Component
VISIBILITY/WIPER
22,811 NHTSA complaints about visibility/wiper issues across 62 makes and 882 models.
The visibility/wiper is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 22,811 filings from 62 manufacturers and 882 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 222 crashes, 187 fires, 255 injuries, and 18 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the SUBARU OUTBACK with 1,750 filings, followed by CHEVROLET EQUINOX and SUBARU FORESTER. 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 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 1,750 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 1,094 |
| 3 | SUBARU FORESTER | 1,053 |
| 4 | FORD F-150 | 1,010 |
| 5 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 658 |
| 6 | GMC TERRAIN | 421 |
| 7 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 403 |
| 8 | HONDA HR-V | 347 |
| 9 | HONDA CR-V | 340 |
| 10 | KIA TELLURIDE | 323 |
| 11 | FORD EXPLORER | 301 |
| 12 | SUBARU CROSSTREK | 289 |
| 13 | JEEP WRANGLER | 286 |
| 14 | TOYOTA RAV4 | 285 |
| 15 | SUBARU LEGACY | 273 |
| 16 | HONDA CIVIC | 273 |
| 17 | HYUNDAI PALISADE | 253 |
| 18 | ACURA RDX | 232 |
| 19 | RAM 1500 | 223 |
| 20 | FORD ESCAPE | 209 |
| 21 | TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | 206 |
| 22 | HONDA ACCORD | 203 |
| 23 | SUBARU IMPREZA | 199 |
| 24 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 188 |
| 25 | DODGE AVENGER | 187 |
| 26 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 179 |
| 27 | NISSAN MURANO | 172 |
| 28 | FORD EDGE | 170 |
| 29 | NISSAN ROGUE | 167 |
| 30 | FORD BRONCO | 166 |
Recent Complaints
THE BACK TAILGATE GLASS SHATTERED. IT WAS PARKED, I HAD JUST TURNED IT ON. AND AS I WAS STARTING TO SHIFT IT TO REVERSE IT SHATTERED. A POP THE SOUNDOF GLASS FALLING. I SLAMMED ON BREAKS GOT OUT TH
Component/System: Windshield/visibility system and possible body sealing or A-pillar water intrusion affecting interior and defrost performance. The condition is available for inspection upon request.
Leather comes apart from dash of vehicle obstruction front defrost causing issues for defrosting front windshield. This has been mention to mopar/dodge and since issue is considered not something cove
The dashboard on our vehicle has started to "melt." While there was a warranty enhancement program in the past (we did not receive notice), the problem has developed after the window for repair close
Rear windshield spontaneously shattered and fell into back of vehicle. No external event caused the shatterâ¦it just happened with no outside cause. No rocks or bullets found inside the car, just
I am filing a complaint regarding a premature failure of a critical safety-related lighting component on my 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. The driver-side headlight daytime running light (DRL) has failed. Af
1.) Eyesight constantly turns off on a whim. No reason or rhyme to it but just turns off. Meaning none of my "safety" systems (lane departure, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane keeping assist
⢠The Incident: "The rear window shattered spontaneously while the vehicle was in motion. My wife was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and our two children were in the back seat." ⢠The Risk:
On February 17, 2026 I was driving from Sacramento, CA to Oakland, CA (approximately 100 miles). At the start of the trip, I discovered that the vehicleâs heating and climate control system was not
The vehicle previously received a manufacturer dash wiring recall repair. After the recall repair was completed, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent and cascading electrical and communication
Sun Roof has leaked. The Sun roof leaked a considerable amount of water and it came through the head liner around the ceiling mounted control panel as well as the back of the car. This is the second
The front panel of the sunroof shattered while the vehicle was parked in our garage. Glass shards are inside the car. The dealership submitted a claim to Toyota who denied any material defect and refu
I recently purchased a 2019 Nissan Maxima in November of 2025 from the Nissan dealership, with in the matter of 2 weeks after getting the car as I was driving the sunroof just exploded sounding like a
The sunroof exploded, causing the glass to shatter, while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection. The noise from the glass shattering caused ear pain, headache, and tinnitus, which has been
Side view camera that displays blind spot area in dash screen cluster, screen intermittently shows just a green screen and not the blind spot.
The rearview camera intermittently fails to display an image when the vehicle is shifted into reverse and instead shows a solid blue screen. This results in a loss of rear visibility while backing. T
I started the truck including the rear and front window defroster. After about 5 minutes, I heard a loud "pop." I looked around the vehicle and noticed that back window was broken.
2/17/2026 Mileage 96,000 Subaru case number Case # 260217-2101937 Vehicle intermittently indicates reverse gear while driving forward at speed. Backup camera activates and reverse lights illuminate
The back window on our 2025 rogue shattered an explored to today February 15, 2026, Safety was compromised by not being able to see out of back window. There is no back window to reproduced. No warni
The heating blend door broke making the heater unusable. I cant defrost/defog my windows to see in February in New york...its a very common problem with this vehicle and the cost to repair is over 300
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.