every motorized car wash ive ever been to has signs all over saying NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE
I dont think $30/40 for a new arm will break the bank lol
They can say it.. but they cannot enforce it. They can easily loose their business license with city if the owner complains and multiple owner complaints are on file. And it gets worse if they are part of a fuel company chain.. because owners will raise hell with the home office of the fuel company.
What they can enforce is certain stipulations.. like not responsible for anything left in the back of a truck bed for example... as that is clearly on the owner.
The most common issue I am aware of where I live is that they get some dirt adhered to the brushes and it then scratches paint.... and they are responsible because it is faulty equipment on their part.
Where I get my CRV washed.. they make a point of stating no responsibility for any leaks due to windows not being sealed, no responsibility for anything left in the bed of an open truck, no responsibility for anything installed after market on the vehicle, no responsibility for any vehicle with a height over 7 feet, AND because we have a bunch of stupid drivers in town with automatic wipers that they fail to turn off before entering the car wash.... they take no responsibility for wipers (front or rear..... due to damage from automatic operation).
In response to the original poster... many years of running CRVs through the same car wash... and never any issues with the rear wiper blade assembly. But when I think about it.. I can see how the brushes could possibly get caught in a wiper blade assembly under exactly the right circumstances.