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Windsheild distortion

Golden Girl you are probably correct that Honda will likely do nothing about the distorted windsheilds, except for possibly correcting it in later production. My dealer said they are all that way. The dealers are NOT happy about the situation either, beleive me. Actually, closer inspection reveals distortion in all the glass, which is to be expected because the issue is varations in the "refractive index" in the glass, and is not actually an uneven surface on the glass panels. This happens when the glass maker (melter) pushes too hard for production, and does not allow the molten glass sufficient time to become chemically homogeneous. Glass is a "super cooled liquid", which is more than you need to know - sorry.

I would suggest waiting 6 months and checking the show room for a Honda that has better glass. I really wish I had taken the time to check out the KIA. I would have a lot more money in the bank now, I would not be a permanently disgruntled Honda owner, and I would not be reminded daily that I had been "handled' by Honda. (My wife wanted a Honda because she liked the way it looks). My previous one was a '97 which I still own. Great car when it is not raining. With a KIA you would have a whole lot longer warranty too. What's not to like? Also, the new Nissan Quest is worth a serious look. But being a new model, don't "order" one like I did with the Honda. Buy one that is in stock, that you can inspect carefully, drive and think about for a couple of days.

Definitely DO NOT BUY one with the distortion right where you look through the windsheild. I had that problem years ago with a different make of vehicle, and never entered that brand show room again (Chevrolet). And never will. It would be a mistake you would regret as long as, and every day that, you own the vehicle. Life is too short.

My Ody is driveable because the distortion is in the lower part of the windsheild, and I only notice it when looking downward, as in parking and turning at intersections. I was able to have the driver side rear view mirror replaced by the dealer, and it is now useable, but still about 40% distorted. All together it is enough to make me not buy another Honda, because I very much resent being treated this way.

 

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windsheild and mirror distortion

I noticed distortion in the bottom corners of the windshield the day after I took delivery. P-poor quality; guess Honda is going south too. Having a lot of personal experience in the glass manufacturing industry, I know that there is no excuse for this other than substandard quality assurance. Probably the squeeze was on the get cars off the production line, and the supplier could not keep up with the demand for quality windshields. Maybe they are all being delivered to Kia? Too bad the Odys aren't made in Japan.

The driver side view mirror is really crappy. A piece of junk. Full of circus fun house distortion. I reported it (but not the windshield - see below) when I filled in the on-line survey I received from Honda a couple of weeks after taking delivery.

About the windshield- I took 2 long trips over the Holidays (TN to Charlotte, NC and TN to Destin, FL) and the windshield distortion did not bother me, except when making a sharp corner, as in a parking lot. I can live with that OK. But the mirror is driving me nuts and this will be my last Honda (my third) if Honda does not come through with a quality replacement, for free. I bought it at Rusty Wallace Honda in Knoxville, and will write him a nice letter about the huge drop in Honda quality and ask for a replacement mirror.

Mine was delivered with the inside door trim on the rear driver's side door opening incompletely assembled. Again, very poor QA on the assembly line. Same thing with the windshield washer spray nozzle on the driver side - it is loose. I just noticed the loose nozzle the other day. I would fix it myself, if I were not going to the dealer to have the door trim installed (probably less than a 60 second job if there is a skilled trim man there) and to enter my formal complaint in person to the service manager about the mirror.