Ford Motor Company issued a statement earlier this month, outlining what it says is the need for OEM glass to be used in replacement on the company’s vehicles.
The statement says that the “[w]indshield and side glass play an integral role in the performance and functionality” of some of the passenger safety features and “it is critical that the vehicle be restored to proper operating condition” when it comes to glass removal and replacement.
“The original glass used on Ford Motor Company vehicles is designed and built to provide optimum fit, function, safety and structural integrity. The quality, performance and safety of aftermarket replacement windshield and side glass may not meet Ford Motor Company’s exacting specifications, and can result in key safety features not functioning properly and reduced customer satisfaction in the performance of their vehicle. For these reasons, Ford Motor Company does not approve the use of aftermarket windshield or side replacement glass. Only by using Ford Original Equipment Carlite replacement glass can you be assured of the fit, function, safety and structural integrity of the repair,” Ford says in the statement.
The company goes on to list the specific links between glass and the technology in their cars. Some windshields have cameras and integrated camera brackets for use in different Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and Ford says these cannot be replicated on aftermarket windshields, some of which, the company indicates, “often contain distortion that adversely affects the cameras operation, which can result in improper ADAS operation.”
Head Up Display (HUD) windshields are specifically designed and manufactured to eliminate secondary HUD images and SoundScreen® acoustic windshield and side glass are engineered with acoustic dampening technology within the glass layers to reduce road, wind and other exterior noise to maintain the quiet interior ride of the vehicle, none of which, Ford says, can be duplicated to the same degree by aftermarket glass. “Aftermarket glass often does not meet the same stringent specifications as genuine Ford glass and can result in poor quality HUD performance,” according to the statement.
Read Ford’s full Collision Position Statement HERE.
PLEASE DON’T LET FORD BLOW THAT SMOKE UP ANYBODIES BUTT. I HAVE BEEN IN THE GLASS BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS. OWN AND OPERATE 2 GLASS LOCATIONS. EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT GLASS MANUFACTURES, ALL OF WHAT IS LABELED OEM GLASS IS ALSO MANUFACTURED BY THOSE SAME COMPANIES AND THEY PUT THE AUTO MANUFACTURES LOGO ON THEM. BUT I WILL SAY THAT SOME MANUFACTURES ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
I wonder if that includes the three Carlite DW1529’s I have replaced on the same vehicle in the lat three months.All stress cracks in different spots.
Actually the OE lines use an optically better grade of glass that is more $$$ than they do on their after market manufacturing lines. Unfortunately the better grade is not available in the aftermarket supply chain even if it comes from the original OE supplier. If and when it is be prepared tp pay more for it….
Hello Lynn,
Reach out to Carlex/Carlite for assistance if you have not already @ Customer.Service @Carlex.com