Amarok Wipers Dead: Common Fix Guide for All Owners

Had a similar issue with my 2009 VW Transporter last winter. As someone with basic car maintenance experience, I first thought it was the wiper motor, but the problem turned out to be much simpler. The workshop found a damaged wiring harness connection near the steering column. The constant movement had caused wear on the cables, creating a poor connection between the wiper switch and the rest of the system. The rain sensor was functioning correctly, but the signal wasnt reaching the wiper motor due to this connection issue. Total repair cost was 95€, mostly labor for accessing and fixing the connection. The repair took about 2 hours. Before jumping to conclusions about the wiper motor or replacing the entire wiper switch, it would be helpful to know: Have you noticed any intermittent operation before complete failure? Does the wiper make any noise when activated? Are there any other electrical issues in your steering column controls? Which error codes are showing up? Getting these details would help narrow down whether youre dealing with a similar wiring issue or something else entirely.

Thanks for the troubleshooting advice. Last service was at 115000km and no intermittent issues noticed before the complete failure. The wipers make no sound when activated, completely dead. No other electrical issues with steering column controls. I will get the error codes read this week. Interesting about the wiring harness being the culprit in your case. Makes sense with the constant movement stress on those cables. The cruise control and all other steering column functions work fine on my Amarok, which seems to point more toward a failed wiper motor or switch rather than general wiring. Will check the connector at the wiper motor first before replacing parts.

Thanks for the additional details. Your symptoms do sound different from what I experienced with my Transporter. Since your cruise control and other steering column functions work normally, the wiring harness near the steering column is likely not the issue in your case. The complete silence when activating the wipers is telling. In my experience, even with a faulty switch, you might hear a slight click or hum from the wiper motor. The total lack of response points more toward either a failed wiper motor or a broken connection directly at the motor. A quick test you can do: check the connector at the wiper motor for corrosion or loose pins. Water can sometimes get into this area and cause connection problems. When I had my wiring issue, even with the bad connection, the motor would occasionally make some noise. If the connector looks good, the wiper motor itself is likely the problem. The rain sensor and wiper switch usually show some intermittent behavior before failing completely, while motors tend to fail more suddenly. Just be sure to get those error codes read. They should help confirm whether its the motor or potentially something else in the system.

Thanks for all the input. I checked the wiper motor connector today and found no visible corrosion or loose connections. Everything looks clean and properly seated. Followed the wiring from the motor for about 30cm and found no obvious damage. I got the error codes read: P0571 and U0429, which according to the mechanic point to a communication issue with the wiper motor control module. This seems to confirm what many suggested about the wiper motor being the likely culprit, rather than the switch or general wiring. Will proceed with replacing the wiper motor assembly next week. Found a good deal on an OEM replacement for 220€. Hopefully this resolves the issue completely. Really appreciate everyone's help in troubleshooting this, saved me from out of nowhere swapping parts hoping to fix the problem.