Wiper blades are a wear item. Their rubber hardens with sun and cold, the edge loses its shape, and the blade stops clearing the glass evenly. This is ordinary wear that applies to every car, not a feature of any particular model line. The useful skill is recognising the early signs while the glass is still mostly clear.
Sound and streak: the first signs
The early signs are a chatter or squeak during a sweep, streaks that appear after the blade has passed, smears in an arc, water left along the top or bottom of the glass, and a thin band the blade fails to clear. Each sign has a different likely cause, including dirt on the glass, rubber that has worn, arm tension that has changed, or washer spray that lands off the glass. A streak that follows the same line on every sweep usually points to the rubber edge.
Check in daylight
Lift the blade arm away from the glass in good light. Look along the rubber edge for splits, nicks, flattened sections, or a curl at the lip. Run a thumbnail slowly along the edge: a catch or hitch shows wear that the eye may miss. Clean the glass with a non-abrasive cleaner and a clean cloth, then run the wipers dry and wet to compare the result.
Separate the blade from the glass
A dirty or film-coated windshield can look like blade wear. Clean the glass thoroughly first, then watch the sweep again. If the streak remains after the glass is clean, the rubber or the arm is the more likely cause. If the streak disappears, the problem was the surface, and the blade may have more life left in it.
Check where the washer spray lands
Look at where the washer jets strike the glass while the wipers run. If the spray lands above or below the swept area, the blade meets a dry section and drags. Adjust the nozzles as the owner's manual describes, and avoid poking the nozzles with anything sharp, since that can change their aim in ways that are hard to undo.
Size and type before buying
Check the blade size in the owner's manual or on the existing blade, because the driver and passenger sides often differ. Blades come in conventional and beam styles, and the fitting must match the arm's hook or adapter. Confirm the size and fitting from the manual listing for the model year rather than by the shape of the old blade, which may already be worn out of true.
When to ask a qualified shop
If the arm does not return fully to its rest, the wiper stalls partway through a sweep, or the motor sounds strained, the next step is a qualified shop rather than more wiping. Wiper wear is a matter for routine checks, and tracking it on a regular cleaning day gives a clearer record than waiting until the glass is already streaked.