NHTSA Complaint #11019791 — 2017 HONDA CR-V

WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN AUTO MODE OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. EVEN WITH SELECTOR KNOB AT THE MOST SENSITIVE POSITION, THE WIPERS OFTEN FAIL TO OPERATE EVEN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH WATER, WITH NO OPERATION FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR MORE. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A LIGHT RAIN, WIPERS FAIL TO RELIABLY OPERATE TO MAINTAIN CLEAR VISIBILITY EVEN WITH THE SELECTOR SET AT MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY. A COMMON SCENARIO IS DRIVING IN A STEADY RAIN WITH SOMEWHAT NORMAL (THOUGH ERRATIC) OPERATION AND THEN STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING THE WINDSHIELD CAN BECOME TOTALLY COVERED WITH RAIN AND THE WIPERS DO NOT COME ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, SERIOUSLY IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. AFTER THE DRIVER REALIZES THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER SEE CLEARLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, MANUAL INTERVENTION IS NEEDED TO MOVE THE WIPER SELECTOR TO A CONTINUOUS OPERATING MODE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT THE DEALER FOR PROPER WIPER OPERATION. UPON ARRIVAL THE SERVICE WRITER USED A HOSE TO SPRAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE WIPERS IN THE AUTO MODE AND THE VEHICLE IDLING, AND MADE SURE WATER WAS COVERING THE RAINDROP SENSOR AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE SERVICE WRITER CONFIRMED A LONG REACTION TIME BEFORE THE WIPERS ENGAGED. TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE WIPER OPERATION IN THE SHOP AND CLAIM THAT IT WORKS AS INTENDED. APPARENTLY THE WIPERS ARE EITHER FAILING TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN INTENT, OR THERE IS NO MALFUNCTION AND THE DESIGN IS FLAWED. IN EITHER CASE, RELYING ON THE AUTO MODE PRESENTS AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.