A film keeps forming on the windshield of my 2004 Honda CRV. Whenever I ask anyone about it all they say is "don't smoke in the car" and tell them I don't smoke and they just shrug their shoulders.

Anyone ever experience/see this? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. :)

I had this problem many years ago with my chev and found that wires had been smoldering under the dash board, thus coating the inside of the windshield with a film.

A film keeps forming on the windshield of my 2004 Honda CRV. Whenever I ask anyone about it all they say is "don't smoke in the car" and tell them I don't smoke and they just shrug their shoulders.

Anyone ever experience/see this? Any suggestions or advice is appreciated. :)


This is common with new cars, particularly if you have cloth interior. The materials used for the interior of your vehicle will "outgas" for a while, creating a film on your windows. When you clean the windows it is helpful to use newspaper to wipe up glass cleaner.

I do have a cloth interior but the car is a 2004... is it possible for it to still be so gassy? (LOL)

Yes, it is possible. It usually takes a couple of years for it to slow down substantially. Window tint also helps. Our '06 CR-V has leather and the film is already starting to annoy me so its time to clean the windows. Just the slightest bit of humidity in the cabin makes the film easily noticeable.

You can always turn the AC on to remove the humidity in the cabin.

Mine is a 2004CRV. I thought my side windows were dirty and when I rubbed my fingernail across the glass there was a film on the interior. I used a scrub brush but I noticed lots of tiny like flakes, shiny like sequins. Could the factory window tint be degrading. I would have thought that in 6 years the fabric would completely offgass. I did though park it for 2 weeks in 90 plus temperatures.