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.

22,811
Complaints
882
Models Affected
222
Crashes
187
Fires
18
Deaths

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

2019 ACURA RDX

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

2024 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L

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.

2019 RAM 1500

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

2011 LEXUS IS

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

2024 NISSAN ROGUE

Rear windshield spontaneously shattered and fell into back of vehicle. No external event caused the shatter…it just happened with no outside cause. No rocks or bullets found inside the car, just

2022 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS

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

2025 SUBARU OUTBACK

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

2018 HONDA CR-V

• 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:

2024 VOLVO XC90

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 vehicle’s heating and climate control system was not

2018 HONDA ODYSSEY

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

2023 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

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

2025 TOYOTA GRAND HIGHLANDER

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

2019 NISSAN MAXIMA

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

2022 HONDA ODYSSEY

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

2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

Side view camera that displays blind spot area in dash screen cluster, screen intermittently shows just a green screen and not the blind spot.

2026 RAM 1500

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

2018 FORD F-150

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.

2018 SUBARU WRX

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

2025 NISSAN ROGUE

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

2017 CHEVROLET COLORADO

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility/wiper issues?
The NHTSA has received 22,811 complaints about visibility/wiper problems across 882 vehicle models from 62 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility/wiper defects?
VISIBILITY/WIPER issues have been linked to 222 crashes, 187 fires, 255 injuries, and 18 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility/wiper problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility/wiper issues is the SUBARU OUTBACK with 1,750 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.

Verify with FDA →