Do our headlights have a clearcoat on them just like the paint? My front left headlight has three 5-10cm patches that are clearly some type of film peeling away from them, just like clear coat. It's very obvious that there is some sort of material that was supposed to adhere to the plastic on the headlights. I doubt a rock could do this. When I rub the patches, they get larger and more obvious. Would this be considered a defect? I have a CPO warranty through November of next year.

Pics...

 

They're just bare plastic from the factory. Previous owner added a protective film? - look at the edges of the headlight for a film edge. The xpel film on my headlights does not cover the headlight plastic completely, and you can see there is a film on them.

 

If it were a film, I don't think it would cake off like this. I'll double check though. It's more like a coating of some liquid polymer or something that binds to the headlight. Could a rock chip do this? There's more on the bottom of the headlight, which makes me doubt that it's road damage.

 

I actually have the same smudges on my headlight like yours, its definitely not a clear coat. Its just oxidation on the plastic. I used Meguiars PlasticX (plastic polish) to get rid of some of it.

 

So the light is fine otherwise? This is just some sort of build up? If I rub the smudges, they just get larger as if the material covers the entire headlight.

 

Other than like 1% reduced output due to glare i'm sure the headlights are fine. But yea if you want try and just wipe it off with a wet towel. If that doesn't work then try the plastic polish i was talking about.

 

Went to the dealership. The tech claims that the plastic has a coating on it that just wears with time. And, bingo, they offered to do their headlight polishing for $60.00. I think I can just buff it all off myself, but I still worry that it is a protective coating.

 

I'm surprised no one else has come across this issue. Makes me think it's a defect rather than good ol' "wear and tear."

 

bump. I saw an 05 TSX with even worse peeling of the film on its headlights, just like mine! Anyone else know anything about this unusual wear?