Symptoms
- Wipers make a juddering or chattering sound during use
- Blade appears to skip or bounce rather than glide smoothly
- May be worse when the windshield is nearly dry
- Sound and skipping often worse at one end of the wiper's travel
Likely causes
- CommonHardened or worn wiper blade rubberOld rubber loses flexibility and can't maintain consistent contact with the curved glass.
- CommonIncorrect wiper blade angle (tilted edge)The rubber edge should contact the glass at a slight angle; a worn or improperly seated blade can flatten wrong.
- PossibleWindshield coating or wax buildupSome rain-repellent or wax coatings can cause new or good blades to chatter until they wear in or the coating is removed.
- PossibleBent or loose wiper armReduced or uneven spring tension can prevent consistent blade pressure across the glass.
What to do
- Try cleaning the windshield thoroughly to remove any wax, coating residue, or grime that could be causing the chatter.
- Inspect the wiper blades for hardened, cracked, or unevenly worn rubber.
- Replace the wiper blades if they're old or don't glide smoothly by hand across a wet section of glass.
- Check that the wiper arm has good spring tension by pressing down on it lightly and feeling for resistance.
- Try a different brand of wiper blade if chattering continues, since fit and rubber compound vary.
- Have a shop check the wiper arm and linkage if chattering persists with new blades on a clean windshield.
Tools and parts
- Glass cleaner
Wiper bladesSearch: “wiper blades for [year make model]”
When to call a pro
See a shop if new blades on a clean windshield still chatter, since that points to the wiper arm rather than the blade itself.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.