NHTSA Complaint #10568943 — 2013 FORD FOCUS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROZE IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WIPER BUT YESTERDAY (3/12/14) NEITHER WIPER WOULD WORK AFTER A 20 MILE HIGHWAY DRIVE DURING A MODERATE SNOWFALL. THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1.) THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP AND THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTED WITH THE NORMAL AUTOMOTIVE HVAC SYSTEM. 2.) THE WIPERS ARE USED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING AND KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. 3.) AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35MPH, LIGHT/MODERATE SNOW DOES NOT STICK TO THE WINDSHIELD SHIELD AND VISIBILITY IS BETTER WITHOUT THE WIPERS RUNNING. AT SOME POINT DURING TRAVEL WITH THE WIPERS OFF, THE MOISTURE FROM PREVIOUS WIPER USE CAUSES THE WIPERS TO FREEZE IN PLACE. 4.) THE WIPERS ARE NEEDED WHEN SPEED IS REDUCED OR ROADSPRAY IS ENCOUNTERED AND THEY DO NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE FROZE BELOW WHERE THE DEFROSTER HEATS THE WINDSHIELD. AT THIS POINT I MUST STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO FREE THE WIPERS. I'VE THUS FAR BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE ENCOUNTER SERIOUS ROADSPRAY WHILE MY WIPERS HAVE BEEN FROZEN IN PLACE, BUT FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I'M REQUIRE TO STOP IN A DANGEROUS/IMPRACTICABLE LOCATION TO FREE THE WIPERS. *TR