Diagnosis Brief
what this complaint usually turns out to be
what this complaint usually turns out to be
Windshield Wipers Not Working — What It Usually Is
How real visits for a wiper problem ended at independent shops across the US — the part actually replaced, how often, and what it cost when it was the only fix.
Pump
The single most common outcome — roughly one in five of these visits when combined with the runner-up
Pump $182 – $624
Fuse $56 – $239
typical cost when it was the only fix
(parts + labor)
(parts + labor)
| The fix involved | Share of these visits* | Typical cost† | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump | $182 – $624 | $333 | |
| Fuse | $56 – $239 | $115 | |
| Hose | $103 – $387 | $207 | |
| Switch | $126 – $344 | $216 | |
| Other, rarer causes | smaller shares — wiper switches, linkage, fuses, washer nozzles | varies | — |
*Share of visits whose repair involved this part; combined repairs count toward each part, so shares overlap and don't add to 100%. †Middle half of real invoices when this was the only fix — parts + labor, all vehicle types.
Which one is yours? Listen first
- Streaking or chattering — That's the blades, not the system — the rubber hardens within a year or two.
- Wipers move together wrong or one stops — Wipers colliding, lazy, or parked mid-glass mean the linkage has popped a joint or the arm splines stripped — mechanical, visible, and modest to repair.
- Nothing moves — Dead silence is fuse, switch, or motor in that diagnostic order.
What to expect from the shop
Wipers that don't move at all point at the motor, linkage or switch; washers that don't spray at the pump or a frozen or clogged line. Expect a check of the fuse and switch first — the cheap causes. A wiper motor or linkage is the moderate answer.
About this data · How to use this brief
Vehicles all makes and models, US fleet
Data confidence High — large sample, stable shares
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Data confidence High — large sample, stable shares
Records through July 2026, refreshed continuously
Source paid invoices from independent US repair shops
Take it to the shop. It tells you what the likely answers are and what each one should cost — so when the diagnosis comes back, you already know whether the number fits. Vehicle-specific price reports for the common fixes are on fixdozer.com.