2010 Sanat Fe: Windshielf Wipers = FAIL

So I had my 2002 Sonata at the dealership for the recall in the salt
belt states. They gave me a 2010 Santa Fe loaner while mine was being
fixed. Chicago weather this past weekend was snowy and there was a few
inches of accumulation over the weekend. On my drive home this Monday,
I came to a stop and all the snow on the roof came cascading down the
windshield and completely blocked my windshield. My first instinct was
to turn on the wipers so I did. They got about 6 inches up and
stopped. I could hear the motors straining. I jumped out of the car
and had to quickly remove the snow off the windshield so the wipers
could work. I've had an equal amount or more of snow on my Sonata's
windshield and it took it off no problem. I was disappointed by the
Santa's wipers for the reason that I'd always wanted a Santa Fe if it
got at least the same MPG as my Sonata or better. But now, that's too
much of a hazard for me, especially with the way Chicago drivers
drive.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

Sidebar: In many states, it is illegal to drive a car that is snow covered.
Taking a few minutes to remove it makes for safer driving. Safer for you,
safer for those following you.

Now, we have a snow covered car and we don't want to take the time to clear
it. If it accumulated "over the weekend" it may have packed down and became
a very heavy mass that any wiper would have difficulty overcoming. Wipers
are designed to clean water, some sprayed slush, bird crap and the
occasional bug. They are not designed to move a 30 pound block of hard
packed winter detritus.

IMO, it is operator error, not a fault with the automobile. Never should
have happened in the first place as it was easily preventable. .

 

There was no other snow on the car and when this has happened in my
Sonata, the snow gets wiped off easily. I'm guessing it was caused by
the cabin heat melting the bond between the roof and snow pack. I
ALWAYS wipe the snow off my Sonata when it snows. I'm not one of the
wipe a spot big enough for you to see people. Of course, it would have
been great if the dealer put a snow brush in the loaner. Still, the
wipers should have had enough power to move it. To me, they were weak
compared to what I expected.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

Exactly, worse if sun hits it too. . Problem is, it compacts and the snow
can be very hard and very heavy. It may have been so dense that the blades
could not pass through the snow pack to remove it in a second or third wipe,
but rather had a solid mass jamming it. The Santa Fe has a big roof and
can collect a lot of weight.