Hello,

Ever since I picked up my new 2024 Karoq Sportline 4x4 I noticed something different with the clarity of the windscreen. It was only after that that I found out it had a heated screen. First one I ever saw..(we live in a warm climate)..

It has no visible wires at all, but has what I’d call a subtle filter or murkiness from inside the car in certain direct sunlight conditions. Also has a sort of fine starry sparkle effect in those conditions when looking through it.

From outside the car in the sun I can see a sort of amber colour in the reflection.

I’m guessing as there are no wires to be seen that its a film of some sort thats sandwiched in the glass

Anybody reading this with heated screens like mine..no wires, but a film that looks a little cloudy looking out in certain lights and a amber colour visible from the outside?

I must say I don’t really like it (as I would be in freezing conditions almost never) as it just looks faulty, but as said it’s the firstly one I’ve seen.

Thanks and cheers..

I had a genuine one retro fitted but don't have the issue you describe.

It is invaluable in cold but not necessarily sub zero temperatures.

I noticed the same/ similar effect in a Kia Cee'd I rented. I'm not keen on it tbh. A little off putting in low sun.

1 hour ago, Viffer800 said:

I had a genuine one retro fitted but don't have the issue you describe.

It is invaluable in cold but not necessarily sub zero temperatures.

PS

What does the dealer say about it?

Have you compared it with another vehicle at the dealership with the same screen to see if you have one with a fault?

75 heated screen here, and absolutely has fine wires in mine.

Edited 18 November, 202518 Nov by Frizzbee30

15 hours ago, Viffer800 said:

I had a genuine one retro fitted but don't have the issue you describe.

It is invaluable in cold but not necessarily sub zero temperatures.

Right.. When was yours put in? and no visible wires in yours either?

My issue is really only visible when driving into the sun, when the effect is sort of as if there is a dusty filter thats amber-yellow..turn a corner, away from the light, and it’s basically clear.

Yes i can imagine in cold conditons they are super useful. But a weird inclusion for Australian market as there are sooo few regions where it even frosts heavily.

Here cars usually only come with 2 or 3 optional accessory packages rather than an “a la cart” pallet due to where we are and the small market. So as I found out post sale, my “fully loaded” option came with that screen..unannounced..

15 hours ago, Viffer800 said:

PS

What does the dealer say about it?

Have you compared it with another vehicle at the dealership with the same screen to see if you have one with a fault?

Good question.

Firstly this dealer rarely has higher spec’d versions of the stock they keep..which in this case is annoying..They carry more expensive brands that apparently have inclusions like heated screens as standard, however comparing those other brands (like Land Rover) on this issue wouldn’t be right as they don’t use the same parts, etc..

So they are just using heresay to describe heated screens as somewhat subtly different that normal ones in terms of vague noticeable but minor differences.

And the dealer guy mentioned the ‘sparkle’ effect I’m getting to their master mechanic whom immediately responded back with the question, “is it a heated screen?”..yes he’s dealt with enquiries on this before..and they are saying it’s a result of the heating layer reflecting in front on strong light.

We’ve purchased maybe 5-6 cars from this crew over the years..and they are very reluctant to push Skoda on it being a bad screen..😒

13 hours ago, ash89hast said:

Right.. When was yours put in? and no visible wires in yours either?

My issue is really only visible when driving into the sun, when the effect is sort of as if there is a dusty filter thats amber-yellow..turn a corner, away from the light, and it’s basically clear.

Yes i can imagine in cold conditons they are super useful. But a weird inclusion for Australian market as there are sooo few regions where it even frosts heavily.

Here cars usually only come with 2 or 3 optional accessory packages rather than an “a la cart” pallet due to where we are and the small market. So as I found out post sale, my “fully loaded” option came with that screen..unannounced..

Just had a look at the screen in my 72 plate SE L. I bought it in Dec 23 and had a heated screen fitted. I mention the dates as this may be a factor. Maybe the method of manufacture has changed between the one I had fitted from Skoda's stock to how they were subsequently made and fitted to your vehicle.

The car I got rid of when I bought it had one and I really wanted to have that feature available. The screen was ordered from Skoda and fitted by the Dealer before I took delivery

If there are wires I struggle to see them. Is that the screen? Is that my eyesight?

I have never experienced any issues seeing out of the car regardless of the weather and whether I am driving into a low sun. I have never considered it anything but completely clear.

I do however see a slight iridescence when I look at the vehicle from the outside from my first floor window. It is a little more obvious when it is sunny. I assumed (you would wouldn't you) that this was related to it being a heated screen but now also wonder if it is also partly due to looking at it when the screen is perpendicular to my line of sight. From ground level inside or outside the screen will always be at an angle to my line of sight. Hope that makes sense.

The only other make of car I can remember seeing this iridescence in the front windscreen is in Mercs. Again, I assumed this was because they had heated screens rather than having Gary'd/pimped up their rides with window film.

I am therefore not sure at all why you can see what you can in your car.

Edited 19 November, 202519 Nov by Viffer800
More info and clarification

23 hours ago, Frizzbee30 said:

75 heated screen here, and absolutely has fine wires in mine.

Me too, once you see them you can't un-see them!

Is there a possibility that Skoda had changed the method of manufacture?

My car is a MY22. Those of you that have 'the issue' have MY24 or 25.

Something? Nothing?

There are two types of heated windscreen. The older type is 'wire mesh' which uses a network of very fine wires, often tungsten, which are embedded between two sheets of glass. The later type is 'conductive film' which uses an invisible metallic or silver-based coating sealed between the layers of glass.

I suspect that Skoda changed from the 'wire mesh' to the 'conductive film' type around the MY24 time.

15 minutes ago, NottsIan said:

There are two types of heated windscreen. The older type is 'wire mesh' which uses a network of very fine wires, often tungsten, which are embedded between two sheets of glass. The later type is 'conductive film' which uses an invisible metallic or silver-based coating sealed between the layers of glass.

I suspect that Skoda changed from the 'wire mesh' to the 'conductive film' type around the MY24 time.

Interesting

Maybe the screen I had retro-fitted to my MY22 Karoq in very late 23 was one that would have been fitted to a MY24 vehicle as I can't see any wires in mine.

My MY22 Karoq has the copper conductive heated screen as standard on the SE-L. This gives the screen a slight amber tint. A big improvement on the filament wires I think, which I could never un-see.

On 20/11/2025 at 15:29, NottsIan said:

There are two types of heated windscreen. The older type is 'wire mesh' which uses a network of very fine wires, often tungsten, which are embedded between two sheets of glass. The later type is 'conductive film' which uses an invisible metallic or silver-based coating sealed between the layers of glass.

I suspect that Skoda changed from the 'wire mesh' to the 'conductive film' type around the MY24 time.

I purchased a new model year 2023 SE L (with winter+) and found this had the film type heated windscreen, which I had no issue looking through and was extremely effective in the cold weather.

I then then traded this for a pre-reg Sportline Edition (June 2025) and was disappointed to find the heated screen in this car was the wire mesh type. I eventually adapted to it but found the wire mesh was a detriment to visual clarity.

I guess Skoda just fit whatever is to hand/available at the point of manufacture?

Finally worked it out with the dealer for a no charge replacement screen due to the smudgy permanent marks in the glass. We are hoping it was the aftermarket windscreen treatment applied by the dealer, which they are taking responsibility for. It was early days for them re the product application, and from what I can see, it looks like badly sprayed product that they couldn't fully remove with the isopropyl and pads. I enquired with an out of town dealer re the current heated screen in the fully loaded MY25 Karoq that is current in Australia, and he said his was the wire type. I saw the wire type at our dealer on a random variant of the Kamiq, and while the glass was super clear, the wires were very visible (on the very clean screen) and would be bummer for me to get used to, especially as I would never need them, so they'd be a useless nuisance!

When the dealer goes to Skoda re this replacement they will have to provide the one that was stock on my car. I'm just hoping it's as clear as it should be. I don't mind the iridescence form the outside.. Thanks for all the feedback..but yeah, for different markets, manufactures don't seem to have one rule which is frustrating!