Ford F-150 visibility and wiper problems, 2016–2026
575 of the 10,822 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford F-150 2016–2026 name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). The loudest years: 2016 (151), 2021 (149), 2018 (91). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin, 7 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 F-150 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 | 0 | — | — | 9 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | 17 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | 18 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 33 | 7% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2022 | 47 | 6% | — | 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 149 | 12% | 39k | 6 recalls | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 63 | 9% | 21k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2019 | 41 | 3% | — | — | the year → |
| 2018 | 91 | 4% | 36k | — | the year → |
| 2017 | 0 | — | 52k | — | the year → |
| 2016 | 151 | 7% | 48k | — | 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: 2016: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 32 · 2019: 30 · 2020: 28 · 2021: 39 · 2022: 89 · 2023: 159 · 2024: 98 · 2025: 59 · 2026: 31
Across the model years, half of the 249 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 18,000 and 60,000 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.
When the outside air temperature drops below freezing, the windshield washer fluid will not spray. This has happened almost every time is gets cold. I have checked to make sure the nozzles are clear and that there is plenty of washer fluid.
Windshield washer non-operative at 5-15 f temperature while using winter washer fluid. No change after driving 30 miles
Driving in clear weather, open road, on I-95, no overpasses, smooth road, no road debris, no trucks anywhere in sight, no weird traffic conditions - front panel of my panoramic sunroof, which was closed at the time, just EXPLODED. It sounded like a shotgun went off above my head.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the windshield wipers were not functioning. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the windshield wiper motor. The vehicle was not repaired.
Brand new truck with 750 miles was stationary at a light with cars stationary all around when out of nowhere a huge boom/explosion happened. I look in the rearview mirror and see that the entire rear window(save the middle slider window that's one a separate track) has shattered, but mostly intact, into a million pieces.
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
- 25V729000 HighOct 24, 2025 · 174,853 vehicles
- 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 the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
- 24V486000 HighJun 28, 2024 · 4,361 vehicles
- 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 the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
- 23V163000 HighMar 10, 2023 · 222,454 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
- 22V842000 HighNov 15, 2022 · 483,082 vehicles
- 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.
- 22V250000 HighApr 14, 2022 · 652,996 vehicles
- 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 windshield wipers to fail.
- 22V142000 HighMar 11, 2022 · 157,306 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
- 21V090000 HighFeb 18, 2021 · 79,017 vehicles
- 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, 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."
1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 14, 2026
- Some 2021-2026 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a concern of the windshield wipers not parking in the correct position on the windshield and/or over-traveling. This may be due to incorrect alignment of the wiper pivot arm on the wiper linkage assembly. Wiper pivot arms may or may not be equipped with an alignment key. Alignment keys are a manufacturing aid and are not needed for proper alignment and ope
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems
- electrical problems
- exterior lighting problems
- fuel system problems
- engine problems
- brake problems
- backup camera and parking sensor problems
- body and structure problems
Every system, every model year: Ford F-150 problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford F-150 years have the most visibility and wiper complaints?
2016, 151; 2021, 149; 2018, 91. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2021 (12%).
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the Ford F-150?
Yes — 7 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V729000 (2023), 24V486000 (2024), 23V163000 (2021), 22V842000 (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 F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 41,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 18,000 and 60,000. 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.