Are OEM Nissan Windshield Wipers Better Than Aftermarket?
Windshield wipers are essential for your safety when driving in the rain or even on a sunny day. It’s important to choose the best quality replacement windshield wipers. Your wipers should last between 6 and 12 months. This depends on several factors, including:
- Whether you live in a rainy or snowy area (the more you use your wipers, the faster they wear out)
- Whether you park outside in the sun often (the sun will wear out the wiper blades)
- The quality of your wiper blades
When you’re shopping for replacement wiper blades for your Nissan, you have two options:
- Buy OEM replacement wiper blades
- Buy aftermarket replacement wiper blades
It can be hard to figure out which option is the better investment. Aftermarket brands keep bombarding us with claims that their wipers are better than OEM wipers. Should we believe those claims, or should we stick to OEM wipers? So it can be pretty hard to figure out which option delivers more value for your money.
That’s why we put together this comparison guide. We spent some time examining OEM and aftermarket windshield wiper blades. We concluded that OEM wipers are a much better investment. Here’s why.
OEM Wipers Last Longer
OEM wipers normally last much longer than aftermarket wipers. This is true for all OEM parts, such as air filters. It’s because Nissan always uses high quality materials to build its parts. You can’t say the same about aftermarket brands. A big reason why many aftermarket wipers are so cheap is because these brands use inferior quality materials. As a result, it’s common for aftermarket wipers to wear down faster. After a little while, you’ll probably notice the following signs of excessive wear:
- Fraying on the wiper blades
- Smearing, smudging, and streaking all over the windshield while in use
OEM Wipers Do A Better Job Keeping Your Windshield Clear
The whole point of having windshield wipers is to keep your windshield clear. So it makes sense to get wipers that can do the best job keeping your windshield clear, even in the most adverse conditions. That means getting OEM wipers.
You can count on OEM wipers to keep your windshield clear. All OEM Nissan wipers are made with the exact dimensions and curvature needed for reliable performance. If you get the right OEM part number for your Nissan model, you’ll get windshield wipers with the right dimensions and curvature to:
- Keep the entire windshield clear (the right length)
- Make as much contact as possible with the windshield from top to bottom (the right curvature)
Aftermarket wipers are not as reliable as OEM wipers. Many aftermarket manufacturers use universal dimensions to build their windshield wipers. This can result in a bunch of issues, most commonly:
- Aftermarket wipers may not clear the entire windshield due to being too long or too short.
- Aftermarket wipers may not “hug” the windshield entirely due to incorrect curvature. This results in missed spots on the windshield, which may affect visibility of the road.
OEM Wipers Are Easier To Install
As long as you get the right part number for your Nissan model, you shouldn’t have any issues installing your OEM wipers. Nissan builds its wipers with the right connectors for your car. OEM wipers made for your Nissan model will always easily connect to the wiper arms.
It’s common to encounter installation issues with aftermarket wipers. Aftermarket wipers may come with incorrect fasteners, or they may be too thick or too narrow for the wiper arms. Let's say you manage to fasten ill-fitting aftermarket wipers to your wiper arms. There’s always the risk of your wipers coming loose and flying off while in use.
Get OEM Wipers At Wholesale Pricing
If you find that your existing windshield wipers need replacing, get replacement OEM wipers if you want the most value for your money. Some Nissan owners may be hesitant because OEM wipers can be pretty expensive. If you’re hesitant, we have a secret: you can get genuine OEM wipers from us at wholesale pricing! You’ll save some money, and you’ll get OEM wipers. Win win.
Look up your Nissan model in our catalog of OEM windshield wipers. Please contact us if you need help finding the right OEM wipers for your Nissan model.