Rear wiper does half the job

Yup, at least mine is the same way. I was thinking that removing it and adjusting it down a few notches (on the shaft) might help to get lower on the window. Haven't tried that yet though.

 

The 2010s have a little quarter moon looking space that is wiped off on the back. I hear it is an improvement, but that makes me wonder "improvement over what?".

The car has so many great features, I am learning to check and recheck that back view before backing up.

 

All 2010s are the same - the rear wiper is pretty useless.

 

I've seen on Sigma Automotive's site a replacement rear wiper arm. It can be found here:

Toyota Prius 2010+ ZVW30 Exterior Accessories :: Sigma Automotive
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Oversize JDM Steel Rear Wiper -- US-spec ZVW30 Prius comes with and can only accept 15 3/4" rear wiper blade even though its rear window can accomodate an 18" one. By changing the wiper arm from the US-spec to the JDM type, you can upsize your blade to cover the largest possible area...
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In my opinion, it might be able to have a broader sweep, but I fear it still will not cover that little bit that our current wiper doesn't get just above the window split. And I know that's where my annoyance comes in from. It's like the wiper blade only clears the window just so that truckers and people in SUV's, taller cars, get to look inside the hatch area. YMMV.

 

Another option is to use Rain-X. I put that on this fall and it really help both the back and front windows. The rain just rolls down without puddling and obstructing. We don't get a lot of rain here so your mileage may very.

 

I think your fear is correct as the pivot point remains the same. The new blade may get more to the sides and top but likely not down low.

 

Drove my 1 month old Prius in snow for the first time this morning. The rear wiper did a fabulous job of pushing the snow down onto the bar that splits the window and furthur decreasing visibility. I love my new car, that rear window is my biggest complaint.

 

+1. Same snowfall, a little farther south, and first drive in snow. Agree it is almost useless. OTOH, the rear defogger works great to melt that snow. Maybe not so much when it gets really heavy though.

 

I agree with the previous chatters: the rear wiper is very cute but not very useful. Except for the freak snowstorm last week we do not get a lot of that stuff, but we have plenty of rain and super humidity that a decent rear wiper would easily take care of, but not this cutie. Come on Toyota, is this as good as you can do on such a wonderful car?

 

I agree with above mentioned uselessness. Makes me wonder what small increase in fuel economy might result aerodynamically from removing the wiper arm and the weight due to the motor and plugging the hole.

 

Mine is Tinted anyway so can't see anything much anyway. But agree with everyone it is totally pointless and usless to have a wiper at the back. And worse it is at the wrong side of the half that is supposed to be useful.

 

It was usefull when I popped over to France

 

My steering wheel on the right hand and the wiper hinge on the left so when it wipes it cleans the left hand side. Where does your wiper hinge situated?

 

it might be a little better if blade swept further down closer to the bottom edge of the rear window. Mine leaves about 3 or 4 inches of window untouched... and those are the critical 3 or 4 inches that I see through in the read mirror.

 

My wiper arm is very short. I don't think yours can get shorter. I see they didn't even bother to change the side of the wiper. Toyota is so crap.