Broken Wipers: What Causes Them and How to Fix Them Before It's Too Late

When your broken wipers, the mechanical system that clears rain, snow, and debris from your windshield. Also known as windshield wiper failure, it leaves you blind in conditions where visibility is already low—making it one of the most urgent car issues to fix. Most people assume wipers just wear out over time, but that’s only half the story. The real problem often starts with something deeper: a bent wiper arm, a burnt-out motor, or even a cracked linkage that’s been silently failing for months. You might not notice until you turn them on and only one side moves—or worse, they stop mid-swipe in a downpour.

Windshield wipers aren’t just rubber blades. They’re a system made up of wiper blades, the replaceable rubber strips that make contact with the glass, wiper arms, the metal parts that apply pressure and motion, and wiper motors, the electric units that drive the whole mechanism. If the blades are cracked or streaking, replacing them is cheap and easy. But if the arms won’t move evenly, or the motor hums but doesn’t turn, you’re looking at a bigger repair. Many drivers ignore early signs—like chattering, slow movement, or one blade lifting off the glass—until the whole system fails. That’s when you end up stranded or forced to drive dangerously.

What’s worse, broken wipers often go hand-in-hand with other overlooked issues. A worn motor might be pulling too much current because the arms are rusted or misaligned. A cracked rubber blade could be the result of a bent arm pressing unevenly. And if you’ve been using cheap blades that don’t fit your car’s curve, you’re not just reducing visibility—you’re accelerating wear on the entire system. The good news? You don’t need a mechanic for every fix. Many problems can be diagnosed with a quick visual check: look for rust on the arms, test the motor by listening for noise without movement, and inspect the blades for splits or hardened rubber.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides from UK drivers and mechanics who’ve dealt with exactly this. From how to tell if you need new blades versus a new motor, to what brands actually last through British winters, to the one simple trick that stops wiper arms from bending in the first place. These aren’t theory pieces—they’re fixes that worked on actual cars, on actual roads, in actual rain. No fluff. No guesses. Just what you need to know before your next storm hits.