A system and method for evaluating the performance of a vehicle windshield wiper system includes a digital camera positioned to allow the camera to capture an image of the surface of the windshield, and a computer including logic for capturing a digital image of the surface of the soiled windshield, capturing a digital image of the surface of the wiped windshield, and comparing the data from both captured images to develop selected indicia related to the extent to which the soil has been removed from the windshield.