
After an extensive internet search today I finally found a toll free phone number for PPG. I talked to their customer service department. I was told that they do not warranty any defects in the glass they manufacturer. They said that if I have the factory windshield in my car Ford Motor Company would be responsible for the replacement during the vehicle warranty period of 3 years/36,000 miles. My car is out of the factory warranty due to mileage in excess of 36,000. They said that if I have a replacement windshield in my car the installing glass shop is responsible for the warranty. I bought this car used and have no way of finding out if this car has a replacement windshield or where the work was done. I really don't understand how a company as large as PPG could get away with not providing a replacement warranty for a manufacturing defect in the glass itself that is causing an extreme safety hazard especially at night. The problem definitely was not caused by an installation defect.
After an extensive internet search today I finally found a toll free phone number for PPG. I talked to their customer service department. I was told that they do not warranty any defects in the glass they manufacturer. They said that if I have the factory windshield in my car Ford Motor Company would be responsible for the replacement during the vehicle warranty period of 3 years/36,000 miles. My car is out of the factory warranty due to mileage in excess of 36,000. They said that if I have a replacement windshield in my car the installing glass shop is responsible for the warranty. I bought this car used and have no way of finding out if this car has a replacement windshield or where the work was done. I really don't understand how a company as large as PPG could get away with not providing a replacement warranty for a manufacturing defect in the glass itself that is causing an extreme safety hazard especially at night. The problem definitely was not caused by an installation defect.
One of my college professors had a PPG upper level manager come out and talk about there oganization. Anyways, the PPG gentleman informed us that Ford has extremely high standards for their windshields. The types of glass that Ford requires are much higher than what you can buy aftermarket. I asked why the average consumer couldn’t get the same level of quality if he or she desired. He stated that Ford buys such a bulk that they are able to buy more windshields for cheaper a price and the average consumer isn't willing to spend that much money for a windshield.
It won't help your immediate problem, but will likely cause PPG some hassle and may help others if the problem is widespread.
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