Component

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

4,269 NHTSA complaints about visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor issues across 37 makes and 339 models.

The visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 4,269 filings from 37 manufacturers and 339 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 23 crashes, 38 fires, 8 injuries, and 10 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET S10 with 407 filings, followed by CHEVROLET BLAZER and CHEVROLET SILVERADO. 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.

4,269
Complaints
339
Models Affected
23
Crashes
38
Fires
10
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET S10 407
2 CHEVROLET BLAZER 326
3 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 286
4 GMC SIERRA 253
5 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 200
6 CHEVROLET C1500 164
7 CHEVROLET ASTRO 138
8 GMC JIMMY 109
9 GMC SUBURBAN 101
10 GMC SONOMA 98
11 FORD TAURUS 98
12 FORD EXPLORER 92
13 DODGE CARAVAN 83
14 CHEVROLET TAHOE 77
15 CHEVROLET K1500 72
16 CHEVROLET 1500 65
17 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS 55
18 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 50
19 CHEVROLET PICKUP 49
20 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 45
21 FORD WINDSTAR 43
22 GMC YUKON 41
23 GMC SAFARI 41
24 CHEVROLET C2500 39
25 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 37
26 FORD F-150 35
27 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 30
28 CHEVROLET C10 27
29 FORD RANGER 26
30 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 26

Recent Complaints

2018 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH in inclement weather, the windshield wipers were operating slower than normal before becoming inoperable. The vehicle w

2019 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motor had failed on the vehicle for a second time. There was no warning light illuminated. The windshield wiper motor wa

2025 KIA SORENTO

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 25 MPH in the snow with the windshield wipers activated, the windshield wipers became stuck in the midd

2019 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH in light rainfall, the windshield wipers were activated and the front driver's side windshield wiper suddenly reversed,

2016 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to v

2022 TOYOTA COROLLA

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds with the front windshield wipers activated in inclement weather, the front driver’s and passenger

2012 GMC TERRAIN

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH in rain weather, the front windshield wipers stopped functioning. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attem

2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wipers failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an ind

2023 FORD BRONCO

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the windshield wipers stopped functioning. The contact disengaged and reengaged the windshield wipers; however, the failur

2011 GMC TERRAIN

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of GM Special Coverage Adjustment Campaign Number: N192266181. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in i

2021 FORD F-150

2021 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-842.

2023 FORD BRONCO

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving in rainy weather at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wipers reduced speed and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the

2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the infotainment screen intermittently went blank while driving at various speeds. The contact also stated that the front windshield

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-165. THE CONSUMER STATED HE TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER IF THE WINDSHIELD WI

2020 FORD F-150

Windshield wiper motors failed during a rain storm. Vehicle has only 10k miles on it, wiper motors were set to medium, went up half way, motor made a grinding noise, then wipers stopped moving in eith

2020 FORD F-150

Wiper motor is non operational. It has been verified by dealer part is non operational. Non operational wipers put myself and others at risk if there would be visual obscurities that would need to be

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE RELATED TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL.

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULES SAFETY RECALL.

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR SAFETY RECALL RELATED TO BALL JOINT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND NE

2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE N212352530 AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INF

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor issues?
The NHTSA has received 4,269 complaints about visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor problems across 339 vehicle models from 37 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor defects?
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR issues have been linked to 23 crashes, 38 fires, 8 injuries, and 10 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor issues is the CHEVROLET S10 with 407 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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