Despite software improvements earlier in 2025, it appears that the saga of the Cybertruck’s massive windshield wiper - affectionately known as the Gigawiper - is far from over.
According to a new Tesla Service message shared by an owner, Tesla has officially opened an active Engineering Investigation into the wiper’s performance, going so far as to replace entire wiper arm assemblies while waiting for a more permanent solution.
Tesla already replaced the original V1 arm assembly on many early Cybertrucks with a V2, but according to certain service staff, a V3 arm assembly is already in early testing stages.
Gigawiper’s Giga Challenges
The Cybertruck features the largest single wiper on a passenger vehicle, a massive 4-foot-long blade designed to clean the massive, flat expanse of the truck’s windshield. However, the component has been a frequent source of frustration for many owners.
Early units faced a recall in June 2024 due to faulty wiper motors, but complaints have persisted regarding the wiper’s actual cleaning ability, especially in colder weather. Owners have reported several issues with the blade, including improper stowage at high speeds, poor contact at the top and middle of the stroke, and fluid issues.
The improper stowage issue occurs at high speeds when the wiper doesn’t stow away at the correct angle and instead sits slightly over the visible edge of the windshield, slightly obscuring vision.
Poor contact issues are the most common, with the blade not cleaning over the forward-facing FSD cameras and the passenger’s half of the windshield not effectively cleaned, often leaving FSD unavailable in salty road conditions.
Finally, many are noting that, with wiper changes, kinks in the hose assembly or improperly tightened fittings are causing the washer fluid to dribble or leak rather than properly spraying, which contributes to the cleaning issues.
Software vs. Hardware
Tesla attempted to address some of these behaviors via OTA updates, all the way back on update 2025.2.8. This included changes to the wiper’s logic that made the movement crisp and improved how it stowed away. However, the new service document suggests that software alone cannot fix the problem.
The service note confirms that Tesla is conducting an investigation and will reach out to customers when a solution is available. While not always a direct indication, Engineering Investigations often lead to manufacturer-initiated recalls.
We expect that Tesla suspects a mechanical deficiency in the wiper arm assembly itself, possibly related to the spring tension, hose mount, or structural rigidity, rather than just a calibration issue.
What This Means for Owners
For now, owners experiencing wiper issues should log a service ticket. Replacing a wiper blade with a fresh one seems to resolve at least some of the ongoing issues, but not all. While a permanent fix is still under investigation, Tesla appears to be working behind the scenes on revised parts in the interim.
