Which Ford F-150 years have the most wiper problems?

The 2021 model year has the most complaints in this area and the highest rate per truck sold. The 2018, 2020 and 2022 years also have notable counts. Newer years show fewer complaints, but they have had less time to collect them.

Is it safe to drive an F-150 with failing wipers?

It is not safe in rain or snow. Owners describe wipers stopping at highway speed with very little visibility. One 2022 report describes a truck that went into a ditch in a snowstorm. Pull over safely if the wipers quit, and get the truck checked.

Does a recall cover F-150 wiper problems?

Yes, for some trucks. Federal records list recalls for wiper arms on 2020 and 2021 models and for wiper motors on 2021 and 2022 models. Check the VIN, because some owners report their truck was left out.

Why can't owners get the recall fixed?

Many owners say they received a notice but dealers had no parts. Some report dealers refusing the repair until the wipers actually failed. Others say the wipers failed again after the recall work. Ask the dealer about parts before you buy.

What does the wiper fix cost?

Recall repairs on covered trucks are free, per the recall records. The data gives no out-of-pocket price for wiper repairs. Independent repair-cost data puts the whole F-150 at about $788 a year, which is not specific to wipers.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford F-150 Wiper And Visibility Problems

The Ford F-150 most often fails with wipers that stop in rain, tied to wiper motor and arm problems that Ford has recalled, mainly on 2021 trucks.

Owner complaints: 314
Share of all complaints: 6%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 2 / 1 / 1
Related recalls: 7

F-150 wiper and visibility complaints by model year

The 2021 model year has the most wiper and visibility complaints by a wide margin, and it also has the highest rate per truck sold. The 2018 model year comes next, followed by 2020 and 2022. Those years carry wiper motor and arm complaints, plus glass and defrost issues. The 2019 and 2023 years have fewer. The 2024 and 2025 years have only a handful, and 2026 has none, but those trucks have had little time on the road to collect complaints. Low counts there do not make them safer picks.

2018
61 · 1/10k sold
2019
16 · 0.3/10k sold
2020
52 · 1/10k sold
2021
123 · 2.6/10k sold
2022
40 · 1/10k sold
2023
17 · 0.4/10k sold
2024
4 · 0.1/10k sold
2025
1 · 0/10k sold

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under visibility/wiper, visibility. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

Wipers that quit without warning, often in heavy rain or snow, are the main wiper and visibility failure on this truck. Some stop mid-sweep. Some hesitate, grind, or jerk. In a few cases the driver-side arm lifts off its mount and flies loose. Other visibility complaints show up too: rear windows that shatter, sunroofs that break, and defrost airflow that fades so the windshield fogs.

The risk is real. A driver who loses the wipers at speed has little to see through, and one owner called visibility extremely limited on curvy back roads. This area has one crash report each for the 2021 and 2022 model years. The 2022 report describes a truck that left the road into a ditch in a snowstorm after the wipers stopped. No injuries were reported there. The 2021 crash report involves a windshield seal that detached in snow. A failed wiper in rain is a reason to pull over. Many filings also mention long waits for recall parts.

Symptoms owners report

Wipers stop in the rain

The wipers quit during a storm, often at night or at highway speed. Dealers have found failed wiper motors. Owners hear grinding, then the blades stop moving. Some can push them down by hand. Others pull over blind.

Wiper arm comes loose

The driver-side arm lifts off its mount and flies off during use. One owner could lift the arm straight off the post it seats on. Another found the knurled surface of the passenger arm damaged beyond repair.

Erratic or slow wipers

Wipers run on their own every 20 to 30 seconds, move slowly, jerk, or pause mid-sweep on high. Some of these cases were traced to the wiper motor or the multifunction switch.

Defrost airflow fades

Mostly on 2023 trucks, the blower keeps running but little air comes out of the vents, including the defroster. The windshield fogs. It often starts after about an hour of driving and fades after the truck sits, so dealers struggle to reproduce it.

Shattering glass

Rear windows and sunroofs break with no impact, often on parked trucks and sometimes while driving. Owners report loud bangs. Some say dealers pointed them to insurance or said glass is not covered.

Windshield leaks and film

Owners report windshield seals that leak water onto the dash, causing mildew odor and corrosion. One 2021 report says the windshield seal detached in snow. Others describe a film inside the glass that makes night driving harder.

When the problems start

Many failures come early. One 2020 owner's wiper motor broke at 310 miles, and another's failed at 10,000 miles. Defrost airflow loss on 2023 trucks began at 300 and 350 miles in two reports. A 2021 replacement motor was installed at 39,836 miles and failed again at 69,600. Glass failures appear at 750, 3,800, 5,200 and 75,000 miles.

Repairs and recalls

Federal recall records list several wiper fixes. Recall 22V250000 covers 2020 and 2021 trucks for wiper arms that may break, with dealers replacing both front arms. Recall 23V163000 covers 2021 arms. Recalls 22V142000 and 22V842000 cover 2021 and 2022 front wiper motors, replaced free. Owners report parts shortages, VINs left out, and repeat failures after repair. One owner says a warranty motor lasted about 30,000 miles. Dealers have also refused or said they do not handle glass.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2024	24V486000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 F-150 vehicles. The windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…
2021, 2022, 2023	25V729000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to…
2021, 2022	22V842000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
2020, 2021	22V250000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the…
2021	23V163000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
2021	22V142000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
2021	21V090000	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle,…

Checking a used F-150 for wiper and visibility problems

Run the VIN through Ford's and NHTSA's recall lookup. Confirm wiper arm and motor recalls show as completed, not just open.
Ask for service records showing the wiper motor or arms were replaced, and when.
Run the wipers on every speed, including intermittent. Watch for grinding, jerking, stalling, or arms that wobble on their posts.
Check that the wiper arms sit firmly and do not lift off their mounts. Look for damaged knurled surfaces.
Run the A/C and defroster for an hour-long test drive. Watch for airflow fading while the blower still sounds on.
Inspect the rear glass and any sunroof for chips or leaks, and look for water stains on the carpet and dash.

7 wiper and visibility recalls cover the Ford F-150. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

Look Up a VIN →