Ford Bronco visibility and wiper problems, 2021–2026
194 of the 968 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Bronco 2021–2026 name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). The loudest years: 2023 (96), 2022 (75), 2021 (17). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ford Bronco visibility and wiper problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the wipers, glass and mirrors | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 12% | — | 3 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2024 | 5 | 7% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 in depth | 96 | 42% | — | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2022 in depth | 75 | 20% | — | 30 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2021 | 17 | 7% | — | 35 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the wipers, glass and mirrors. Nothing here is a rate.
When the visibility and wiper complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2022: 17 · 2023: 143 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 10
Across the model years, half of the 19 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 1,000 and 11,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the wipers, glass and mirrors, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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!
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.
In heavy downpours wipers will "automatically" slow down to an unsafe speed. if you have the wipers on the fastest setting in heavy downpour, out of no where the wipers will automatically slow down to barely moving. This creates an a situation where your visibility is almost taken to zero instantaneously.
With the wipers in the continuous on, high speed setting, the wipers will operate as expected for approximately 30 to 40 seconds. After that time, there will be a delay between wipes that becomes progressively longer until the wipers are only occasionally wiping the windshield.
The wipers shut off on their own during heavy rains. Need to be turned on and off to get to activate. I took it to dealer and they said Ford said it is normal
What is on file about the wipers, glass and mirrors, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V683000 HighOct 10, 2025 · 9 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
- 24V142000 HighFeb 23, 2024 · 7,875 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Bronco and Bronco Heritage vehicles. The rear quarter glass panels may have been improperly installed to the vehicle hard top, which can allow them to detach.
- 22V451000 HighJun 24, 2022 · 63,294 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, which could allow it to detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Other systems with a record on the Ford Bronco
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Ford Bronco problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford Bronco years have the most visibility and wiper complaints?
2023, 96; 2022, 75; 2021, 17. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2023 (42%).
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the Ford Bronco?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V683000 (2025), 24V142000 (2024), 22V451000 (2022). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do visibility and wiper problems show up on the Ford Bronco?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 3,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 1,000 and 11,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Visibility/Wiper" heading cover?
Windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.