VW Passat Wipers Dead: Switch Failure Symptoms & Fix

Had a similar issue on my 2016 VW Golf Hybrid. With moderate experience working on cars, I first suspected the wiper switch but it turned out to be more straightforward. The workshop found a loose connection in the wiring harness near the rain sensor module. This was causing the complete failure of the wiper system across all settings. They discovered the issue during diagnostic testing and found some corrosion had developed at one of the main connector points. The repair involved cleaning the connections and securing the wiring harness properly. Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics, cleaning, and reassembly. Since then, no issues with the wipers, they work perfectly on all speeds. For proper diagnosis, could you share: Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does the rain sensor indicator light up on your dash? Did the wipers stop suddenly or gradually become unresponsive? Have you checked the fuse box for any blown fuses? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different with your wiper blade system.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. Yes, our cars seem quite similar. The wipers stopped working suddenly during a rainstorm last week. No other electrical issues noticed and rain sensor light still works normally on the dash. Already checked and replaced the fuses as a first step but no change. Last service was completed at 62000km just 2 months ago. Will check the wiring harness connections, good tip about the corrosion near the rain sensor module. Much better to start with the simpler fixes before replacing the entire wiper motor or steering column switch assembly. Only difference is my windshield wipers worked fine in all modes until they completely failed, no gradual decline in performance. Will get it looked at by the workshop this week and update once we find the root cause.

Good to hear back about your Passat. The sudden failure during rain matches exactly what happened with my Golf, working perfectly one minute, then complete failure the next. Since our cars share similar electrical architectures, I strongly suspect the same wiring harness issue. In my case, the water actually traveled along the wiring harness and accumulated at the connector, speeding up the corrosion process. After the repair, the workshop applied a special moisture sealant around the connections to prevent future issues. The fact your turn signal and cruise control still work suggests the steering column switch is likely fine. One quick test before heading to the workshop: try activating the wipers while someone gently wiggles the wiring near the rain sensor. If you notice any brief movement or electrical response, that pretty much confirms a connection issue. My repair ended up being much cheaper than the 400€+ quote for a new wiper switch. Given the identical symptoms and similar vehicle platform, Id bet your fix will be comparable to mine. Looking forward to hearing what they find at your workshop visit.

Thanks for all those suggestions. After getting the car checked at the workshop today, turned out you were absolutely right about the wiring harness connection. The mechanic found corrosion at the main connector near the rain sensor, just like in your case. They cleaned all connections, applied moisture sealant, and properly secured the windshield wiper wiring. Total repair cost was 110€ including diagnostics. The steering column and wiper switch were perfectly fine, saved a lot by not replacing parts unnecessarily. The car wipers now work flawlessly in all modes. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, as it helped point the workshop in the right direction immediately. They confirmed this is actually a somewhat common issue with these models during heavy rain exposure. Good to know about the preventive sealing too, hopefully that stops it from happening again. Would definitely recommend others check their wiring connections first before assuming more expensive components like the wiper motor or switch assembly need replacement. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.