NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ22-005: Windshield Wiper Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ22-005 on December 2, 2022 and closed it on May 26, 2023. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2021–2023 Hyundai Palisade for it and links recall 23V-180 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ22-005 (also written RQ22005)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Closed May 26, 2023
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Hyundai Motor America
- Components
- Visibility/Wiper; Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer; Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Linkages; Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Motor
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 23V-180: Windshield Wipers May Fail, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2021–2023 Hyundai Palisade
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ22-005.
On August 15, 2022, Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) filed a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-627) of 122,919 model year (MY) 2020-2021 Hyundai Palisade vehicles produced from April 10, 2019 to November 30, 2020. This recall addressed windshield wipers that may function intermittently or stop functioning when impeded by the accumulation of snow and/or ice at the bottom of the windshield. Intermittent or inoperative windshield wipers could reduce driver visibility while operating the vehicle in inclement weather, increasing the risk of a crash.
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 6 consumer complaints alleging windshield wiper failures while driving during wintry precipitation in MY 2021-2023 Hyundai Palisade vehicles (subject vehicles). These vehicles were excluded from Recall 22V-627. At the time of opening the RQ, the root cause and recall remedy were still unknown and under investigation. Thus, the RQ was opened to assess the scope and remedy of Recall 22V-627.
In its February 10, 2023 response to ODI's information request on the RQ, Hyundai provided 17 customer complaints and 75 warranty claims related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Hyundai stated that the wiper systems in the subject vehicles are equipped with a different wiper motor design than the earlier-built Palisade vehicles included in Recall 22V-627. Hyundai also stated it does not believe there is an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the wiper system in subject vehicles.
On March 17, 2023, Hyundai filed a new safety recall (NHTSA Recall 23V-180) of 167,085 MY 2021-2023 Palisade vehicles produced from December 1, 2020 to November 22, 2022 when a design change was implemented. The design change, as well as the recall remedy (for both Recalls 22V-627 and 23V-180), is a redesigned driver-side wiper arm that allows for additional snow accumulation between the wiper arm and the cowl, thus reducing the load on the wiper motor and circuit breaker activation.
In view of the recall action being taken by Hyundai, ODI is closing this RQ. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers:11521365, 11517359, 11512295, 11509965, 11509253, 11508868, 11502146, 11501278, 11497343, 11494119, 11458548, 11450975, 11450045, 11449381, 11443330.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ22-005. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Hyundai
All Hyundai recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Hyundai VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ22-005
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.