Wiper blew up in pieces while driving in a snow storm

[jditom]

We were in Tahoe today and there was a moderate snow storm. We left the ski station having removed most of the snow on the car, after 5 minutes driving with the wiper on, it just blew up in pieces that flew off (we were driving at 20MPH) and fell on the road.
We got them back but it was impossible to reassemble it. We finished driving with the heat set to max and thankfully I put some RainX on the windscreen so the snow was melting and falling off easily. I also used what was left of the wiper metal which gave me a very small visibility (see picture)

I feel the wiper (as usual with Tesla) is the weakest part of the car.
Besides that we also had an issue with the passenger window making a strange noise once the window would be up so we had to keep it a little opened.

Otherwise, the truck did awesome in the snow. I set it to off-road snow mode and the regen and traction was really well managed, to the point of really impressive.
I was driving with a fried who had a 4x4 and was struggling to get in the driveway, the Cybertruck went in without even one spin.

I bought a spare blade that I carry with me.

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[Lasttoy]

My headlights were useless in rain
I've read they are bad in snow. Get covered with snow.
I've been to Tahoe a hundred times
My Jeep was best in heavy snow

 

[MyOtherTruck]

July - Dec cybertruck was amazing.

Now I’m 6 weeks into real northeast winter and I’m feeling it’s less than amazing, maybe more mediocre.

I’m not suggesting it’s not wonderful in the 2” snowstorms some see. But the endless snowfall areas like vermont, Canada, Tahoe etc are putting these trucks to the (real) test!

 

[JPS]

I purchased the extra wiper blade the day i picked up the CT. The best $75.00 for these kind of issues.

 

[jditom]

I purchased the extra wiper blade the day i picked up the CT. The best $75.00 for these kind of issues.

cheap insurance

 

[Lowcoe]

I bet the wiper fluid froze inside the blade making it brittle.. Maybe get the highest rated fluid for cold???

 

[Crissa]

The only accumulation of snow was at the bottom where the snow gets pushed down.

You need to remove all the snow from the frunk and the roofline to the tail.

It will sheet off and become a road hazard, injuring vulnerable road users and blinding other drivers.

https://www.mcall.com/2005/12/28/fa...w-off-tractor-trailer-want-to-protect-others/

Also, snow chunks can collide with the blade at high speed or induce refreezing/sticking.

-Crissa

 

[HickoryGoose]

When Tesla shop started carrying the wiper blade in stock, I ordered one to stow under the back seat. In case of on the road failure. You can't just stop at a random O'Reilley's to get a blade for the CT yet. Sorry that happened, worst type of weather to lose a blade.

Ordering now

 

[VAF84]

I bet the wiper fluid froze inside the blade making it brittle.. Maybe get the highest rated fluid for cold???

Interesting, I didn’t know the CT held fluid in the blade.

 

[CyberGus]

When Tesla shop started carrying the wiper blade in stock, I ordered one to stow under the back seat. In case of on the road failure. You can't just stop at a random O'Reilley's to get a blade for the CT yet. Sorry that happened, worst type of weather to lose a blade.

I replaced the wiper blade, and keep the old one as the backup spare.

 

[CyberGus]

Interesting, I didn’t know the CT held fluid in the blade.

The washer nozzles are integrated into the blade, so the blade itself is a channel for the liquid. It’s not really “stored” but there will always be some residual.

I’m guessing the blade fractured at the “max q” stress point due to the plastic becoming brittle at low temperatures.

 

[koolio]

Here it is

Looks like the aluminum arm is what broke and not the actual rubber blade?

 

[GuyV]

I purchased the extra wiper blade the day i picked up the CT. The best $75.00 for these kind of issues.

Hmmm, if we start to see a lot of these, I'm guessing they will design a replacement and it will be a lot more expensive, for everyone.

 

[nico007]

I cleaned the snow entirely on the front but then it kept accumulating as the wipers would push the snow downward.
For the fluid you could well be right, I used 50% windex and 50% water. Probably not so smart.

 

[REM]

I would raise this concern with your service center and request they replace it under warranty. The BAW shouldn't fail like this; I assume yours had some sort of manufacturing defect.

Did you save the dashcam footage by chance?

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