2008 Buick Lucerne: windshield wiper failure

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Suspension, Visibility · 48,000 miles · MO

I was stopped with engine running and air conditioner fan on high. I turned the wipers on to clean windshield. Immediately I was overcome with extreme burning in my eyes I could not open them. I reached for door handle and got out. I was in a panic, having no idea what happened. I asked 2 people for help,the second person came to my car and we searched car for something burning and found nothing. I was afraid to get back into my car.I have never experienced a burning in my eyes as this. I felt helpless because no one witnessed this freak incident. Finally I used wet paper towels and covered all the AC vents and drove home in fear that it was going to happen again. There is no doubt what so ever if I was driving when this happened I would of crashed. I could not see. When tubing broke the fluid landed on a hot engine paet and the water evaporated and the methanol vapors came through the AC vents directly into my face. The buick dealer didn't mention or discuss this plastic tubing be replaced. He just put a piece of rubber to hold the ends of broken plastic tubing. Im very uncomfortable using wipers now because as I mentioned if it were to happen while driving I might as well be blind. I want to know if the tubing is not suppose to ever break and more so, why did it come through the AC vents that was on high.?

Filed Dec 16, 2010 · Visibility · 16,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 buick lucerne cxl. The contact noticed that the windshield washer was inoperable. The dealer was informed and advised the contact to leave the vehicle in his garage. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 16,000. Updated 03/25/11*lj updated 05/03/11*lj the consumer stated the windshield wiper fluid freezes and there is no way to prevent it. Updated 08/05/11 updated 09/19/11

Filed Jun 9, 2010 · Visibility · MN

This complaint is an exact copy of another one because we experience the exact same issue. During freezing rain or snow conditions there is a build-up of ice at the base of the windshield below the point of the defrosters. Heat from the defroster system cannot reach the area of build-up causing the wipers to constantly pass over the ice and become clogged with ice which is then dragged across the windshield causing poor visibility and a potential driving hazard. In just a few miles of driving it was necessary to pull over and scrape the windshield and clear the ice from the wipers in order to have adequate visibility. This is a potential safety condition due to the limiting of visibility and the repeated stops to clear the ice.

Filed Mar 2, 2009 · Visibility · 3,000 miles · WI

During freezing rain or snow conditions there is a build-up of ice at the base of the windshield below the point of the defrosters. Heat from the defroster system cannot reach the area of build-up causing the wipers to constantly pass over the ice and become clogged with ice which is then dragged across the windshield causing poor visibility and a potential driving hazard. In just a few miles of driving it was necessary to pull over and scrape the windshield and clear the ice from the wipers in order to have adequate visibility. This is a potential safety condition due to the limiting of visibility and the repeated stops to clear the ice.

Filed Jan 17, 2009 · Engine, Visibility · 18,600 miles · NY

Defroster vents improperly positioned to keep front windshield clear in near zero conditions. Window wiper blades park in an area below the heated portion of the windshield. Wipers froze to the window, during the delay in the interrupted operation, while driving in a snow storm at 3 deg. Temp. Window actually became totally frozen over and visibility became impossible. On the passenger side, ice accumulated in the wiper pave in the lower right corner, about 3 x 6 x 1/4 thick and the wiper had to navigate up and over this frozen mass.