Was cleaning my windshield today and noticed an odd speck/imperfection and was wondering if anyone here has seen something like this?

The damage looks sort of like a rock chip, but the strange thing is I can't feel any damage from the outside. I ran my finger nail back and forth across this area and it felt completely smooth. I tried to feel for it both on outside and inside of the glass.
Looking at the glass at an angle, it seems as if the "speck/imperfection" is in the middle layer of the windshield.

I know next to nothing about how windshields are constructed.... but I would assume that for something to damage the middle layer, the top layer would also be damaged...
Wonder whether it's some inherent defect in the windshield itself that I've just never noticed.

 

Do you think you would have noticed this before, or is the car pretty new? I'm wondering if it might be a manufacturing defect, as opposed to "damage". I don't know how a foreign object would be created in the material between the two layers of glass without penetrating the outer layer and leaving a divot. If you're under warranty, I would definitely have the dealer inspect and opine.

 

Car isn't that new, still under warranty though. To be honest, today was the first time I actually cleaned my windshield up close, so it could have been there the entire time without me noticing it.
Just curious to see whether anyone's seen/heard of something similar.

Perhaps there are other more precise ways of testing for surface damage, versus my finger nail.

Would like to prevent pointing it out to the dealer and looking stupid when they tell me it's a rock chip

 

There's probably a way to inspect the surface with a magnifying glass -- it might best in low light or at night, with a flashlight, to minimize glare. I don't think there's a chip there, and if not, then it's a defect.

 

Since you bought it used, there is the possibility that it may have been damaged and replaced with a non OEM one, hence the flaw, take a look and see if it is OEM.

 

Car was bought brand new. What I meant is that the car isn't "new" anymore, I just never noticed/checked the windshield closely until last night.

 

My bad, that was what I inferred when I read it.

 

Sorry, but this is a very-very typical type of windshield damage. The outer layer gets a small rock on a small point (what you don't feel with your finger), and the inner side of the outer layer (in the middle of the two glass layers) breaks "as a form of shell". So, the bigger break can be also inside, not only outside. This is typical. Let's talk to a windshield repair specialist near to you. Nevertheless, in EU, this type of windshield damage will be repaired as windshield change, for free of charge, if you have a basic damage insurance, which covers the windshield damages always without excess/deductible.

 

Ah interesting to know. I've never seen or heard of something like this.
Google common types of windshield damage didn't turn up anything looking like this either.

But even if this is a rock on a small point like you said, I should still be able to see something right? I went over it with a magnifying glass, while shining a flashlight at different angles, and I saw nothing but smooth glass on the surface.

 

Of course, anything is possible, it can be a factory damage as well, because your damage is not a typical "shell", as I see. I suggest to talk to a car glass specialist.

 

Took your advice, went to a car glass repair shop. Technician inspected the glass and found no signs of surface damage on inside or outside of the glass. The tech said most likely manufacturing defect.

Guess I'll next make an appointment with my dealership to see what they say about it... I'm not sure if this is repairable... Wondering whether Lexus would be willing to actually replace the windshield for something so small though.

I'm also wondering, whether it's best to just leave it alone, since I'm always concerned with replacing parts on a car... Often times, things aren't as good as they were originally after being repaired/replaced.

 

If done by a qualified Glass Shop and with OEM GLASS there shouldn't be any problem.

 

If Lexus covers this under warranty, wouldn't it be expected to be OEM?
I would be pretty upset and peeved if Lexus tried to stick me with a non-OEM part if they do decide to replace the windshield under warranty.

 

Yes, but between you & lexus there is the dealer and some dealers have been know to outsource the glass and pocket the difference.

 

How actually big is it? Hard to judge by a picture.