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Climate control, bodywork and interior

Problems of the windscreen and windows: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 24 faults of the windscreen and windows in 24 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: windscreen trim clip incorrectly fitted, a risk with the curtain airbag (2023 production) (Peugeot 208 II), risk of the bonnet, roof spoiler or rear window coming off (Renault Twingo III) and sunroof glass of the VW Phaeton poorly bonded: may detach while driving (Volkswagen Phaeton).

Documented faults
24
14 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
24
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
24
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

1 sourceHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Windscreen and windows

The windscreen is part of the car's structure and holds the cameras and sensors for driver assistance systems. The side windows, rear window and glass sunroof are bonded or bolted in, and some models have had recalls over badly bonded or cracking glass.

What to do

Repair small chips early: with temperature changes they turn into cracks. After replacing the windscreen, the driver assistance camera must be recalibrated. Water leaks next to a window usually come from a faulty bond.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults of the windscreen and windows. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems of the windscreen and windows by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentPeugeot 208 IIWindscreen trim clip incorrectly fitted, a risk with the curtain airbag (2023 production)On Peugeot 208 IIs built between June and November 2023, a windscreen trim clip may be fitted rotated by 180 degrees; if the curtain airbag deploys, that trim could come loose.
  2. 2High severityFrequency: CommonRenault Twingo IIIRisk of the bonnet, roof spoiler or rear window coming offYes: Renault recalled the Twingo III in 2016 and again in 2019-2021 over the risk of the bonnet coming loose while driving, and separately, up to the end of 2016, over the roof spoiler coming off and the rear window mountings; across the three campaigns several hundred thousand units were affected.
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen PhaetonSunroof glass of the VW Phaeton poorly bonded: may detach while drivingYes: Germany notified Safety Gate of two alerts for insufficient bonding of the Phaeton's sunroof glass, caused by contamination during manufacture: units built from April 2007 to June 2008 (2016 alert) and from June to July 2008 (2020 alert).
  4. 4High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C-CrosserSunroof glass coming away because of the frame adhesiveYes: a Safety Gate alert from December 2018 (A12/1960/18) states that the adhesive bonding the sunroof glass to the outer frame can lose strength with temperature and humidity, and the glass could come off. It covers the Citroën C-Crosser built between April 2007 and September 2009.
  5. 5High severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Grande PandaFoam in the windscreen demister nozzle limiting visibility (2026 recall F61L)Yes: recall F61L (KBA 16683R, June 2026) affects 21,691 Grande Pandas built between 28 May 2024 and 1 September 2025. Filler foam in the windscreen ventilation nozzle can block the demister and leave poor visibility; at the workshop the function is checked and the foam is removed if necessary.
  6. 6High severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Mustang Mach-EWindscreen insufficiently bonded to the bodyshell (cars built in 2020 and 2021)Yes: in 2021 Ford recalled the Mustang Mach-E because the windscreen was insufficiently bonded to the bodyshell: in the worst case, the glass could come loose while driving. In Europe, 7,478 cars were recalled counting windscreen and panoramic roof together, and the repair is free.
  7. 7High severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi LancerSunroof glass coming away because of the frame adhesiveYes: a Safety Gate alert from November 2018 (A12/1723/18) warns that the adhesive between the sunroof glass and its outer frame can weaken because of temperature and humidity, and the glass could come away. It covers the Lancer and Lancer Sportback model years 2008-2009.
  8. 8High severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Outlander IISunroof glass detaching because the adhesive loses its gripThe adhesive between the sunroof glass and its frame can weaken with temperature and humidity, and the glass can come loose on the Outlander II (CW0W). Mitsubishi corrected it with a recall (Safety Gate A12/1723/18) that replaces the glass and the adhesive.
  9. 9High severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 4007Sunroof glass coming loose because of the frame adhesiveYes: a Safety Gate alert from December 2018 (A12/1961/18) states that the adhesive that fixes the sunroof glass to the outer frame can lose strength with temperature and humidity, and the glass could come loose. It covers the Peugeot 4007 built between April 2007 and September 2009.
  10. 10Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalJeep Grand Cherokee WKCorrosion on the chassis rails, sheet-metal folds and under the rear windowAUTO BILD warns that rust on the 2005-2010 Grand Cherokee appears mainly on the chassis rails and sheet-metal folds, and can also appear under the rear window, which opens separately. It is worth looking at the underside with the car raised before buying.
  11. 11Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Outlander IIIDefective solder on the electrical terminal of the heated windscreenAn inadequate solder on the electrical connection of the heated windscreen can overheat the terminal when it is switched on and cause a thermal event with the glass breaking. Mitsubishi recalled Outlander and Outlander PHEV vehicles from 2013-2019 (Safety Gate A12/00310/21).
  12. 12Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 107Rear window that can come loose due to defective adhesive (production 2005 to 2013)A recall from January 2019 covers Peugeot 107s built between May 2005 and November 2013: the adhesive of the fixed rear door glass could come loose and leave it held by one point only, with a risk of it falling onto the road.
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Passat B9Driver assistance and windscreen camera faultsOn the Passat B9, several warnings have been reported at the same time for adaptive cruise control, Front Assist, lane assist and traffic sign recognition. These point to the multi-function camera behind the windscreen or its software.
  14. 14High severityFrequency: RareChrysler 300C IIPoorly bonded front windscreen (2020)In 2021 the EU issued an alert that the windscreen on certain 2020 Chrysler 300s (built between 27/10 and 04/12/2020) may not be properly bonded and could come loose.
  15. 15High severityFrequency: RareFord Mondeo VSunroof glass that can come loose (recall)Mondeos built between 22 August and 14 December 2017 may have left the factory with an adhesive on the sunroof glass that could delaminate and let the glass come loose while driving.
  16. 16High severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase C W203Sunroof glass panel at risk of coming offIn February 2023 Mercedes-Benz recalled a production range that covers practically the whole C-Class W203, because the glass panel in the sunroof frame might not be properly secured and could come off while driving.
  17. 17High severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase C W204Sunroof glass panel at risk of detachingIn February 2023 Mercedes-Benz recalled a range of vehicles, including part of the C-Class W204 production, because the glass panel in the sunroof frame could detach while driving.
  18. 18High severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase E W211Sunroof glass bonding inspection (2020 campaign)In July 2020 Mercedes-Benz recalled E-Class W211s fitted with a sunroof to check the bonding of the roof glass, because of the risk that it might not be properly secured.
  19. 19Medium severityFrequency: RareMitsubishi Eclipse Cross IOverheating of the heated windscreen terminalEclipse Cross models from 2018-2019 with a heated windscreen are under a campaign for poor soldering that can overheat the electrical terminal.Repair: €0
  20. 20Medium severityFrequency: RareVolvo XC60 IWater leaking through the windscreen into the cabin and the pedal areaAccording to the fiches-auto.fr testimonials, some XC60 cars let water in through the windscreen when it rains, flooding the pedal area; the water can reach electronic modules.
  21. 21Low severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C1 IIWater getting in through the rear window, under the driver's floor and at the rear lightsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, several second-generation C1 cars suffer leaks: the rear window seal, water under the driver's floor and ingress into the boot and rear lights.
  22. 22Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMG TFPlastic rear window and deteriorating hoodOn the MG TF the original plastic rear window becomes brittle and cracks, especially if the zips fail, and the hood lining is of poor quality.
  23. 23Low severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Qashqai IIIFinish wear: paint, plastics, misted headlights and fragile windscreenYes: several sources agree on finish defects in the Qashqai J12 - paint that chips or scratches easily, door mouldings that come unstuck, plastic noises from the dashboard, vibration in a wing mirror, headlights that mist up inside and a windscreen that cracks more easily than expected.
  24. 24Low severityFrequency: RareBMW Z4 E89Erratic operation of the frameless window regulatorsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the frameless window regulators on the Z4 E89 can work erratically, with a risk of water getting in on a convertible.

Problems of the windscreen and windows by make

How much it costs to repair a fault of the windscreen and windows

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems of the windscreen and windows?

Among those we have analysed: Peugeot 208 II (windscreen trim clip incorrectly fitted, a risk with the curtain airbag (2023 production)), Renault Twingo III (risk of the bonnet, roof spoiler or rear window coming off), Volkswagen Phaeton (sunroof glass of the VW Phaeton poorly bonded: may detach while driving), Citroën C-Crosser (sunroof glass coming away because of the frame adhesive), Fiat Grande Panda (foam in the windscreen demister nozzle limiting visibility (2026 recall F61L)), Ford Mustang Mach-E (windscreen insufficiently bonded to the bodyshell (cars built in 2020 and 2021)), Mitsubishi Lancer (sunroof glass coming away because of the frame adhesive) and Mitsubishi Outlander II (sunroof glass detaching because the adhesive loses its grip). In total, 24 cars with documented faults of the windscreen and windows.

How much does it cost to repair a fault of the windscreen and windows?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 1 fault with a documented cost. The most expensive is overheating of the heated windscreen terminal (Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross I).

What symptoms does a fault of the windscreen and windows cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: water getting into the cabin or boot, windscreen will not demist or takes a long time to clear, rust or corrosion on the bodywork or underside, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults, automatic emergency braking activates for no reason and electric windows or central locking not responding.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: llamadas a revisióncar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish