Component

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

438 NHTSA complaints about visibility:rear window wiper/washer issues across 37 makes and 174 models.

The visibility:rear window wiper/washer is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 438 filings from 37 manufacturers and 174 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 12 crashes, 9 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 35 filings, followed by CHEVROLET BLAZER and FORD F-150. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

438
Complaints
174
Models Affected
12
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD EXPLORER 35
2 CHEVROLET BLAZER 16
3 FORD F-150 11
4 FORD ESCAPE 11
5 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 9
6 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 9
7 HUMMER H2 8
8 GMC JIMMY 8
9 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 8
10 CHEVROLET S10 8
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 7
12 FORD EXPEDITION 7
13 DODGE CARAVAN 7
14 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 7
15 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 6
16 JEEP LIBERTY 6
17 FORD WINDSTAR 6
18 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 5
19 SATURN VUE 5
20 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 5
21 HONDA ACCORD 5
22 DODGE RAM 1500 5
23 CHEVROLET TAHOE 5
24 ISUZU RODEO 4
25 HONDA ODYSSEY 4
26 GMC ENVOY 4
27 DODGE DURANGO 4
28 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE 4
29 CHEVROLET MALIBU 4
30 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 4

Recent Complaints

2025 BMW X3

See attached document for complaint.

2021 GMC YUKON XL

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while operating the vehicle on a cold day, the windshield wiper fluid failed to spray from the windshield wiper nozzle and the windshield and w

2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350

The windshield wiper fluid will not pump out onto the front or back window, causing poor visibility. The pump is working, but the design of the strainer on the bottom of the pump causes a restriction

2019 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that there was water leaking from the driver’s side rear window. There was no warning

2017 FORD F-150

Rear window exploded sitting in my closed garage. Did a lot of research on it and apparently this has been happening to numerous people dating back to 2010 on all the f series picks. FORD refuses to i

2023 HYUNDAI PALISADE

Brand new 2023 Palisade with rear windows hazy, causing poor visibility.

2015 GMC TERRAIN

2015 GMC TERRAIN. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE RELATED TO WINDSHIEL WIPER SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED THE REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE CONSUMER

2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR SAFETY RECALL N212352530.

2016 FORD F-150

Rear window spontaneously exploded on July 8th around 11:00am. My truck was parked and not driven for two days. The rear window exploded and shattered. The glass was everywhere, In the truck bed an

2018 SUBARU FORESTER

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that rod

2013 FORD EDGE Fire

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a smell of burned rubber, and upon inspection, the contact noticed fire coming from the rear windshi

2016 FORD F-150

THE TOP TRACK OF THE REAR WINDOW THAT HOLDS THE SMALLER SLIDING WINDOW IN PLACE BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE BACK WALL OF THE CABIN. THE SMALL WINDOW WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE LOWER TRACK

2012 FORD F-150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT AN AUTOGLASS FAC

2015 FORD FIESTA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FIESTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HAD NO WIPER, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR WIPER WAS OPTIONAL

2005 BUICK TERRAZA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK TERRAZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT, BOTH OF THE REAR WHEELS HAD NO TREAD AND THE REAR WIPER BLADE FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN

2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT READING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS HALF. IN A

2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN

2007 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

2007 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION AND CONSOLE LIGHTING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WITH BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *SMD

2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT

MOST RECENT IS A DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR/WINDOW CONTROLS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. CONTROLS HAVE BEEN SPORADIC FOR OVER A MONTH AND HAVE NOW, AND IT STOPPED COMPLETELY WITH THE WINDOW IN THE D

2008 SATURN VUE

ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH REAR WIPER AND HEATING ELEMENT(DEFOGGER) SYSTEM. PRESSING THE REAR DEFOGGER SWITCH TO TURN ON THE HEATING ELEMENT WOULD INSTEAD START DELIVERING WINDSHIELD WASHING FLUID CONTINU

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:rear window wiper/washer issues?
The NHTSA has received 438 complaints about visibility:rear window wiper/washer problems across 174 vehicle models from 37 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:rear window wiper/washer defects?
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER issues have been linked to 12 crashes, 9 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:rear window wiper/washer problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:rear window wiper/washer issues is the FORD EXPLORER with 35 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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