2014 Chevrolet Cruze visibility/wiper problems

“I was driving in a heavy rain storm and the drivers side wiper stopped working. Upon inspection there seems to be a recall on certain cruze vehicles for this problem.”

“The heater blend door actuator and or lever gear for the blend door actuator that controls the windshield defrost failed and this raises a major safety concern as it strictly limits your visibility. This is becoming a known issue on the Cruze as i have seen and heard of the problem repeatedly online in the cruze forums. This needs to be seriously addressed to general motors and be taken care of. Plus the cost to fix it is over $1,300.00 as the entire dash needs to come out. Please address this safety concern.”

“THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER WOULD NOT WORK WHEN STARTED TODAY WHILE IT WAS RAINING WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE COVER OFF OF THE ESCUTCHEON ABOVE THE WIPERS TO SEE WHY THE ARM WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY THE MOTOR. THE ARM MOVED FREELY BACK AND FORTH ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE SHORT ARM FROM THE WIPER MOTOR TO THE DRIVE PLATE FOR THE WIPER WAS OFF. THE ARM WOULD NOT SNAP BACK IN PLACE. IT APPEARS THAT THE PLASTIC KNUCKLE HAS FAILED. WHEN SEARCHING FOR WIPER FAILURES IN THE CRUZE MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE FOR THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE. MANY OWNERS WERE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN IT FAILED AND I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT FAILED BEFORE I LEFT FOR WORK AS IT WOULD HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THERE ARE NO RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. SINCE IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE I DETERMINED IT IS BEST TO MAKE THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE WIPER LINKAGE IS 95971326 AND THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE ARM OFF IN #1 AND #3 WHILE #2 SHOWS THE POSITION WHERE IT IS NORMALLY.”

“MY 2014 CHEVY CRUZE LEFT WIPER SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED JUST A FEW HOURS AND THE WIPERS WERE WORKING. *LN*JB”

“I HAVE A 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT. ON MAY 20TH 2020 MY DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. TOOK CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS LATER ON JULY 9TH 2020 THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER GOES OUT AGAIN.”

“THIN, WEAK PLASTIC USED FOR GEARS ON A/C AIR DISTRIBUTOR LEVER. SEE PART #53 IN THE ATTACHED PARTSDIAGRAM.JPG FOR REFERENCE. THIS LEVER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE DASH, AND IS USED TO DIVERT AIRFLOW TO WINDSHIELD/DEFROST. COLD WEATHER CAUSES THIS PLASIC TO BREAK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE WINDSHIELD/DEFROST AIRFLOW. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET WARM OR DEHUMIDIFIED AIR TO THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSES ICE OR FOG TO BUILD UP AND RESULTS IN UNSAFELY DIMINISHED VISIBILITY. ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IDLING TO ALLOW WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST. AIRFLOW WAS ADJUSTED TO BLOW TO THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVER BROKE AS THE GEAR TEETH ENGAGED. SEE ATTACHED BROKENLEVER.JPG FOR REFERENCE. VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE BREAK. THIS PART DIRECTLY AFFECTS VISIBILITY IN COLD OR HUMID WEATHER, AND SHOULD BE MORE ROBUST CONSIDERING MUCH OF ITS FUNCTION IS TO BE USED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. IT IS A VERY COMMON POINT OF FAILURE AND MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE WHEN BROKEN. COST OF LABOR FOR REPLACING IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE DUE TO ITS LOCATION INSIDE THE DASH, BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.”