GM Windshield Wiper Motor Problems

Windshield wipers are vital for maintaining a driver's visibility in bad weather.

General Motors issued three recalls for vehicles with faulty windshield wiper systems. The problems stem from the wiper motor circuit boards and washer fluid heater module. No crashes or injuries from the faulty wipers were reported.

2003 Recall

In May 2003, GM announced a recall of 1.77 million Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks, vans and SUVs from the 1994-1996 model years. The circuit boards had faulty solder joints at the wiring harness connection, and the motor covers were not sealed properly. Water can enter the wiper module and cause corrosion. The wipers can intermittently stop working while driving in bad weather.

Hot Shot Recall

In 2008, General Motors recalled 858,000 model year 2006-2008 cars, trucks and SUVs equipped with the heated windshield washer system. A short in the fluid heater circuit board, called a "Hot Shot" can cause smoke, fire and disruption of other electrical components. The remedy was a dealer-installed wiring harness that contains a fuse.

Washer Fluid Module

In June 2010, GM recalled 1.5 million vehicles because of a problem with the washer fluid heater module, which can cause a fire in those vehicles. Removal of the washer fluid module was the remedy for the problem. Owners were compensated $100 for loss of the feature.

References

• Consumer Affairs.com: GM Recalls Trucks Vans & SUVs
• USA Today: GM Windshield wiper Recall Affects 1.5 Million Vehicles
• High Beam Research: GM Recalls 960,000 Vehicles

Resources

• USA Today:Fire Risk: GM Recalls 1.5 Million Cars with heated Wiper Fluid