Windshield Wiper Problems and Recalls: Which Cars Are Affected

Wipers are easy to ignore until they stop working in a downpour, and NHTSA’s recall file shows it has happened to millions of vehicles: more than two hundred recalls name the wipers or their motors. Most guides on the subject are maintenance advice about blades and washer fluid. This one uses NHTSA’s recall and complaint files to show which cars have been recalled, why the wipers failed, how many vehicles are still unrepaired, and which model years owners complain about most.

Wiper recalls: the big picture

We count a recall when its subject or summary mentions wipers and NHTSA files it under visibility. The visibility category is wider than wipers: it also holds recalls for mirrors, windshield and side glass, sunroofs and power windows, so the last figure above is for context only. Here is who the wiper recalls belong to, for 2014 onward:

“Repaired” weights each campaign’s reported completion rate by its vehicle count; “not yet repaired” is the matching estimate. A vehicle in several campaigns is counted in each. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Ford leads, followed by General Motors and Stellantis. The “not yet repaired” column matters most to owners: GM’s recalls are the least completed, with an estimated 449,507 vehicles still unrepaired, which means a used car in those model years has a real chance of still needing the fix.

The largest wiper recalls

These are the biggest campaigns, with NHTSA’s numbers and repair rates. “Repaired” is the share the manufacturer reported as fixed.

Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; table compiled by PlainVIN from each campaign’s record.

Why wipers fail

The recall summaries name a handful of recurring causes:

• Arms that break or loosen. Ford’s 2022 and 2026 recalls say the arms “may break,” and Chrysler’s 2020 recall covers arms that may loosen on the Ram 1500 and Jeep Compass. The remedy is simple: replace the arms, or tighten the nuts.
• Motors that stop. Ford’s 22V842 and 26V117 recalls cover motors that may become inoperative or fail. For the 2026 recall, Ford’s notice says dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary.
• Corrosion in the linkage. In GM’s 2014–2015 Equinox and Terrain, ball joints in the wiper module may corrode so that one or both wipers fail. Toyota’s RAV4 recall says water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the motor and corrode it until the linkage separates; the repair adds a water diverter channel.
• Snow and ice. Hyundai’s Palisade recall says the motor may operate intermittently or fail when snow or ice builds up on the windshield, and the repair is a new driver-side wiper arm. Subaru’s 2016 recall for the 2010–2014 Legacy and Outback describes wiper motor components that may interfere with each other, and if the motor overheats the cover may melt, which Subaru says increases the risk of a fire.

Visibility complaints: which cars and years

NHTSA records owner complaints under two labels for this area: “visibility” and, in newer records, “visibility/wiper.” Neither says which part failed, and “visibility” also covers glare, fogging, mirrors and glass, so the counts overstate wiper trouble. They are still the best public record of which cars owners associate with visibility problems.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Counts follow sales: the models near the top are also high-volume ones, so look at the share of a model year’s complaints for a fairer comparison. Several model years stand out on that measure, and they don’t always match a recall. In NHTSA’s files we found no wiper or visibility recall for the 2019 Subaru Forester, the 2019 and 2020 Subaru Outback or the 2023 Honda HR-V, even though owners file many visibility complaints for them. That doesn’t prove a defect, but it makes those years worth testing in the rain before you buy. The reverse also happens: the 2014–2015 Chevrolet Equinox complaints line up with GM’s corroded-wiper-module recall (22V165), and only about half of those cars have been reported repaired.

Wiper recalls in 2026

Three Ford recalls this year are about wipers, and another visibility recall is for a sunroof:

• 26V117 (March 2026): 604,533 2020–2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator and Corsair vehicles. The wiper motor may fail. Interim owner letters were mailed April 2, 2026.
• 26V204 (March 2026): 422,613 2021–2023 Expedition and Navigator and 2022–2023 Super Duty trucks. The wiper arms may break, the same kind of failure as the 2022 recall, now for newer model years.
• 26V418 (June 2026): 67,842 2024–2026 Mustang and 2025–2026 Mustang GTD. In certain cold temperatures the wipers may work only at their high-speed setting and the washer system may fail to function properly.
• 26V346: Subaru’s moonroof recall (69,663 vehicles) is also filed under visibility; it concerns glass that may detach, not wipers. See our sunroof recalls guide.

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Defrosters and defoggers

The other half of seeing out of a car is clearing the glass. NHTSA’s file holds 98 recalls for defrosters or defoggers covering 4.1 million vehicles, with 92% reported repaired. Chrysler’s 2024 recall (24V111) covers 199,143 2021–2024 Jeep Wranglers and 2022–2024 Grand Cherokees where a hybrid control processor software error may leave the defroster inoperative, so the vehicles fail Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 103 for windshield defrosting and defogging.

If your wipers fail: what to do

1. Don’t brake hard. Ease off the accelerator, increase your following distance and switch on the hazard lights.
2. Try the controls. Cycle the wiper stalk through its settings. Some failures, like the Mustang’s cold-weather fault, leave only the high-speed setting working.
3. Pull over when it is safe, clear of traffic, and wait for the rain to ease or for help.
4. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN decoder. Recall repairs are free.
5. Report it. Even a failure that was fixed can help NHTSA spot a pattern: see our guide to filing a complaint.

If you are buying used, our used car inspection checklist is a good place to start. For other visibility and lighting problems see our headlight guide, and for the wider picture our most common car problems guide.

For mirror recalls, the other half of rear visibility, see our side mirror recalls guide.

Complaint and recall figures are PlainVIN’s analysis of NHTSA’s files and update when we refresh the data; complaints are owner reports, not verified defects. NHTSA’s categories don’t say which part failed. This guide is general information, not mechanical advice for a specific vehicle.