Honda CR-V Wipers Draw Over 100 Complaints

Owners report that wet-arm wiper sprayers and reduced driver-side wiper range leave windshields poorly cleared.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Car Maintenance

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single black wiper arm and spray nozzle sweeping rain across a navy windshield, with the upper glass visibly under-cleared. — Honda has faced more than 100 complaints to federal safety regulators from CR-V owners whose windshield wipers, equipped with arm-mounted sprayers, leave the upper glass poorly cleared. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you trust a car maker's design choices after repeated owner complaints about wipers?

More than 100 Honda CR-V owners have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about windshield wipers failing to keep the glass clear. Affected models include the 2023 through 2026 CR-V, which mount spray nozzles on the wiper arms.

Why it matters

Reduced wiper coverage can impair driver visibility, particularly at highway speeds, and affected owners say dealers have been inconsistent in how they respond. Whether the problem is a defect in design or software remains an open question for owners across the country.

More than 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA describe wet-arm sprayers that activate only halfway up the windshield on 2023 through 2026 CR-V models. The cause of the reduced driver-side wiper range has not been confirmed.

The players

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The federal agency responsible for vehicle safety oversight, which receives owner complaints and can initiate recalls.

American Honda Motor Co.

The U.S. subsidiary of Japanese automaker Honda, which manufactures and sells the CR-V in the United States.

The details

Honda placed the spray nozzles on the wiper arms rather than on the hood, which owners say leaves the upper windshield under-cleaned. Some dealers have described the reduced range as normal or a feature, while some repair shops have referred owners back to dealerships.

2023: First model year affected by the wet-arm wiper design.
2026: Most recent model year affected by the wet-arm wiper design.

Roadmap

Complaint volume filed with NHTSA is the first step in the agency's defect review process, which can lead to a formal investigation and recall. Owner complaints about wiper hardware and software place the CR-V issue within a broader pattern of driver-assist and visibility-related scrutiny across automakers.

Owners experiencing reduced wiper coverage can document the issue and report it to NHTSA, which can support a future investigation. Drivers should check wiper function before highway trips and avoid relying on the upper windshield for visibility until the issue is resolved.

The takeaway

Drivers who notice reduced wiper coverage should report it to NHTSA and keep their vehicle's wipers and washer system in good working order. Documenting symptoms with dates and photos can strengthen a complaint if a recall is pursued later.