How VW Parts Fail ~ Windshield Wiper Motors 

We have owned 2 VW and on one the motor stopped working in the middle of a rain storm on the freeway. Very scary and we are lucky to be alive. Very expensive fix when they could have easily found a way to keep water out of the motor years ago. Hopefully someone starts a class action law suit because they have been aware of this from my first incident over 15 years ago.

Great video! My mk6 motor failed not long after the remnants of Hurrican Lee blew through here. I think it was water intrusion, the motor suddenly got noisy. I just wanted to share a tip I used when "clocking" aligning the wiper linkage to the reattached motor. Before taking the linkage out, I used tape to match both linkage arms in the "resting" position. Then before reassembly I cycled the motor once from the stalk and reattached it to the linkage. I also used tape to mark the rest position of the wiper arms on the glass. When my linkage was in the correct position to mount the motor, part of the linkage was covering the motor nut, and I had to use an open ended wrench to tighten that motor nut. Then I cycled the wipers again (without wiper arms on). If the linkage came to the resting position ( tape) then I knew I could tighten the linkage mount bolts down, and reattach the wiper srms.

I have a 2002 vw cabrio. My wipers just stopped in the middle of wiping today. I replace switch and motor last year, new. So I can' imagine what it is this time. Last week it was my airbag light that when on again. So I have two problems to fix.

One day my blinkers and brake lights went out. 2 weeks later there working again all of a sudden. Any clue as to why? Also my wipers start up when I start my vw. They eventually stop but not always in the place they should??

I appreciate you flagging the odd problems than have happened when doing this job. Like a broken windshield.

So how do I diagnose this ? Which pin is ground or +12v ? Should I look in the fuse box if I don't have power or what

My Jetta A6 2014 wipers automatically activated while engine off or when using it for auto wiper or after it being activated with all speed. I wonder if something that i can fix or replace?

I check the switch level, the body control module, the fuses, voltage, ground, everything basically and don't know what to do. I'm about to adapt another motor from a different car with a separated switch.

How about a DYI on how to replace the MAP sensor on the 2.5 engine?

Just completed my repair. Works great have a video of the movement, and a photo of the active water intrusion into the assembly, and also contaminated lubricant. I took plenty of pictures of the assembly in its installed position, and upside down once it was out. Also scribe-marked the arm which attaches to the motor to confirm the alignment as it goes back together. Had to use a puller to remove the arms. Marked, recorded and measured the arm position to confirm reinstallation. Car is a 2011 in the northeast US--so corrosion is an issue. Can't say that the penetrating lube on the wiper arms really helped or not. Replacement part aligned easily. Keep ratchets away from the windshield! Easy-does it, and clean the cowling and track for it before reinstallation. Original problem was that it only had one speed--was told that the car will not pass inspection that way. Question: so the car has over 125k miles now. I noticed that on the wiper transmission arm connection points that the rubber washers(for lack of a better word--are they there for quiet operation?) the one is split. Are these vital? trying to get another 30k on the car. 2011 2.5w/ auto trans.--leaking from the vacuum pump too.

Also my alarm system was going off when starting my vw. All of a sudden it's not now. Key fog not working.

Long story short, during the great freeze of Feb 2021, my wipers wouldn't work. Then, when they started working again, I had the noise. I am assuming the freeze really screwed stuff up, or was there some sort of water intrusion when it thawed?

Truth, re: broken windshield/cowl reinstall. This happened to me. Thanks for this excellent video!

There is definitely water in my motor and the motor does not run. Any ideas? How can I open the motor assembly inside the cylinder?

What does it mean when the transmission is making a grinding noise but everything else is working fine?

Hey! Having an issue with my ‘09 NB. When DRLs/headlights are on, the intermittent wiper relay clicks and the wipers tick. The same happens with the AC running...not sure if this is a ground issue or not, but I have the relay pulled. Look forward to your feedback.

Hi thanks for the video, My wind screen wipers packed. I had a look at the linkage assembly and its fine externally. the motor turns but the wipers don't move. I think its the plastic gear in the motor. I think the teeth have gone, it would have been nice if you done a bit more on this side and showed how the linkages connect to the motor. I'll do my own video when I pull it out.

Great video, I see on the newer VWs, wiper motor have a pcb board in it, I wanted to know how would go about powering the motor direct from a battery? It has a 3 wire plug, pin 1 is power from the module, pin 3 is ground and pin 4 is from ignition switch, nothing on pin 2

Hey huge fan of your series, i have a 1999 vw beetle. When we get in and start the car, the wipers keep wiping with it off, and almost never stop in the storage position. Any ideas or thoughts on it?

what if it works but always stop intermittently

My question is say, on a 2004 VW Taureg Getting everything off is no big deal but there is a pivot point to the left of the motor that has a nut on it and I have no idea how to get this off. Its not like the motor and driver side wiper. That's easy. There's no way to grip from underneath in order to take off the nut. This part I believe is a bearing so that the motor can pivot the wiper up and down. Its such a pain. This is the passenger side wiper. which has 2 connections. One for the motor and the second a pivoting arm. How do I keep the pivoting bearing bolt to lock/grab in order to get the nut off?

Hi Charles, loving your channel, I've used it a few times to fix my 2007 Edition 30. I have an issue with the wipers were they stop mid screen. I can push down the stick and it carries on again but keeps stopping. Do you think its a symptom of the motor and the park switch being faulty? Stu

My 2011 jetta 1.6 tdi, wipers only work on the highest setting some time working slow and failed after 1 min or be stak, please what is the problem ?

I have a 2005.5 jetta and the wipers don't work at all I install another motor from junk yard to test and still the same way. Someone told me that could be the body control module. Can you help?

Well, I'm super late to THIS party, but thank you, Humble Mechanic, for this video! My Joan Jetta has a wiper motor issue. About a month ago, I was driving in the rain. The wipers were NOT on yet, as the rain had just started. Finally, I turned the wipers on, but the action was a bit slow, however, I was not concerned. Then, suddenly, the wipers just quit. Nothing. Nada. Niente. No wiping whatsoever no matter which position I put the stick in. About four minutes later, (yes, I had to continue to drive), the wiper action returned. I noticed nothing out of the ordinary, but it was raining hard. Several days later, the rain returned. I tried the wipers...they worked. Sluggish as all-get-out, and the awful grindy-droning of that motor, but the wipers DO wipe. The local dealership service department just slammed me for $1,600 for an oil pump and headlight assembly, so I'm not really excited to shell out their quote for this replacement. However, you know? Volkswagen tools...or finesse...that's a tiny bit intimidating. Still trying to decide if I want to cave and 'be a girl' and let the shop fix this, or try to do it myownself. I have always ALWAYS done my own 'wrenching' until I bought this Jetta. Now I want her to be in good hands...thank you anyway - I am pondering what to do. Best, Loree

My 06 audi a3 has alot more electronics in it, trying to figure out how to fix it

My 2012 jetta 2.5, wipers only work on the highest setting, all fuses seem to be good. Any ideas sir? Can that still be a bad motor?

So your saying that the signal is sent from the stalk down to BCM then out to motor. What should the power/signal be at motor

Hello my wipers stopped working normally on Tiguan. Not completely but they don't work well. Does this mean the motor is dyeing or the linkage?

I have 2017 1.8T. Wipers only work on high speed. The switch does not turn them off. Mechanic pulled the fuse and now I have no wipers at all. Is this a bad motor or a bad relay?

How do i bench test this motor?

Just did this to my gfs 2012 jetta se gonna do an autopsy on the motor once i got it pulled from the old transmission. Used a small gear puller to remove the arms did it while the car was dirty to have a visual mark for reinstall of the wiper arms.. It was a super simple job... Just be careful to not break any of the plastics and check the connector for corrosion from water ingress. The wiper motor was at complete failure when removed. It worked for a while before it reached this state.. Where there was a easily noticeable noise coming from it like it broke off teeth on the plastic gear from it seizing up from water getting into it. 2 years ago.. Just swapped it again.. Yeah these suck.. This one is a reman oem bosh

Strange noise when i start my wipers. Something is wrong, however i dont mind the noise all that much. Can I just leave it like that?

My T5 wipers wont stop in the stop position. They just keep on going. Any clues? Thanks

what happens if it's loud as shit, even with new wiper blades, but still works at any settings, but is very slow or inoperative during freezing weather or when dry?

what would the cost to fix a issue like this be more or less? currently have this issue,its a nightmare

I'm late as usual,. Here's the issue, my Bruce Jenner broke on the assembly. So I changed it out, easily enough, but the wipers go up, and won't return, unless the switch is 'flicked' on the column. The motor works fine up and down, but the return is buggard. You can see the motor trying to send the arms back the park position, then it stops. I press the switch again, she fires back to the park position. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Charles, have you heard of wipers turning on by itselft?

My wipers won't work when its cold out?

I have a 2006 VW passat 2.0T and I found that the problem was the hood latch sensor. This model has a sensor that won’t let the wipers work if the hood is open. So I just disconected the hood latch connector that is located near the left headlight.

do you have any videos on the rear wiper motor?

What if my wipers keep going and faster when I turn them off?

I have a 2009 Jetta Mk5 2.0Lt TDI, the wipers just stopped working and I cannot find a wiring diagram here in South Africa. Could you please help in this regard as spares and diagnostics are very expensive here and most of these diagnostic companies here are part changes, I am a pensioner and can not afford it.

My windshield wipers don’t respond to any switching inside only my washer fluid works when I try and use it. Fuses are fine any idea ?

How to Wiper arm jamp?

My girlfriends 09 beetle is clicking loudly now when the wipers are turned on. Sounds like its from inside the car more at the switch

I'm going to try the river method. Where I dump my VW in the river.

Hey, thanks for the video. I have a 2012 VW Jetta 2.5 (Selina is her name, Cat woman lol). love this car. The wiper issue i have had is weird. I love in ontario canada and we get some pretty cold winters. when its -8 or lower here my wipers will not work. once the car warms up they eventually come on. I have dealt with it by parking in the garage, parking in the direct sun, and used rainex. My feeling is that there is moisture inside the wiper motor and when it freezes up it seizes the motor temporarily. wondering if anyone has experienced this and if there is a fix for it other then replacing the motor and seeing if that is the issue (the dealership suggested that might fix it but no guarantee!)

Dealer claims about 2.5 hrs. in labor to replace. Motor costs about $230 from what I was told but haven't looked for it. Dealer claims my motor is 'on the way out'. Seriously, for a VW Jetta that's a 2014 with only 32,000 miles!? So for them to do it I'm looking at $530 for everything, yikes! It doesn't seem too tough of a job but I don't know if I should tackle it , nearly $300 in labor OMG!

Hi and happy new year. I striped out the assembly and the large gear has had the teeth striped away. do you know where I can get a repair kit

actually only 3 pins are wired... constant 12V, GND and lin bus (canbus) signal... 12 is there always waiting for signal to come from comfort module over linbus or signal cable to microprocesor in wiper motor housing...

My windshield wipers won’t stop even if off I had to pull fuse in order for them to not move

My 2014 jetta wiper motor is making a growling noise

Hello everyone I have a 2013 Volkswagen CC 2.0 turbo and my windshield wiper just went out without giving me any warnings signs of the motor getting bad one morning I tried to turned them on they wouldn't even move so I done some trouble shooting such as checking the fuses and relays all seemed good so I took it to the dealership and they told me it was the motor. So I asked them how much it would be to replace it well they are going to replace the wiper and the transmission which just the parts is $528 dollars not including labor when I call the parts department.When I talked to the service people they told me that everything will be $985 I was like yall are out of your minds I'll do it myself.

errr from 5:37 to 5:51 the video is blacked out

I've had the wiper linkage seize twice. I think my wiper motor has wrecked gears inside on this second time. I fixed the linkage and still no movement. I hear the motor buzzing.

The motor failing on vw is unacceptable and very dangerous. Never happened to any of our other vehicles but both VW we owned.

Hi, My 2015 VW Jetta SE TDi wipers stop working. Fuse is good. How to find out what is wrong.

The motor only runs while the car is moving!?

By the way most dealers just replace the hole thing when they get a code for it or if there not working becaus they dont want to deal with fixing the parts or wastesing there time sadly

I had the first failure type, then I had the second failure type...

I typed in "VINTAGE" specifically. Why did THIS vid pop up first?

Better for me to buy RainX now!!!!..... never saw a car before with so many failures and the brand washing their hands about it!!!!

Volkswagen engineering is actually hilarious. Like who tf makes a hood latch 90% out of plastic? I regret ever buying one of these POS lol

Isn't this just Geoff from Achievement Hunter?

Make one video with that title. "VW is a total fail". Sensors, gearboxes, engines, electric modules, locking mechanisms, wippers motors, tail lights, fog lights, lamda sensors, AC compressors a lot of things are designed to fail after 2-3 years. They designed to fail. No matterial failures, no assemply line mistakes

Vw sucks

Just a lot of talking and no show how this video is crap