Wipers Stopped Working (snow build up)

[RTBoston]

You need to clear snow from ANY windshield, period. The exact same thing would happen to any car. And you also need to heat the windshield first, before operating the wipers, to prevent the wipers' frozen rubber strip from ripping off. And even throw some warm (not hot) water to the windshield, to make sure water doesn't freeze on the windshield anymore. When parked outside, you just can't take off like if the car was in a garage. You need to take the time to make it road worthy.

This is not the case with the Palisade - coming from someone that owns one and loves it.
In a bad snowstorm, even if ENTIRELY cleared, the snow builds up while driving and will shut off the wipers. It's happened to me twice.

 

[elp_jc]

Even with the HVAC in front defrost mode? And with set temperature warm enough inside? If yes, then it shouldn't happen. By the way, my comment was when first driving the vehicle after a snow. But if you first clear everything, it definitely shouldn't happen while driving... although if it's cold enough, I'm sure it could. So please state temperature outside when that happens, to have it as a reference. I don't know if the Pali has a heated wiper base, like my Tesla, and other vehicles. But that'd only help if you can't clear the windshield first, and let the HVAC run in defrost at full blast for a while before driving off.

 

[Popeye]

I'm glad that I have had no issue with the snow stopping my wipers from working. Being north of Chicago and right on the lake, I thought for sure I would have an issue based on what everyone has said. But, no, no issues last year at all. Hopefully with this being my last winter in a snowy area, I'll get away without issues again this year.

 

[RTBoston]

Even with the HVAC in front defrost mode? And with set temperature warm enough inside? If yes, then it shouldn't happen. By the way, my comment was when first driving the vehicle after a snow. But if you first clear everything, it definitely shouldn't happen while driving... although if it's cold enough, I'm sure it could. So please state temperature outside when that happens, to have it as a reference. I don't know if the Pali has a heated wiper base, like my Tesla, and other vehicles. But that'd only help if you can't clear the windshield first, and let the HVAC run in defrost at full blast for a while before driving off.

I'll share more info if/when it happens again this year. My sense is there is a varying degree of wiper protection sensitivity between vehicles.
Mine shut off on a 30 degree slush day where material was kicked up from a passing truck. It was also shut off from a blizzard due to snow accumulation simply while driving on a nearby highway for less than 15 minutes. I'm not suggesting my experience is the norm... just sharing, and frankly wishing it was something I could replicate for a fix. Obviously this doesn't happen at the dealership.

 

[Craig44485]

We are considering buying a 2021 Palisade and this wiper issue is our biggest concern. Did anyone hear back from Hyundai? For those who experienced the issue, would you still consider buying a Palisade if you had a choice? Thanks for your inputs.

I have had it happen to me a few times, 2021 Calligraphy, the issue is mainly when it's a very heavy wet type of snow, for some reason it seems the wiper motor is not strong enough. You have to stop and and remove the excess snow/ice by hand. not just at startup as I have had it happen after driving for sometime. Whenever it does sit outside I always use the remote start and have the defroster set to high, and then clean the windshield area with my snow brush/scrapers. All my other vehicles I never had an issue like this. I would not let it deter me from buying one though, other than that it's been a great vehicle so far.

 

[elp_jc]

Yeah, sounds like a weak motor, OR too eager current overload protection, since it's not blowing a fuse. But I have to say I've never seen a powerful wiper motor, so probably pretty close to the norm. Who knows.

 

[magicia3]

I've seen mention of this one another board and it has happened to me twice now. Thought I would see if anyone else dealt with this.
It snowed in Boston last night. Not a ton, but enough that I needed the wipers to clear the snow off the windshield this morning. That wiper movement pushed some snow into the space where the wipers sit and it appears that any impact to the wipers getting back to their original location shuts them down (maybe as a protection).
The issue is that they don't reset in any short amount of time.
For example, they stopped working 2 minutes from home and didn't reset before I got to work (25 minutes later).
No matter what I did for control, it never came back.

Guessing I'll have to call the dealership, but curious if anyone else dealt with this.

Thanks all-

Try cleaning your windshield with a snow removal brush first. The wipers, on any car, are not really designed to remove sitting snow.

 

[firstpalisade]

So this happened to me today and I recorded it. Hopefully it finds it way to Hyundai and they finally acknowledge the problem and fix it. In the video you can see me switch between the different modes and nothing happens.

Apparently when snow/ice blocks the wiper sensors on my brand new 2021 Hyundai Palisade, the wipers stop working. I tried changing them from auto to low/hi and nothing works. Had to pull over and manually clear out the snow before they started working again. As you can see snow builds up on the windshield making it very difficult to see out of while driving.

 

[elp_jc]

So it's not the motor, but the stupid sensor? That'd make more sense, since the wipers should absolutely be able to physically work based on that short video. But they should work in low or high, since auto is only on the 'intermittent' position, as far as I know. Question for you: Do the wipers start working if you only clear the sensor area, or you need to clear the entire windshield? Trying to understand if it's a wiper/mechanical, or sensor/electronic issue. It's dangerous to drive without wipers in those conditions. Good luck, brother.

 

[Mickey]

So it's not the motor, but the stupid sensor? That'd make more sense, since the wipers should absolutely be able to physically work based on that short video. But they should work in low or high, since auto is only on the 'intermittent' position, as far as I know. Question for you: Do the wipers start working if you only clear the sensor area, or you need to clear the entire windshield? Trying to understand if it's a wiper/mechanical, or sensor/electronic issue. It's dangerous to drive without wipers in those conditions. Good luck, brother.

Where is this sensor located? Is it on a 2020 SEL ?

 

[elp_jc]

It's part of the mirror assembly, so the black area outside, by the mirror. Not sure which is exactly the rain sensor, but it's somewhere there. If you clear the entire black looking area, it'd be done. That'd eliminate the sensor as a possibility, especially if the wipers work fine at other times.

 

[Mickey]

It's part of the mirror assembly, so the black area outside, by the mirror. Not sure which is exactly the rain sensor, but it's somewhere there. If you clear the entire black looking area, it'd be done. That'd eliminate the sensor as a possibility, especially if the wipers work fine at other times.

OK you are referring to the rain sensing auto wipers on some models, but I believe some owners have experienced the same problem and don't have the auto wipers. Snow build up at the bottom of the windshield that prevents the wipers from completing the down cycle probably being the cause.

 

[firstpalisade]

I don't think its the wiper motor. There are two sensors, one for the wiper motor to prevent it from burning out if the wipers gets obstructed (snow/ice) and one sensor that detects rain for the "auto wiper" feature. I noticed after I recorded the video that the wiper would sometimes "glitch" and move like a centimeter and stop. After I pulled over and removed the snow and ice blocking the wiper blade I noticed it wasn't much or something my old car wiper couldn't push through. I also noticed that the window defrost did melt the snow and the wipers worked for a hot second before stopping again.

I think they need to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors to provide more tolerance for the wipers blades. I don't think they fully tested this in colder climates with snow and ice.

This will effect people who don't have a garage or roof over their car during the winter. If you have to brush the snow off everyday, you will have to make sure to really clean by the wiper blade resting area very good, otherwise you will have problems.

I am sure we can come up with a hack to get around this, but would rather just have Hyundai fix the issue.

Lastly, another issue I am experiencing is when it was snowing really bad out and I tried to switch into "Snow" mode, I received an error "Snow Mode Not Available"

 

[G-845679]

Just had this happen to mine 3 times in a 6 mile drive. Wet snow and snowy rain. Every time it built up under the blades it stop working. Getting ride of the suv. Live in maine

 

[G-754809]

Hello! I Canada here with a ultimate , happens all the time! I had to pull over on the highway because they stopped working ! So fed up with his car to be honest. Our bluelink system sucks too keeps going black .

 

[firstpalisade]

Sadly, nothing will happen until someone is killed in an accident and its all over the news before the company will fix the problem.

Obviously Hyundai has knowledge of the defect but decided that the cost of recalling and fixing the wipers would be greater than the amount of money the company was likely to pay in lawsuits over the accidents.

 

[3sons66]

I just traded my 2020 Pali Limited for a 2022 Calligraphy. HOLY CRAP…the trade in allowance was unreal!! $43,280 with 32k miles. Wife finally got her White on beige combo…GORGEOUS! Anyways, Hope that Hyundai has fixed the wiper problem since we are now starting to get snow up here in Upstate NY. Will keep you posted.

 

[win]

Sadly, nothing will happen until someone is killed in an accident and its all over the news before the company will fix the problem.

Obviously Hyundai has knowledge of the defect but decided that the cost of recalling and fixing the wipers would be greater than the amount of money the company was likely to pay in lawsuits over the accidents.

Just had this happen to mine 3 times in a 6 mile drive. Wet snow and snowy rain. Every time it built up under the blades it stop working. Getting ride of the suv. Live in maine

I agreed with you. Living in Maine, you need a good wiper. We just got a 2021 in January. It is very very dangerous. We are thinking about it.

 

[3sons66]

Unfortunately our 2022 Calligraphy did it for the first time since we purchased in October. First heavy coating of wet snow (approx 2 inches). She turned on the wipers and whola!…wipers quit and took 2-3 min to reset. She said it was exactly like our 2020 Limited we had. Was hoping Hyundai had fixed the problem 2 model years later, but nope! Here goes another winter of taking our lives in our own hands when traveling on interstates at speed with slushy wet snow. This is ridiculous Hyundai!

 

[Sbotes]

Is everyone having these issues with the 2020? I wonder if they fixed the problem for the 21 live in New England and have already had a few significant storms since owning my 21 SE and even had ice chunks below the wipers and still had no issues with them despite obviously hitting the ice each time they went down.

I have a 2021 Palisade and it happened today. There was a tiny bit of snow on the windshield but a bunch in the well.