SALT LAKE CITY — Windshield installer Mark Howe has been in the business for a decade and came to the KSL Investigators with a problem he said puts your safety at risk.

He is out to educate consumers.

In the past year, Howe has snapped 250 pictures of rust that's concealed under windshields he's replaced.

Howe pointed out in a photo gallery which cars would be unsafe to drive.

"This vehicle would be unsafe to drive like that," Howe responded.

And customers don't know this is happening to their vehicles, Howe said.

The problem starts when a car owner has their windshield replaced and the installer scratches paint during the process.

Howe said the issue is not repairing the paint scratches.

"It's not putting the primer over the scratches," Howe explained.

Howe believes some installers cut corners to save a couple of minutes so they can get to their next job.

When KSL Investigators timed Howe, it took him under three minutes to fix scratches that his tools had made during a window replacement.

For Tyler Horne, scratches led to a rusty mess. He didn't know there was a serious problem until his windshield was about to fall out.

"If I would have hit something hard enough, it probably would have come out," he said.

The issue got so bad his windshield began leaking every time it rained.

"So the water was coming in behind my mirror here, and I can pull down my liner and it's still wet," Horne said.

Rust had eaten through the seal that secured his windshield and only when the installer removed it could Horne see the extent of the problem. "As he was pulling it out, rust was falling into my jeep and into the hood."

Howe said the most common place he finds rust is along the top of a windshield. He says when installers don't repair scratches, water will set in under molding and create a breeding ground for rust.

When he discovers a problem, Howe points it out to the owner and then grinds out as much of the rust as he can. But he also suggests people take their car to a body shop to have it looked at.

Howe says it's important to note that the problem is more common when a windshield already has been replaced and that it can take several years for the rust to travel to a point where a driver can spot it.

He suggests consumers not only ask an installer if they've properly addressed scratches, but request to see the work before the new windshield is put in.

Council seeks to educate consumers

The Auto Glass Safety Council challenges some of Howe's information and pointed out there are other issues that may be causing corrosion around your windshield. The organization provided KSL with a safety brochure and a statement.

"Corrosion can have a number of causes including ill-fitting parts, improperly installed glass, defective glass and/or adhesive (glue), among others. Corrosion is less common on glass that still has its OE factory seal and has never been replaced. Proper installation is as important as having proper brake repair and the best way to make sure your windshield is installed properly is to choose a company listed on this website. "

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