Any specific reason why you need an off brand?


In case you aren't aware: If you have less than 3 years or 36,000 miles, you can get a warranty set of wipers from the dealership.

 

Because windshield wipers have become ridiculously expensive and I refuse to pay into the greed. I am just over 36K

 

Bought these for my my wife's 2020 over a year ago for $63. They are now $68 it appears but it's all 3 wipers (front and back), Subaru OE and from SubaruOnlineParts via Amazon.

Amazon.com

Yeah, wipers are absurdly expensive these days but you tend to get what you pay for IME and the Subaru ones last pretty well for us.

 

I tried the Trico brand, and the driver's side couldn't totally clear the water from the windshield from day one. Neither worked as well as the 2 year old OEM wipers.

I ran them for 6 months, and ended up putting the original wipers back on, and those are still better than the Trico blades.

In a month or two, I'll drive the hour to the dealership and get my warranty set...

Given the lack of satisfaction from the Trico's, which I had no issues with on other vehicles, I haven't bothered with the Amazon offerings.

I did use Amazon for the rear wiper arm on my Impreza, which included a blade, and that combination worked flawlessly.

But that isn't a fair comparison, a small blade to a much longer one, that has rain blowing directly at it.

Unless someone else has actually tried the off brands on the front, and replies here, you might be the guinea pig.

Edit: Also possibly part of the reason behind the pricing, is only other than Subaru,it is Toyota and Acura that use this style of blade. They are a little higher end, and it is not as common.

 

Costco's Michelin beams go on sale for $7.99 each and I have them on 3 vehicles. My wife is very happy with the blades on the Forester.

 

what sizes do I get?

Costco Michelin Wiper Blades | Michelin Lifestyle

See clearly, drive safely with the Costco Michelin® Wiper Blades. Built tough for durable wiping performance in ALL weather!

us.michelin-lifestyle.com

 

I may end up trying the Michelin. Forgot about a Costco.

As I mentioned above, I bought OEMs last time for her but I do have Bosch Icons on my own car. Those have been my go-to for aftermarket for years before costs skyrocketed on wipers. Don't ever think I've been dissatisfied with them but I have with others at times like some of the Trico offerings.

 

Note: The Michelin blades do not list as compatible for 2019+ on the Costco/Michelin site linked above.

 

Fitment guides are often badly out of date...I did find one listing that showed Michelin blades to work on newer Subarus but I don't have a new Subaru to check.

26/17 are the sizes I have seen for 2014-2024, but you can always use a blade that's an inch shorter, and you might be able to go an inch or two longer on some vehicles also. When you go longer, blades might have a harder time on windshield curves. Of course you never want blades that try to wipe beyond the glass area.

Costco is awesome with returns and in particular took back an opened prior generation rear blade that did not fit on my '16 Grand Caravan despite their catalog saying it would be fine. Might have been their previous "Goodyear" brand blades. So don't destroy your old blades if you are unsure of fit.

The major brands never made a blade that fit our '07 Honda Civic which was weird but that car is gone now.

 

I bought new blades for my 2020 on Amazon. The "brand" listed by Amazon is ZIXMMO, but there was no brand name on the product when it arrived. They installed easily (no adapters needed) and seem to be working fine after a year and a half. They are less than $20 a set for the front. For the rear I bought the brand Raidbee wiper. It's working fine too.

 

@mikeingp They say 26 16 on Amazon and I thought ours were 26 17?

Amazon.com

 

A few months ago I got the set of three for a 2020 at walmart.com for $19. It was from one of their affiliate organizations. The brand was Anrddo. They fit and perform fine.

 

@supasta, I defer to your experience and do have to say that I am bummed that Subaru is using different attachments. Apologies if I misled anyone.

My wife's DD from new to 2018 was an '07 Honda Civic and I never found an aftermarket blade. It was only a 3 year span of Civics, so I have been there and have latent anger issues about it. I really liked my dealer, and because the car was so good I just bought OEM blades.

I do NOT think it's a good idea to make proprietary attachments for safety items like wiper blades. If my blade gets damaged at the worst possible time, I would like to drive into any auto parts store and get a dang replacement blade so I can keep driving.

 

$23/pair @ Sam’s and they work great

 

Costco sells wipers. Also i go for single blades

 

Costco blades are decent but I prefer Trico Force, I get them from RockAuto.

 

My 2017 original Subaru wipers were the best wipers I ever had - they lasted longest and cleaned best. So I just buy OEM rubber inserts from dealership, and it's been working great.

 

I bought 26/17 Michelin Guardian+ Beam Wiper Blades from Costco last December. I was too lazy to install them until this morning... Whatever I did, I couldn't insert them into the arms...They stuck 1/8'' before the locking button... I checked this topic and Costco reviews so I am sure this product isn't compatible with 2020 Forester's generation.

I will ask them for a return even if 6 months have passed after purchasing...I am pretty sure the 2020 Forester was in at their fitting guide...Whenever I go to Costco, I check the fitting guide with a photo.

this is the installation video I followed this morning...

This is the product page at Costco.com You may write Forester at the search button and read the reviews...

https://www.costco.com/michelin-guardian%2B-beam-wiper-blades.product.4000179786.html

 

@archccool it was discussed a number of posts above that the '19+ Foz has a different proprietary fit which I believe is a detriment to safety. Blades should be standardized IMO so that if you damage or lose a blade, you can stop at any auto parts store or Costco rack and get a new blade.

If you look on Rockauto.com, the '17 Forester has about 75 wiper blade applications and the '19+ has about 8.

We have a '17 and the Costco blades fit great, but once owned an '07 Honda Civic with unique blades. And rear blades for almost any vehicle are a PITA to fit.

I'm 99% sure that Costco will refund you, especially if you have your original receipt.

 

Costco refunded me and I wrote feedback about Michelin's fixing guide mistake...The guide still shows that the 2014-2024 Foresters are compatible with those wiper blades...Probably, I will order from Rockauto with brake pads (maybe even rotors) after the 60k service check....It is at 58k miles now...

the shopping list is long wiper blades, brake pads/rotors, tires etc...

 

I purchased these. 2 Factory Wiper Blades... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SCST7N2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

Update: Went to Costco recently (6/26/24) to get a pair of blades for a different car and note that their fit book says their blades now cover 2019-2024 Foresters, but with a footnote that the blade may obstruct the washer. I did not realize they were running the washers up the wiper arms and that is presumed to be the reason they are different.

 

I bought them. They do not fit regardless of what the figment book says.

 

I bought them. They do not fit regardless of what the figment book says.

 

Bosch wipers are expensive but they last a long time. My current Icon blades have been on my Forester for 3 years now. Still in good shape.