Component
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
371 NHTSA complaints about visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages issues across 28 makes and 130 models.
The visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 371 filings from 28 manufacturers and 130 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 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 33 filings, followed by NISSAN SENTRA and DODGE CARAVAN. 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.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 33 |
| 2 | NISSAN SENTRA | 23 |
| 3 | DODGE CARAVAN | 22 |
| 4 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 18 |
| 5 | VOLVO WXR | 16 |
| 6 | NISSAN 200SX | 12 |
| 7 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 10 |
| 8 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 9 |
| 9 | KIA SEPHIA | 8 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 8 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET S10 | 7 |
| 12 | BUICK CENTURY | 6 |
| 13 | TOYOTA PREVIA | 5 |
| 14 | SATURN ION | 5 |
| 15 | NISSAN FRONTIER | 5 |
| 16 | MAZDA TRIBUTE | 5 |
| 17 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 5 |
| 18 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 5 |
| 19 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 4 |
| 20 | FORD WINDSTAR | 4 |
| 21 | FORD F-150 | 4 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 4 |
| 23 | SATURN SL | 3 |
| 24 | KIA SPORTAGE | 3 |
| 25 | JEEP WRANGLER | 3 |
| 26 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 3 |
| 27 | GMC SONOMA | 3 |
| 28 | GMC ACADIA | 3 |
| 29 | DODGE INTREPID | 3 |
| 30 | DODGE DURANGO | 3 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated while driving at various speeds in the rain after purchasing the vehicle brand new, the windshield wipers failed to clean the windshiel
The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact turned on the windshield washer fluid to clean the front and rear windshield and the windshield washer f
2022 FORD F-250. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-250.
Was driving vehicle at approximately 45MPH, selected windshield sprayer to clean bugs off windshield, after a couple of full rotation of the windshield wipers, the passenger side wiper fell off and la
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated after attempting to activate the windshield wipers, the wipers failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechan
02/05/2022: Severe ice storm in Northeast. Windshield adequately thawed and cleared with ice pieces and snow remaining in windshield wiper "bay". Upon energizing windshield wipers in preparation for d
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the passenger's side windshield wiper was inoperable. Upon investigation, the contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with windshield wiper linka
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that his daughter informed him that the front driver's side windshield wiper linkage was fractured and had detached. The failure occurred
THE PASSANGER WIPER ARM SNAPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS DURING HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS.
I BOUGHT THIS RV, 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES ON IT. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM FELL BELOW THE WINDOW AND CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE NOT TO FUNCTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIPER BLADE MOTOR AND LINKAGE BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM TAYLOR CHEVROLET (139 GRIMSHAW ST, RAYVILLE, LA 7
2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PLASTIC GROMMET AND WIPER LINKAGE FAILED. *JB
ON MAY 11, 2013 MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING DURING RAINY STORMING DAY. AT FIRST THE WIPERS SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD MOVE EVERY 5 TO 10 MINUTES; THUS, THEY STOPPED COMPLETELY. I HAD A HOUR AND HALF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW SHIELD WIPER MOTOR THREE TIMES IN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V151000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES) AND STATED THAT BECAUSE HE RESIDED IN A WARMER
I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA AND ON A RAINY DAY MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE ITS WORKING BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IT IS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHIC
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages issues? ▼
How dangerous are visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.