FMCSR 393.62: Windshield Wipers Inoperative — Q&A

Yes, very likely. Across our inspection records, 393.62 citations resulted in an out-of-service placement 98.6% of the time (281 out of 285 all-time citations). This is far above the national average OOS rate of 31.4% across all FMCSR codes. If you're cited for inoperative or missing windshield wipers, expect your vehicle to be placed out of service until the wipers are repaired or replaced and re-inspected.

This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 4. The actual points added to your carrier's profile depend on when the citation occurred relative to your 12-month BASICS window. Most violations accumulate over a rolling period, so a single 393.62 citation contributes 4 points immediately, but the total impact compounds if there are multiple citations within that window. Your carrier's safety manager can see the exact CSA impact in FMCSA's SafetyNet portal.

1. Stop driving — your truck is almost certainly out of service (98.6% OOS rate).
2. Repair the wipers — replace or fix both driver and passenger sides; check that they operate smoothly across the windshield.
3. Get re-inspected — request a Level I or Level II roadside inspection to clear the OOS violation.
4. Document the repair — keep receipts and photos of the new wipers installed.
5. Report to your carrier — notify dispatch and your safety department immediately so they can update CSA records.

Yes, relative to similar violations. The 98.6% OOS rate for 393.62 is dramatically higher than peer codes: inoperable lamps (393.9) are cited 660,737 times but placed OOS only 6.9% of the time; windshield condition defects (393.78) occur 157,894 times with just 0.3% OOS rate. Our inspection records show that inoperative wipers trigger out-of-service almost automatically, making this one of the most enforcement-heavy vehicle maintenance findings despite ranking #1107 nationally by citation volume.

Yes, you can challenge any citation through FMCSA's DataQs (Driver Quality Improvement) process. You have 120 days from the inspection to submit evidence that the finding was incorrect—for example, photos showing the wipers were operable, or documentation that you repaired them before the inspection occurred. Because 393.62 is an equipment observation, not a documentation-only violation, you'll need physical evidence (photos, maintenance records, re-inspection reports) to overturn it. Work with your carrier's safety department to file the challenge.

According to our 13 million+ inspection record database, there have been zero 393.62 citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. While the violation is theoretically enforceable under FMCSR 393.62, actual roadside enforcement is currently inactive. This contrasts sharply with the all-time total of 285 citations and 98.6% OOS rate, suggesting enforcement intensity on this code has dropped significantly in recent years.

Our data shows Ford vehicles are cited most frequently for inoperative wipers (78 citations all-time), followed by VAN HOOL B models (26 citations), Freightliners (20 citations), Volvos (19 citations), and Prevosts (16 citations). The concentration in full-size and specialty transit vehicles suggests that passenger carriers and shuttle services represent the bulk of 393.62 enforcement. If you operate these vehicle types, prioritize wiper maintenance as part of your pre-trip inspection.

Extremely urgent. The 98.6% OOS rate means your truck cannot legally operate until wipers are repaired and re-inspected. This is not a citation you can continue driving with or defer—repair must happen immediately. However, the lack of any citations in the last 12 months suggests enforcement on this code is rare, so focus on fixing the equipment for safety and compliance rather than worrying about future citations. Once repaired and re-inspected, the violation clears.