Tesla automatic windshield wipers: Why are they so bad and when will they get better?

An automatic windshield wiper system is nothing special these days and can be expected in high-tech cars like a Tesla – or so one would think. Because while the Tesla automatic windshield wipers in the Although it is theoretically available in American electric cars, it hasn't really worked well for years.

What is the reason, and why do Tesla's engineers seem to have such great difficulty with such a simple problem as the Tesla windshield wiper autopilot? And above all: Is there any prospect of improvement?

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Tesla automatic windshield wipers: What's the problem?

The Tesla Autopilot windshield wipers have a noticeable problem detecting raindrops on the windshield. In other words: it stops raining, but the Tesla windshield wipers don't turn off and continue wiping a dry windshield.

Conversely, if light rain begins, the automatic detection fails and the wipers remain switched off. The system only functions reasonably reliably in heavier rain.

Tesla Windscreen Wiper Autopilot: What is the cause?

Automatic wiper systems have been reliably performing their function for many years in vehicles from numerous other manufacturers. So why the Tesla wiper problem? Well, the devil is in Tesla's sensor philosophy. “Vision Only”.

Tesla Vision Only: What is it all about?

For some time now, Tesla has been pursuing the approach of controlling all functions, from Autopilot to automatic windshield wipers, exclusively through camera images.

Other sensors, such as the ultrasonic parking sensors installed until 2022 or a rain sensor, are no longer used. This has advantages, but also presents many challenges.

Why is Vision Only a problem?

Detecting water droplets or dirt in a camera image and subsequently activating the windshield wipers shouldn't be a problem for Tesla. The crux of the matter: the system doesn't have such an image. Because the three main cameras are positioned at the top of the windshield, only a very small area of ​​the glass is captured.

Furthermore, the cameras are primarily intended for the autopilot and therefore focus on distant objects. This means that not only is a fraction of the windshield captured, but the resulting image is also blurry. Reliably detecting water in such a picture is virtually impossible.

Tesla Windscreen Wiper Update: When will it improve?

There are several ideas for tackling this challenge: Tesla, for example, is trying to detect falling rain, rather than just raindrops on the windshield, using side cameras. Observing whether other cars have activated their windshield wipers could also provide a helpful clue.

The simple solution would of course be to install a rain sensor, like those used by other manufacturers. However, the appeal of Vision Only is probably too great for Tesla: if it actually succeeds in covering all functions using only cameras, this saves complexity in the system and thus production costs.

Tesla windshield wipers: Poor wiping performance

Unfortunately, even then the problem isn't solved, because the windshield wipers themselves don't work satisfactorily. Consistently clear visibility and quiet wiping? Not a chance! It's high time to switch to the long-lasting ones. Teslab's Premium Windscreen Wipers to switch to the Model Y and 3, which can offer exactly that.

Of course, this won't improve your Tesla Model Y's automatic windshield wipers, but at least the rest of the system will function reliably, thus increasing your comfort. This principle also applies to other problems with electric cars: Read more about how to fix further issues. Tesla defects.

New hardware generation or update?

It is also conceivable that in the future a new generation of hardware with additional cameras positioned differently will be introduced – or that fully autonomous driving will be achieved, making the unobstructed view from the windshield obsolete.

On the other hand, we shouldn't write off Tesla's software teams just yet. After all, they've already solved more than one seemingly impossible challenge. Perhaps a Tesla wiper update will be quietly installed overnight, and the problem will simply vanish. We're eager to see!

What has your experience been with the automatic windshield wipers? Let us know in the comments!