Wipers - Should I Sue?

[stuarth]

I have a Yaris - six months old and 6000kms. Ever since I bought it the wipers judder accross the windscreen. The have bent them, changed the balse on the passnger side and changed one of the arms. They still judder and it is driving me mad. I have not found a dealer with a clue frankly (in France). I think this the motor or a design fault. I have three colleagues with the same problem and I am considering legal action (sounds extreme but I am ****** off).

Is this a known fault with a known cure or a design fault??

I even told Toyota I am a dissappointed owner but not much action there either...

[Blue84]

I had the same thing happen a month or so ago - they really juddered and made a horrible noise, the blades were a bit dirty so I wiped them and the more it rained the better they got until the problem has never reappeared. I'm still not sure if one of the blades is bent slightly, have you changed the blades on yours to see if it solves the problem? I know it's more "expense" but if it sorts it it'll save you any more hassle.

Blue

[alanbradley]

I think legal action is a bit extreme - are you sure your name shouldn't be "sue-art" ;)

Try different Wiper Blades - I've heard the Bosch ones are good or try to contact Toyota France customer services:-

I can confirm that my parent's Yaris in France doesn't suffer from this problem.

A

[ronnyboy696]

is your windscreen dry when it does it.

[Demonic Angel]

Winscreen wipers are cheap to switch and it is a known problem... I think sueing for a pair of windscreen wipers is a bit extreme!

Like Blue says, try cleaning them first and if you have no luck, it will be a few Euros (I'm not sure of the price - sorry!) to get it sorted!

[armoredfist2002]

Suing over the Wiper Blades is going too far, wipe them down with a damp cloth a few times, wash the bottom of your windscreen as I've noticed on my car all the dirt collects there, and you could be pushing it back on the window.

Wash your windscreen, this usually moves a lot of stuck on dirt that you may not see, if that doesn't work buy some PIAA silicone windscreen wipers, they will be better than the Bosch one's

[stuarth]

Legal action is quite minor in comparison with what I would like to do after driving for 30 minutes in this car.....

Why on earth should I pay for wipers on a new car? Why can't Toyota fit proper ones in the first place? I have done all the cleaning but to no avail and the other curious thing is that Toyota can bend them and it is OK for a day then bad again. The wipers also click into position when they park which is why I think the motor or design is bad.

I have four cars (so arguably it doesn't matter if this ône is undriveable...and none of them do this on wet or dry screens. The Yaris does it on both.

I am due to get a large sign for the rear windscreen which says 'MY TOYOTA IS CRAP' - might spark Toyota into action to fix this as part of its THREE year guarantee.....

[AMH]

The rubber hardens and bending the arms (actually twisting the blade angle in relation to the screen) will create a temporary fix.

New Wiper Blades (Bosch get my vote - purely personal opinion) and re-bending the arm so the blade holder is at 90 degrees to screen will fix the problem.

The blade should flick over as it changes direction to sweep the water rather than the blade being pushed across the screen (the judder is basically the hardened or misaligned blade trying to flick-over).

[stuarth]

I have had the old and new arms bent many times and indeed making sure the tip of the arm is parallel to the screen usually fixes the problem on every car EXCEPT THIS ONE.....

[Demonic Angel]

Legal action is quite minor in comparison with what I would like to do after driving for 30 minutes in this car.....

Why on earth should I pay for wipers on a new car? Why can't Toyota fit proper ones in the first place? I have done all the cleaning but to no avail and the other curious thing is that Toyota can bend them and it is OK for a day then bad again. The wipers also click into position when they park which is why I think the motor or design is bad.

I have four cars (so arguably it doesn't matter if this ône is undriveable...and none of them do this on wet or dry screens. The Yaris does it on both.

I am due to get a large sign for the rear windscreen which says 'MY TOYOTA IS CRAP' - might spark Toyota into action to fix this as part of its THREE year guarantee.....

←

Your Toyota is crap because of dodgy windscreen wipers?

Crap cars blow up or have serious design faults like faulty brakes or steering - things that can cause accidents. If they are dangerous then the car is crap and quite rightly you can sue - windscreen wipers are nothing compared to proper faults, of which you dont see much on Toyotas anyway.

Just go to the dealer and politely ask for some new ones - I had my rear one replaced free of charge by a Toyota dealer - and I was the one who actually broke it!

[Viper_7]

Don't go out in the rain.

and you won't have a cat in hell's chance of suing anybody, Wiper Blades need to be changed as part of regular maintenance, after all they are sat in varying elements constently., perhaps it's just the wrong type of rain..

Lots of good sugestions above... like the rubber has hardend make sure the glass is clear and not greasy, bending the arms etc...although this can weaken the arm..and actually cause judder.

Could look at getting wind deflectors fitted..but this increase wiper wear..and if the deflector is too steep and put extra strian on the motor.

What do you mean that the wipers "click" when parked? sure the click your hearing is not just the solanoid /relay clicking off.

I'd just get a good set of replacement blades..nut just the rubber but the holders too.

Vipes

[Blue84]

On my T3 I paid to get new Wiper Blades fitted..it only cost £5 and to be honest I didnt even think of asking them to be replaced under the warranty (my bad I know) - she was roughly 8 months old at the time..they were streaking and it solved the problem.

I understand why you dont want to pay, stand your ground with them and ask for a free replacement set of blades...you could just have a dodgy set.

Blue

[cfc1]

The Toyota Dealer could also have took delivery of a faulty batch of blades... try going to a different dealer.

[knightrider]

i blame crappy cheap hard rubber blades, replace them with decent Bosch ones and bill toyota!

[Ryan1985]

Your Toyota is crap because of dodgy windscreen wipers?

Crap cars blow up or have serious design faults like faulty brakes or steering - things that can cause accidents.

←

I'm thinking if he can't see out his windscreen in the rain cos the wipers miss half the windscreen due to this shudder then I think thats an accident waiting to happen!

[Demonic Angel]

Your Toyota is crap because of dodgy windscreen wipers?

Crap cars blow up or have serious design faults like faulty brakes or steering - things that can cause accidents.

←

I'm thinking if he can't see out his windscreen in the rain cos the wipers miss half the windscreen due to this shudder then I think thats an accident waiting to happen!

←

Agreed but what I meant was, in the scheme of things that can go dangerously wrong with a car - windscreen wipers are probably the least of the worries!

[alanbradley]

Yes... but suing?! Get a life! :ffs:

Change your blades and arms, clean your windscreen...

A

[seveer unaek]

Simple answer... drive to your dealer and tell them that you've been reasonable, that you have given them plenty of chances to fix the blades and if they aren't fixed then you don't want the car back. That is well within your rights as a consumer. Suing them is not... that's just stupid.

It isn't a known fault as apart from Blue84 (who got it fixed quick) none of us have had any problems, and if we have it's because the blades are over 6 months old (the recommend age your blades should be changed) and we change to Bosch or better blades. The toyota warranty doesn't cover perishable parts and 'wear & tear' items like wipers, brakes, tyres etc (unless the wear is excessive)

If they still don't fix them, tell them you're going to fix them and they can pay the bill, if they don't agree to that, then im afraid you've found a horrible dealer and you need to try another as they are within their rights to tell you to fluck off as the blades are over 6 months old. Unfortunatley, that's true of anywhere. Just try another dealer.

[Gnome]

Mine leave a film of greasy water on the screen after so long, but a quick wash and wipe down sorts it.

The ones in my micra were horrendous. They HAD to be changed every 6 months or so, because they just disentegrated - even the Bosch ones!

Changed the arms, and still no joy....

About 2 months later, I crashed. New car - problem solved!

Lol.....

[Demonic Angel]

I misread your original post - as I believed you were kicking up a stink because the car was brand new or something....

6 months old - the wipers are not Toyotas problem, its just down to general wear and tear I'm afraid!

I did get my rear one replaced on my last Yaris after 10 months though - got a brand new arm and blade fixed under warranty, but they could have charged me - they did it out of the kindness of their hearts!

My point is - they dont have to do it, but if you're nice enough to them, they may do - although saying that it doesnt sound you and your centre are the bestest of buds!