Our Dangerous "Advanced" Bronco Wipers

[BobRandall]

My Badlands Bronco has these "Advanced" wipers that automatically stop wiping when they think the windshield is dry or think the prescious wiper motor may be damaged. I was driving this weekend in heavy rain, and when I put the wipers in High they automatically switched to Intermittent after like 1 minute. The rain was blinding so I had to keep switching from Low to High to keep them moving. After reading the Manual and a couple other threads in this, it appears this is a FEATURE. WTF - this is dangerous! Anyone else experiencing this? Another member suggested submitting this to NTSB and I agree. What do you guys think? For the quote from the manual, see the attachment.

BTW I love my Bronco and I am not one of the complainers. This thing is fantastic but the wipers are going to cause an accident. @Ford Motor Company

Sponsored

 

[MichiganMichael]

I thought I was going crazy driving home in a rain storm. It kept doing the same thing... Almost as bad as my F150 that will randomly wipe a clean, dry, windshield when on auto.

 

[toymaster]

Looks like the Bronco is not designed to handle a lot of rain. Hmmmm.

Seriously though, it looks like Ford set the parameters to tight on the overcurrent. Hope there is an adjustment they can do in the software.

 

[C00TER]

I barely ever use wipers, I guess rain drops don’t bother me.
I guess I’ll find out when I receive my bronco in a couple of days…

 

[Deleted member 3063]

good argument for rainx

 

[vrtical]

I have seen many reporting having issues with snow as its heavier.

 

[Lil Red Broncette]

Is this part of just some configurations, or a standard function of the wipers on all the new Broncos? I recall an instance where it seemed my intermittent rate suddenly slowed down and I had to go to continuous. Neither of my broncos has more than the base interior packages.

I agree this behavior is likely to create a hazard. If a standard item it suggests that they intentionally put wiper motors and linkages that couldn't handle more harsh operating conditions with software nannies to restrict the stresses to prevent failure.

A way of saving weight and cost then justify it with statements like the user isn't supposed to run them when windshield is wet or without cleaning ice off so this is just a protection. It ignores all the real world cases where one might be forced to do something out of the ordinary. I been in plenty of snow storms that have caused ice to start building up despite defroster heat and fan all the way up. Last thing I need is windshield wiper to slow down.
.

 

[BroncoDude]

Do all trim levels have this feature? I have not noticed any odd behaviors on my base model, however, I was not aware of this so wasn’t looking for abnormal behavior.

 

[jamtra]

I have not had any issues with the wipers. Been in heavy rain and heavy snow/ice. They worked very well for me.

 

[BobRandall]

Do all trim levels have this feature? I have not noticed any odd behaviors on my base model, however, I was not aware of this so wasn’t looking for abnormal behavior.

Honestly I don't know what models have this "feature" but if the Base model doesn't have it, I want those wipers.

 

[Lil Red Broncette]

I have often been frustrated by the interlocking of the wipers to the windshield fluid spray because inevitably the wipers would do one dry wipe smearing bugs across the dry windshield which the fluid/wipers then can't remove. I complemented the Bronco's designers for having it spray the windshield first before activating wipers so the glass is wet and bugs don't get smeared nearly as much, but now I know why, it is to save the wiper motor.

Personally I wish there weren't an interlock between spray and wiper activation. I don't know if that was a regulatory requirement or viewed as a "feature". I assumed regulatory because I've only had one vehicle that let me spray and wouldn't automatically activate the wipers. That was a 68 VW Beetle. I loved the separate activation as it would let me get the right amount of spray before wipers had chance to smear things like bugs.

 

[BobRandall]

I have not had any issues with the wipers. Been in heavy rain and heavy snow/ice. They worked very well for me.

What model do you have?

 

[jamtra]

What model do you have?

2022 wildtrak

 

[wrbix]

good argument for rainx

RainX works poorly on upright windshields.

 

[Alcotune]

Honestly I don't know what models have this "feature" but if the Base model doesn't have it, I want those wipers.

I have a base and it does the same thing. I didn’t notice it first because I thought I was switching it back to intermittent until I switched it forward and went on high. I was assuming it was a warranty issue until I read about others. This is a terrible feature and I do think it is a hazard that Ford need to reprogram.

Sponsored