2013 FFH has foggiest windows ever

[RapmasterT]

I've had my 2013 Fusion Hybrid for a few months and immediately it's become apparent that the windshield defog is the worst of any car I've ever owned or driven in my entire life.

 

If the climate control is set to windshield only, recirculate is forced off, and windshield is fog free.

 

If the setting is for windshield plus any other vent, recirculate can be on or off. With recirculate off, all windows slowly fog up. With recirculate on, all windows instantly begin fogging.

 

It seems like there are two choices, defog the winshield and live with outside highway exhaust smells in the cabin, or constantly switch back and forth manually as the windows get too foggy.

 

I've owned and driven a lot of cars and I've never seen anything this bad. It's going in for the first oil service soon and I'm going to talk to the dealer about it, but i want to hear from other owners if this is their experience as well, or if what I'm seeing is unusual. I want to hear your feedback either way, thanks!

[Wingmn]

I have noticed that my windshield fogs faster and requires defogging more often than both my 93 Saturn, and my 09 saturn Outlook. But it's an issue that I happily live with, given this is the most feature packed, technologically savvy vehicle I've ever owned. Minor annoyance.

[KLH]

I just stop breathing on my 60+ mile commute. That works pretty well until I reach the parking lot. Then my windows fog over as I gasp for air.

 

In all seriousness, I wonder if the moist air from front passengers just gets trapped in the upper dash area due to the angle of the glass. I'm tempted to try something but think that the only real way to address the issue is to live in a warmer climate. Boston's not exactly warm around now.

[acdii]

100% agree, I never had fogging issues in the 2010, or any other car except a small crapbox compact that I hated. I think the ventilation system doesn't allow for good air flow across the dash, so moist air gets trapped there which causes the glass to fog. The moment the defrost is turned on though the AC is on, so lose 3 MPG or let the windows fog.

 

I discovered though that if you crack the front window a hair so some air can flow, the window doesn't fog as easy, so looks like I might be getting some vent shades in the near future.

[aaronj1159]

Oddly enough, this is the best car I've had experience with when it comes to the fogging window. It clears up fast and doesn't come back. I'm surprised to see so many people with this issue.

[RapmasterT]

Oddly enough, this is the best car I've had experience with when it comes to the fogging window. It clears up fast and doesn't come back. I'm surprised to see so many people with this issue.

It does clear VERY fast...if and only if the defog setting is used and no other vents are active.

 

The only way I can drive for more than a few minutes without the windows fogging up is to run the climate system in 100% defog mode. That means no recirculation and breathing the exhaust of the car in front of me, and no other vents active so my feet stay cold.

[hybridbear]

The only time we have an issue with foggy windows is when we first start out in the day. Since our car sits in a heated underground garage overnight we don't ever need climate control on the first trip of the day. Coming from 70-ish degrees underground to 25-35 degrees outside will lead to fog forming on the side windows right near the black vertical pillars. We almost never get fog on the windshield. Eventually we'll turn on the defrost to clear the windows but we usually only need about 30 seconds of defrost to clear them. Then we can turn the defrost off again for another 5 minutes and then back on for 30 seconds to clear the fog.

 

When we get into a cold car that's been sitting outside we have never had issues with fog.

 

My parents find that they have non-stop fog on the windows of their C-Max Energi which is parked in a non-heated garage. However, when I've driven their Energi I don't get any fog on the windows...

 

Perhaps the issue isn't the car but has to do with the moisture content of your breath. That's my current theory.

[acdii]

Hmm maybe your right, my side doesn't fog, but my wifes does. Maybe she needs to stop panting.

 

 

Oh Wait, WHAT? :puppy_kiss:

[aaronj1159]

Yeah mine gets parked outside. Honestly if there's no frost I hardly ever turn on the "defrost" setting, the normal auto function clears up any little fog I might get on the windshield.

[jsolan]

How close do you all sit from the windshield? I drive practically from the back seat and have only ever turned on the defrosters once in the 6 months I've owned the car.

[kuzzi]

The fogging is a free bonus feature. It's all laid out and explained in the "Necking Package" when you bought the vehicle.

[aaronj1159]

How close do you all sit from the windshield? I drive practically from the back seat and have only ever turned on the defrosters once in the 6 months I've owned the car.

This is a good point. I do sit pretty far back, since I have long legs and have a very... comfortable driving position. I'm even more reclined than a lot of people generally are when they drive.

[GrySql]

100% agree,

I discovered though that if you crack the front window a hair so some air can flow, the window doesn't fog as easy

I would suggest less beans and legumes in your diet. It's worth a try.

:stirpot:

 

[acdii]

The fogging is a free bonus feature. It's all laid out and explained in the "Necking Package" when you bought the vehicle.

OK I feel ripped off now, I received no necking package with mine. Grrrr

[bradycl98258]

This has definitely been a nagging issue for me since I got my 14 HyTi in December, especially since I live in the Seattle area.

 

It hasn't been cold enough at all in Seattle this winter for this expatriate Alaskan to need climate control as long as I have my coat on.

 

I want to leave climate control off altogether, but I am constantly having to turn on the defog. My general practice is that as soon as the fog starts on the windshield, I hit the "fan -" button and then the defog button. This turns defog on at the lowest fan setting. Then once all is clear I hit the power button to turn it all off. For now I have temp set at LO and since outside temps haven't hit 60 yet, I'm hopefully only minimally stealing any heat from the engine.

 

This is probably my biggest beef with the car, no way to VENT. To allow outside air to come on with the fan *off* altogether, and no attempts to control what temperature that air is. I would happily just leave the vent set to point the incoming air at the windshield, which would easily keep the windshield clear and not use any power. It just doesn't seem to be an option.

[acdii]

Just do what i do, set the fan at the lowest setting and set floor and defrost. Keeps the windows clear, and wont impact MPG since it uses little heat.

[bradycl98258]

I know. I'm too OCD about it. I just wish the fan didn't have to be on to allow outside air to come in.

[acdii]

Dont breath, then you wont fog them up. :) I think what I have noticed is the car is tighter than most cars, so air doesnt circulate through it like other cars do. I remember having some smaller Jap jobs that were like this too. The HVAC system is sealed up pretty good on the Fusions, which can be part of the reason so many are having mold issues, the system traps moisture in it because it has nowhere to go. If air isnt moving through it by the fan it remains stagnant, which is also why the windshield tends to fog.

[jeffo65]

Just do what i do, set the fan at the lowest setting and set floor and defrost. Keeps the windows clear, and wont impact MPG since it uses little heat.

 

This is exactly what we do and we have no fogging issues.

[Jim P]

I had the same problem and it became extremely annoying to the point that I was considering selling my car. My windshield fogged up on my way down to Florida and it was 80 degrees! When it would rain a lot (happens a lot in NC) my windshield dripped on my dash. It wasn't leaking in through the windshield, but rather allowing moisture to form. When it would get cold I had ice on the inside of the windshield! It was always near the bottom of the windshield. If I had a few people in the car when it was raining, good god - I could not keep any windows clear. Horrible. Couldn't understand it. I never had a car do this and this and I've owned over 30 cars. A blessing in disguise happened...an non repairable chip on my windshield. When safelite replaced it, he showed me the extremely thin bead of sealant used and said this was very common in newer cars these days. The bead was maybe a quarter inch wide at best. This guy put 4 times that amount - it wasn't going to leak and it doesn't. Since the replacement I do not have any of these issues anymore. I "hope" the problem is resolved for good and I believe it is. It's been 3 weeks now and no out of the ordinary windshield fogging, icing or dripping issues. Everything seems normal and I'm once again happy with my car. I joined this forum specifically to let people know what fixed my problem because I know how irritating it was to me. I read a lot of peoples complaints on this same issue and could not find an answer as to why this was happening. A new windshield fixed mine. Possibly a class action could get it fixed or an "oops" on your windshield. Possibly the manufacturers warranty may cover it?? Certain states by law require free window replacement on cracked or damaged windshields. The windshield can be taken out and resealed so it doesn't necessarily mean you need to buy a new windshield. It's just a sealing issue...at least for me it was. I can't guarantee this will fix yours, but it certainly fixed mine. Good luck to those who have this problem.

[FernMTL]

https://www.rainx.com/product/glass-water-repellents-cleaners/rainx-anti-fog/#.Vpqe_VLGlP

 

Pretty sure It can help some of you.

Edited January 16, 2016 by FernMTL

[Riggo]

https://www.rainx.com/product/glass-water-repellents-cleaners/rainx-anti-fog/#.Vpqe_VLGlP

 

Pretty sure It can help some of you.

Has anyone used this and like iit? It doesn't get the most favorable reviews on Amazon.

[murphy]

How would one get a uniform coating? If it's not uniform it would distort my vision.

[machoman1337]

My old car (08 Fusion) never required me to turn on the defogger even once in the 2 years I owned it (was living in Ontario back then). I've moved to the west coast since buying my FFH and from November to March, I have to turn on the defog 99% of the time if I get in after leaving it parked outside, especially at night.

 

I have no idea what makes the windshield so vulnerable to fogging up. My dad's Lexus fogs up sometimes, but never this badly.

 

As even the "max" defog setting is quite slow, I've taken to keeping a towel in the door compartment so I can speed up the process by wiping.

 

About the solution... I'm quite skeptical. I don't want to put liquid coating on the inside of the windshield, and there's the risk that at the wrong angle, the light distortion through the coating could obscure vision.

[Texasota]

I have no idea what makes the windshield so vulnerable to fogging up. My dad's Lexus fogs up sometimes, but never this badly.

As even the "max" defog setting is quite slow, I've taken to keeping a towel in the door compartment so I can speed up the process by wiping.

I wonder if they did something on the 2015+ Fusions to minimize this problem? I rarely have to use the defogger in mine.