Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of bad manufacturing and run-arounds from auto companies. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
Windshield Wiper Problems? Read about our Ford Bronco Wiper class action investigation.
Heralded by Ford as the world’s first sport-utility vehicle (SUV), the Bronco has evolved since the first model was introduced to the U.S. market in 1965. Discontinued due to the changing tastes of American consumers in 1996, it made a comeback in 2021. Launching the 2023 model, Ford announced that 1960s Bronco styling now “meets modern capability.” But this doesn’t seem to apply to all elements of the SUV, certainly not windshield wipers. Since the new “modern” Bronco reappeared in 2021, owners have been complaining that their “smart wipers” malfunction in the rain
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2021 2022
Contents
Don’t be stuck with a lemon. You have legal rights to cash, return or buyback.
The law makes Ford pay legal fees.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
NHTSA Complaints for the 2023 Ford Bronco
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Power Train | |
| Electrical System | |
| Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System) | |
| Visibility | |
| Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly | |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor | |
| Visibility:windshield | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking |
Most Common Problems with the 2023 Ford Bronco
Between December 30, 2022, and January 25, 2023, 7 owners of the 2023 Ford Bronco laid complaints with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). All of them are filed in the Visibility/Wiper category, and all 7 of them relate to malfunctioning windshield wipers.
There are 15 complaints about this same issue with the 2022 Ford Bronco and 5 complaints about the 2021 Bronco. There is also a technical service bulletin (TSB) on file with the NHTSA advising dealers that there is an issue with the “smart windshield wiper motor.” This applies to the 2021 and 2022 models, but not the 2023 model, despite 7 complaints about the issue to the NHTSA in less than a month. The relevant manufacturer’s communication, number SSM 50692, is dated April 13, 2022. It has the NHTSA ID number 10210395.
Windshield Wiper Smart Wiper Operation
The document on file with the NHTSA only refers to the 2021 and 2022 models. However, it is worth noting what Ford Motor Company says about smart motor performance in its sixth-generation Broncos.
The company states that 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles are equipped with a smart windshield wiper motor that is capable of sensing the load of the wiper blades as they move across the windshield glass. As a result of this “operational characteristic/design, the operation may not be what is expected in certain conditions.”
The company also states that this operational characteristic is a protection feature. As such, it is designed “to prevent damage to the wiper motor in case of overheating, operation with dry windshields, or obstructions to the wiper blade (snow, ice, etc.). In such conditions, the wiper motor will temporarily reduce its speed and/or reduce (the) area of cleaning until the condition is no longer present.”
What this means is that Ford is aware that its new-style Broncos with so-called modern capability have a design “characteristic” that affects the way windshield wipers operate. However, they don’t acknowledge it to be a problem even though they state that the issue owners are complaining about may not be what they expect. Presumably, the motivation for this particular manufacturer communication is to warn dealerships that they may get complaints or enquiries from some owners. There is certainly no indication that Ford is attempting to find a solution
Complaints from 2021 and 2022 Bronco Owners
Owners of 2021 and 2022 models state in NHTSA complaints that the effect of wipers slowing down is very dangerous and distracting. They also maintain it is a serious safety hazard. Very few owners have stated in complaints that they have reported the problem to dealerships.
The Oregon owner of a 2022 model states in a complaint dated December 30, 2022, that when asked to undertake a warranty repair, the dealership said “this is normal operation. The dealership staff provided me with Ford Technical Service Bulletin SSM 50692 and said there was nothing they could do.” Nevertheless, the complaint states, “I continue to have the wipers reduce speed on a wet windshield with no obstructions.”
A New York owner of a 2021 model laid a complaint in February 2022 before the TSB was released. Initially, the dealership replaced the smart wiper motor. When the problem recurred, the dealership said they couldn’t fix it. They said another Bronco on their lot had the same issue, undertaking to “get it fixed” if a bulletin was released on the problem.
Wiper Problems
Unsurprisingly, complaints to the NHTSA about the 2023 Bronco windshield wipers all describe the “operational characteristic” that Ford accepts as normal. Owners are concerned about the problem, describing it as a serious malfunction that results in a serious safety hazard.
Descriptions from owners are all very similar. For example:
- It doesn’t matter which mode the wipers are on, “they slow down and go into a slow intermittent mode all on their own.” It takes about 35 seconds for them to slow down, and then after another 50 seconds, “they stop causing a serious safety concern.” (Virginia owner)
- The wipers don’t stay in “low” mode, rather reverting to a very slow/intermittent mode. This is “very dangerous in heavy rain or snow.” (New Jersey owner)
- “While it is raining the wipers will go from continuous to delay, to almost stopping after 20 seconds of running.” (Indiana owner)
More Detailed Wiper Complaints
An owner from Pennsylvania states that “The windshield wiper controllers are seriously malfunctioning. When switched on, they work for the first minute, then the speed at which they are running changes significantly.” As an example, the complaint describes how on January 20, 2023, the wiper stopped working in heavy rain. “This is a serious safety hazard as I was unable to see and had to turn off the wipers and turn them back on to reset them. I hope this issue is handled rapidly as I have noticed many others have the same problem.”
An owner from Maryland states that the “advanced” wipers “automatically stop wiping when they think the windshield is dry or think the wiper motor may be damaged.” Describing what happens, the complaint goes on to say that when the SUV is traveling in heavy rain the wipers will “automatically switch to Intermittent after about 1 minute.” They stop wiping at a high speed, and pause between wipes for several seconds. To keep them going in “heavy, blinding rain you have to keep switching the wipers from Low to High to keep them moving.” Of course, as the complaint states, this is a safety hazard because the driver can’t see through the windshield when it’s raining heavily.
“After reading the Manual it appears this is a ‘feature’ of the new Ford Bronco. This is a major safety issue and Ford should be required to fix the wiper motor on these vehicles. The issue happens on all of the model years – 2021-2023.”
An owner from Michigan states that he and his son have experienced this wiper problem. “It’s like a sensor tells the wipers it’s not raining or snowing hard anymore and it switches it automatically to interval. Very dangerous while driving in traffic in bad weather.”
What to do if your 2023 Ford Bronco is a Lemon? Your Lemon Rights
Maybe you have been experiencing issues with your 2023 Bronco windshield wipers malfunctioning. Perhaps you have a totally different complaint that makes you believe your SUV is a lemon.
Are you aware that every year automakers like Ford buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ vehicle owners? Additionally, the law makes Ford pay the legal fees for lemon-related legal fees. This means you don’t pay a cent if a lemon lawyer represents you in court.
If you’d like Lemberg Law to assess your 2023 Ford Bronco problems free of charge, call our Helpline or fill out a contact form.
Complaint Data
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 20, 2023 |
| State | IL |
| Description | Windshield wiper blade action slows down or comes to a stop, no matter low speed high speed or intermittent. Driving at 55 mph at early morning darkness during a heavy rain the windshield wipers come to a complete stop. Oncoming traffic headlights glaring through the rain soaked windshield provided almost zero visibility. Quick action had me reaching for the wiper control to fiddle with it upon which the wipe motor started up again, no matter the position the blade continually stopped, unless I constantly flipped the wiper stalk from high to low to keep the blades functioning. I have a manual transmission, imagine trying to shift gears with one hand, flipping the wiper stalk with another all while maintaining control of the vehicle. This not only endangers me, but others on the road should I lose control and hit them head on! What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Windshield wipers how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Total loss of vision out the windshield has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No however others have reported the same issues. Visit the following forums - bronco6g - https://www. Bronco6g. Com/forum/threads/wiper-control-speed-issues-urgent-safety. 31809/ - bronco nation - https://thebronconation. Com/issues-repair-and-warranty-n. 154/bronco-2-door-windshield-wipers-weird-%e2%80%9cfeature%e2%80%9d-when-on-high-or-low-speed-t. 16155/page-1 has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? As of now several new car dealerships have been confronted with customers problems, some have replaced the wiper motors were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No prior waring, just complete stoppage |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 17, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | I started to notice a scraping/grinding noise that is coming from the transmission. It can be heard when I do a cold start and leave in in neutral. If I push the clutch in it goes away. Also, I noticed it a bit louder when I am in low gears such as 1-3, even while fully warmed up. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 15, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | Within about three hours of buying the vehicle, while driving the ten speed automatic transmission at normal highway speeds there was a hard popping sound. The vehicle began to vibrate harshly and jerk. Upon continued driving it would stall in intersections in traffic like it was going to stop moving then jerk accelerate and pause again, multiple times. I have owned the vehicle for about 8 days and it has been in the shop for about 7 of those. I was told by the shop that I could continue to drive it or come get it until they are able to further disasemble the transmission, but it doesnt seem safe to drive a vehicle that feels like it is stalling. It was very dangerous when trying to accelerate in traffic and the vibration during normal speeds felt very unsafe. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | During moderate rain the wipers were turned on and switched between the top 2 speeds. After a short period of time it automatically goes into a very slow intermittent mode causing loss of visibility. From my understanding this is part of fords “smart wiper†system to save the motor from burning out. This is extremely dangerous and almost caused an accident. I have video of this condition. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | CT |
| Description | When wipers are used on higher settings during moderate rain it will maintain speed for a short period of time then automatically go to a very slow intermediate speed on its own. This caused zero visibility without warning. My understanding is they do this to protect the wiper motor and do not value lives by causing obstructions in my vision. I have video of the issue. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 ford bronco. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph in inclement weather, the windshield wipers were activated on high-speed but failed to operate at the highest setting. The contact stated that the windshield wiper defaulted to intermediate speed and deactivated and turned off independently on other occasions. The contact stated that there was a safety feature to deactivate the windshield wipers if the windshield was dry however, it was raining and snowing so the feature should not have been activated. The contact stated that his vision was affected by the failure. The contact toggled with the settings, causing his attention to be diverted from the road which could have caused a crash. The contact stated that the windshield wipers then activated independently. The vehicle was driven and parked at the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | NY |
| Description | When windshield wipers are on high speed during a storm they will slow down after 30 seconds to a speed of wiping the window maybe every 5 seconds causing a significant reduction in visibility. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 14, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | Wiper control issue - when the wipers are set to the standard slow or fast speed the wipers start to slow down after about 30 seconds and eventually go into intermittent. We have experienced this in the pouring rain, while traveling with children and it makes it impossible to see. We have contacted 2 dealerships, and both were able to replicate the problem and acknowledged it. However, ford will not acknowledge that there is a problem, and we are told that there is nothing that they can do. We also called ford customer service and were told to read page 100 of our owner's manual and if we still had problems to seek out dealerships until we got a resolution. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 13, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 ford bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission made grinding sounds when shifted into neutral(n), 1st, and 2nd gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under technical service bulletin: 22-2371 (mt88 manual transmission - rotational scraping noise from transmission when cold and in neutral, 1st and/or 2nd gear with clutch applied). The manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with the nhtsa hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 60. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 13, 2023 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | When driving at any speed from local roads to highways in inclement weather from light rain to sleet to heavy rain, the wipers revert from high speed to intermittent (slow) speed after a period of 30 seconds to 2 minutes and do not revert back to the necessary speed for safe vehicle operation. During sleet and heavy rainfall it became difficult to see out of windshield and I had to keep adjusting the speed of the wipers every 30 seconds to 2 minutes in order for them to operate correctly. Vehicle was brought into the service department at a ford dealership and I was told it is a “feature of the smart wiper motor operation†and to pick up the vehicle with no repair available. According to service department it is ford special service message #51377. I have also found the statement referred to as “ssm 50692†in my own research. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 10, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | While driving in the rain the windshield wipers will randomly slow down to a very unsafe level, making it very difficult to see out of the front windshield. I talked with the dealership and they said there is no known fix for this issue. Ford does not seem to have an answer either. This happens every time the wipers are on. And happens frequently, like every 30 secs the wipers will slow way down. They are not rain sensing wipers. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 10, 2023 |
| State | MN |
| Description | Windshield wipers operate for a limited time before slowing & then stopping completely. Multiple adjustments are required of the wiper control to reactivate the wipers. However, after a few minutes, the wipers will again slow & stop functioning completely. This situation creates a safety hazard, due to limited visibility & obscured driving conditions, during wet conditions. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 09, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | When driving in rainy conditions, the windshield wipers cease to function at the selected setting. This happens at any setting. Specifically, after approximately 30 seconds, the windshield wipers slow to a greatly reduced and intermittent speed. This causes extreme issues with visibility, which in turn, creates a major safety issue, especially at highway speeds. This is not one incident. It happens every time the windshield wipers need to be turned on due to visibility. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 09, 2023 |
| State | MS |
| Description | This is the same complaint as #11509166. I couldn't find a way to add more documentation to the already filed complaint so here is the original information plus more complaints and examples of the safety issue. .... Https://www. Bronco6g. Com/forum/threads/wiper-control-speed-issues-urgent-safety. 31809/ .... Https://youtu. Be/9f8gc2huejo .... After less than a minute of running, the wipers suddenly slow down to the lowest wiper delay setting. You notice because, if you're in a storm or rain, you suddenly can't see out of the windshield. It does this on all of the wiper settings. If you're in a bad storm and you have the wipers running on maximum, they suddenly stop and go to like a once every 30 second wipe. You have to constantly turn the wiper control back and forth the whole time you're driving to keep the wipers working. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 08, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | I was driving in rain and the wipers were initially working fine. Then for no reason they just started slowing down. The rain was still heavy and the vehicle does not have rain sensing wipers so there is no reason they should have slowed down. I had to keep changing the wiper speed from high to low to high to get it back to the necessary speed. This is a major safety issue that the wipers do not work consistently. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 07, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | Windshield wipers stop moving at regular wiping speed. After a short time the wipers change from regular speed to intermittent speed causing loss of vision to the road ahead during rain and snow. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 07, 2023 |
| State | NV |
| Description | In moderate or even heavy precipitation the vehicle will reduce wiper speed from high or low continuous to intermittent, severely reducing and limiting visibility. I took it to corwin ford in reno to fix this and they say that it does this on purpose and it is working as designed. Picture was taken while it was doing this, even with this much rain on the windshield the wipers won't stay in low constant and reduces the wiper speed to intermittent resulting in this level of visibility. |
| Category | Electrical System, Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System) |
| Date | Mar 06, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | The screen on the radio freezes/glitches at random times. Navigation no longer updates despite still, providing audio prompts. Requires the vehicle to be parked and turned off to fix it each time. Creates major issue when navigating unfamiliar areas and suddenly needing to pull off the road. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 06, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | The driveshaft and front axles are completely covered in pitted rust when delivered. Long-term strength and safety of vehicle drive train at risk. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 06, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | Windshield wipers slow down when driving in rain/snow. Even on the highest setting, they start to slow down after a few minutes and you have to toggle them off and on again to get them back to normal speed. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 06, 2023 |
| State | MA |
| Description | When attempting to use the wipers on low speed setting (constant on at a low speed, not on any of the intermittent settings) in medium and heavy rain situations, the wipers will initially operate at the constant low speed, and then after 1 to 2 minutes, the wipers will slow down significantly to a very low speed intermittent speed. The only way to get the wipers to return to the constant low speed setting is to switch the control stalk setting to high speed wipers and then return the switch to the low speed setting. Even when turning on the wipers at the high speed setting, the wipers will slow down significantly to a very low intermittent speed. This is a dangerous condition that creates issues in attempting to see during steady rain conditions. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 05, 2023 |
| State | TN |
| Description | Wiper motor does not stay on low or high. Within a minute, they revert back to intermittent and the driver must constantly switch between low and high in order to keep visibility. This has been happening since the day I took delivery (in the rain). I will be contacting the dealer on 3/6 to discuss. Many others in forums have reported the same exact behavior. There has been no inspection yet. No warning lamps, etc. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 04, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | Wipers automatically dramatically slow down when placed in the high setting during heavy rains causing unsafe driving conditions |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 04, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | I was driving in moderate rain today and had the windshield wipers in the low setting (continuous wipe, not intermittent). After approximately 60 seconds, the wipers stopped continuous wipe and I could not see. I switched to high, the wipers began working again so I switched back to low. 60-90 seconds later, the wipers once again stopped their continuous wipe, I could not see, so switched to high to get them working again. I continued my drive, having to switch the function from low to high to keep them operating. When the rain let up, I was able to see when the wipers quit and noticed they decided to wipe intermittently, despite being in the low (continuous) position. As my drive continued the rain let up a little, I switched to intermittent high (shortest delay). This function worked for about 10 wipes, then the delay increased and I couldn't see between wipes and had to manipulate the switch again to gain visibility of the road and oncoming traffic. To answer the questions I offer the following: 1. The wipers do not work in the position selected even if there is significant water on the windshield. 2. When the wipers stop working, you can't see out of the windshield. This requires constant manipulation of the switch, taking a hand off the wheel which endangers me, any occupants, and others on the road. 3. I have not gone to the dealer. I read the 25 page post on the b6g forum and found many others have experienced this as well and a link for this site to post the issue. 4. It has not been inspected by anyone. 5. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms. The vehicle only has 700 miles and this is the first time I've driven it in the rain when I needed continuous wipers. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 03, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Wipers run normal speed for 39 seconds and they revert back to five seconds in between wipes, no matter what the rain conditions or settings |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 02, 2023 |
| State | CO |
| Description | Windshield wipers fail to maintain consistent operation. Cadence slows down on its own to an unusable speed causing unsafe visibility. Clearly there is something wrong with the programming. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 01, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Wipers will slow down during constant on operation is selected, in low and high speed mode. They wipe as normal for 30-45 seconds, then start a slow speed wipe (in high or low, both slow to a crawl) for 2-3 wipes, then stop completely until the switch is changed to another setting. Then the cycle repeats. Makes driving in anything more than a drizzle challenging to see while constantly fiddling with the wiper switch. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 01, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | When wipers are on they will intermittently stop even when in run mode. No change in how hard the rain is coming. Causes inability to see anything. Will sometimes start back up but usually can't wait that long and chandelier to fast mode to get them moving again |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| State | IL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 ford bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed during inclement weather, the contact activated the windshield wipers; however, the wiper blades started wiping very slowly until the wiper blades became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 900. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Wipers have some type of smart setting and the will actually stop working in heavy rain situations. Very dangerous configuration |
| Category | Visibility, Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
| Date | Feb 27, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 ford bronco sport. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph with the sunroof closed, he heard the sunroof glass explode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the contact stated that only photos were taken, and the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 27, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | When wipers are on slow speed, after 17-22 sweeps will either stop, or to slow intermittant, does not matter on amount of water on the windshield. Ssm from ford is not an answer. Wipers should stay on |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 27, 2023 |
| State | MI |
| Description | The wipers slowed and stopped during heavy rain making visibility very poor. I had to manually turn the wiper speeds in order to see the road. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 27, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Wipers function for about 30 seconds on continuous, then go to intermittent, then stop. Does this at all speeds and all rain settings (heavy to light rain). Constantly having to turn wiper off and on to get it to function. Makes it difficult to see in rainy weather. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 26, 2023 |
| State | MS |
| Description | After less than a minute of running, the wipers suddenly slow down to the lowest wiper delay setting. You notice because, if you're in a storm or rain, you suddenly can't see out of the windshield. It does this on all of the wiper settings. If you're in a bad storm and you have the wipers running on maximum, they suddenly stop and go to like a once every 30 second wipe. You have to constantly turn the wiper control back and forth the whole time you're driving to keep the wipers working. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 23, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | High speed wiper setting runs fast and then becomes extremely slow requiring driver to twist down and back up to reset to high. This is a safety hazard |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 23, 2023 |
| State | OH |
| Description | Windshield wipers when turned on will work and after a few seconds begin to slow, then go to working intermittently and then go to swiping like once every 5-8 seconds. When I reset the wiper it will do it all over again. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 23, 2023 |
| State | FL |
| Description | So when wipers are on fast or slow constant mode that they slow down and go into a slow intermittent mode all on their own. After about 35 seconds the wipers start to slow down then after 50 seconds they stop causing a serious safety concern. This has now happened several times. I was unable to see in front of me and almost hit another's car. There were no warning lights. I am taking to a dealer next. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | IN |
| Description | The windshield wipers will stop, and then start back up on a slower setting. It's very alarming and dangerous when it's pouring rain to have them suddenly stop. Ford is trying to say it's normal but it definitely is not. There's a glitch somewhere in the motor. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | I live on the north oregon coast, very rainy one minute, nothing the next. Rural area, could be anything man or beast in the road. The windshield wipers stopped operating in a heavy down pour even though I had the setting for the wipers on low. Felt unsafe, almost zero visibility. The wipers did not restart on their own, had to turn the switch on and off. |
| Category | Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor |
| Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | 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 dealer where the mechanic was able to duplicate the failure; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that it was a feature for the smart windshield wiper motor. The failure mileage was approximately 25. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 20, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Wipers slow down or stop in moderate to heavy rain. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 17, 2023 |
| State | IN |
| Description | The wipers will slow down to almost a complete stop after approximately 1 minute of operation no matter what setting they are on (constant or intermittent) no matter how much rain is on the windshield on my 2023 ford bronco. This issue requires the driver to constantly adjust the wiper switch to keep the wipers operating to keep the windshield clear. Ford has issued a ssm on this issue for 2021-2022 models, but does not appear to be considering this a safety problem. Text of ssm: "2021-2022 bronco vehicles are equipped with a smart windshield wiper motor, which has the capability of sensing load of the wiper blades coming across the windshield glass. As a result of this operational characteristic/design, the operation may not be what is expected in certain conditions. The vehicle is programmed with protection features to prevent damage to the wiper motor in case of overheating, operation with dry windshields, or obstructions to the wiper blade (snow, ice, etc.). In such conditions, the wiper motor will temporarily reduce its speed and/or reduce area of cleaning until the condition is no longer present." |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 17, 2023 |
| State | MI |
| Description | This seems to be a very common and reproducible issue that ford motor company has yet to address. Here is an clip from a bronco forum that I follow, and there are literally pages and pages of owners reporting the same issue. This happened to me last night during freezing rain. It was not just an inconvenience, but extremely dangerous! Doing 65-70 on the highway with medium/light rain and the wipers on my bronco kept changing speed and slowing substantially over time. I had to constantly switch speeds, change the setting on the stalk just to keep them going at times. It was terrifying. @ford this is legitimately worrying and I do not feel safe taking trips or driving with this. I have seen other threads with this issue but to experience it is a totally different feeling. Anyone else experience this or have had the issue fixed? It's any setting, the continuous, the rain detecting, any one and it slows super slow over maybe 3-5 minutes almost to a crawl. This truck has never been off road or beat on. It did this over an hour highway drive and about an hour around town on one trip. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Feb 16, 2023 |
| State | ID |
| Description | Within the first 500 miles on my brand new bronco, I noticed a strange burning smell after driving it one day. The next morning when I started it, I heard what I thought was a heat shield rattle, and as I continued to drive my bronco to work throughout the week the noise got worse. Last weekend my wife and I went on a 400 mile trip and the noise was so bad when we returned I scheduled an appointment with the dealership this week. They apparently opened up the transmission today and found metal shavings and a broken case piece so they determined that mine was not eligible to be rebuilt and are ordering a new transmission which will not be available until the end of march or into april. In the meantime the dealership has advised me to continue driving the vehicle as they do not have any rentals available at this time. I am a certified automotive technician 15 plus years by trade for a different manufacturer, and I do not feel comfortable driving the vehicle with the transmission sounding the way it does. I plan on following up with the manager tomorrow to find out an alternative |
| Category | Visibility:windshield |
| Date | Feb 13, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2023 ford bronco. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph during rainy weather, the windshield wipers failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 09, 2023 |
| State | KS |
| Description | While driving in heavy rain/snow, the windshield wipers will slow down or stop altogether until the wiper speed is changed manually. This occurs at any speed setting - intermittent, slow, fast. Very hazardous having to constantly manually vary the wiper speed to keep them operating. Ford says that this is a feature intended to protect the wiper motor from excessive load. Ford is trying to reinvent the wheel and has created an unsafe condition. |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking, Electrical System |
| Date | Feb 08, 2023 |
| State | FL |
| Description | 2nd day of ownership and rear view camera failed. Called ford and they said it was two months until they have an appointment. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 08, 2023 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The vehicle's wiper kept slowing down to a very very slow pace no matter what setting it was on. It caused the wipers to become so low it was ineffective in the rain and required constant changing of setting to reset, but would slow again in a minute or so. I was driving in the rain at highway speed and rain buildup caused me to exit the highway and drive on slower roads and even then visibility was hard to keep due to the problem keeping rain off the windows. There were no alerts, no warnings, no signs. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 06, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | Ford bronco windshield wipers do not maintain the fastest wiper settings. Troubleshooting: I put my bronco wipers in the two highest settings indicated by an up arrow and a double up arrow. The wipers started at max speed, then dropped down to a slower speed after a few minutes, then back down to an intermediate speed. To resolve the issue, I had to adjust the wiper speed to a lower level, then immediately back to a higher level. But this is just a temporary fix and the wiper will again slow down. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 05, 2023 |
| State | OR |
| Description | - place windshield wiper switch to continuous (second from fastest setting) - continuous wipers make 25 full wipes of windshield then cut back to slower setting - I have tested and repeated this more than 10 times — it happens around 90% of the time the wipers are in continuous mode |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 05, 2023 |
| State | WV |
| Description | Wipers go into intermittent mode, even during heavy rains causing a large visibility issue/concern. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 05, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | My windshield wipers just slow and go into intermittent all on there own when it's still pouring outside. No warning lights come on. Pouring down rain, I turn them on, they work fine for a few minutes then stop to a 3-5 second intermittent speed. I have to keep turning off and on to get them to work. Very scary while driving. Significant reduction in visibility. Needs to be addressed. Happens almost every time I use the wipers. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 05, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The wipers will slow down or stop even during heavy rain and on a constant setting (not an intermittent setting). I have to turn the switch on and off to get them to wipe continuously which is very dangerous during torrential rains. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 31, 2023 |
| State | AL |
| Description | While driving in mild rain the wipers when set on low or high speed will slow down and stop then start up after a short period of time. Visibility was severely limited, want the low and high speed to be manual control, no automation. This is not safe! |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 27, 2023 |
| State | OH |
| Description | When I have the wipers set on normal speed, they will swipe about 25 times then slow to intermittent. I then have to switch to high speed setting and back to normal to get them to stay on at steady normal speed. Repeating this over and over. This is happening during a rain. The wipers are needed and the windshield is not dry. I tried one time to leave on high speed setting for awhile, then switched to normal speed. They worked this time until I restarted the bronco the next morning, then back dropping in speed to the intermittent setting. I have looked this up and there are several people experiencing this condition. I have also taken to dealership, which they have contacted the hotline and are being told that does not have rain sensing wipers. So not sure what to do next. But it is dangerous and if driving in a rain, having to switch the switch on and off is distracting. I am afraid that they may just completely working. I have owned this bronco for about 4 weeks. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 27, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | While the windshield wipers are in the low setting, after about 50 seconds they automatically change to a slow intermittent setting. After they are changed on the switch to either high or intermittent and back to slow, they work for another 50 seconds and do automatically change to a slow intermittent again. This is hazardous having to pay attention to the windshield wiper switch during heavier rain. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 25, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | I was driving home today in the rain and noticed that regardless of the mode I had my wipers on, they slow down and go into a slow intermittent mode all on their own. After about 35 seconds the wipers start to slow down then after 50 seconds they stop causing a serious safety concern. I was constantly having to adjust the speed of the wipers. This can be very dangerous in poor weather and heavy traffic. There is no rain sensor in my car. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 25, 2023 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Wipers will not stay on in “low†mode. They seem to revert back to a very slow/intermittent mode. Very dangerous in heavy rain or snow. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 22, 2023 |
| State | MD |
| Description | My 2023 ford bronco has these "advanced" wipers that automatically stop wiping when they think the windshield is dry or think the wiper motor may be damaged. When driving in heavy rain and you put the wipers on high (or even low), they automatically switch to intermittent after about 1 minute. They actually stop wiping at a high speed and pause between wipes for several seconds. In order to keep the wipers going in heavy, blinding rain you have to keep switching the wipers from low to high to keep them moving. This is a safety hazard since you honestly cannot see though the windshield during heavy rain. I have spoken to many bronco owners and seen thread on online message boards that everyone has the same issue. After reading the manual it appears this is a "feature" of the new ford bronco. This is a major safety issue and ford should be required to fix the wiper motor on these vehicles. The issue happens on all of the model years - 2021 - 2023. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 21, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The windshield wiper controllers are seriously malfunctioning. When switched on, they work for the first minute, then the speed at which they are running changes significantly. On 1/20/23, I had the wipers on the highest setting with a heavy rain, after a few minutes, they suddenly began decreasing the frequency of when they would wipe the windshield until it eventually nearly stopped wiping all together. This is a serious safety hazard as I was unable to see and had to turn off the wipers and turn them back on to reset them. I hope this issue is handled rapidly as I have noticed many others have the same problem. I have not had the vehicle brought into the shop yet, but concerningly, I have not seen anyone confirm that the dealerships or ford have a solution to this point. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 20, 2023 |
| State | IN |
| Description | While it is raining the wipers will go from continuous to delay to almost stopping after 20 seconds of running. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 18, 2023 |
| State | MI |
| Description | While driving in snow or rain in traffic with the wipers on the slower of the constant speed the wipers suddenly slow down to about the slowest setting on interval. When it happened to me on christmas eve in michigan I thought I had it on a wrong setting (it was brand new to me). Then it happened to me while it was raining. My son drove the car recently in a hard rain and came home and questioned me what the heck was wrong with the wipers. He experienced the same thing. It's like a sensor tells the wipers it's not raining or snowing hard any more and it switches it automatically to interval. Very dangerous while driving in traffic in bad weather. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 30, 2022 |
| State | DE |
| Description | The wipers on low mode stop working after about 30 seconds, requiring to turn off/on again or try the higher wiper speed. On a rainy day, when the wipers stopped there was near zero visibility. There were now warning lights when they stopped working. I see many other 2023 ford bronco report similar issues online; however I see no responses or issue acknowledgement from ford. It is very scary when the wipers stop; especially during a moderate or heavy rain event. My bronco was purchased week 3 december 2022 and the problem happened during my first rain event a few days after purchase. |
Share your story
Does this ring a bell? Have you had a bad experience too? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
See more posts from Brian Jones BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT