Dodge Magnum Wiper Failure: Switches vs Wiring Issues

I went through something similar with my 2011 Dodge Charger diesel. As someone with some hands-on experience working on cars, I initially thought it was just the wiper switch too. After checking the fuses first (always start there), my workshop found the actual issue was a loose connection in the wiring harness near the steering column. The wiper motor itself was perfectly fine, but the signals werent getting through properly. A careful inspection revealed a damaged plug connection that was causing intermittent failures. The repair involved accessing the steering column area and replacing a section of the wiring harness, which cost 95€ including labor. The whole job took about an hour and has been working flawlessly since then. Could you share some additional details about your situation: Does the wiper motor make any noise when activated? Are there any other electrical issues in the steering column area (turn signals, cruise control)? Which error codes are you getting specifically? This information would help determine if youre dealing with the same type of connection issue I had or if its something else entirely.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have the same car at 120650 KM and had my last service done 2 months ago. After reading your response, I checked the wiper motor and it does make a faint clicking sound when activated. The turn signals work fine, but now that you mention it, there is some inconsistency with the cruise control. Getting error code P1613. For anyone else reading, the wiper blades themselves are new, replaced during the last service, so I can rule those out. Thinking your wiring harness theory might be spot on since multiple systems seem affected. Will have the connections checked first before replacing the wiper switch. Will update once I get it sorted.

Thanks for those additional details. The clicking sound from the wiper motor plus the cruise control issues really reinforces my suspicion about the wiring harness connection. In my case, error code P1613 also showed up, and it typically indicates a control module communication problem. The combination of symptoms, wipers clicking, cruise control acting up, and that specific error code, matches my situation almost exactly. Looking back at my repair experience, the workshop found slight corrosion on the main connector in the steering column area, which was causing these multiple system failures. The clicking from the wiper motor means its getting some power, but likely not a consistent signal through the damaged wiring harness. My repair actually turned out to be simpler than expected, cleaning and reseating the connectors fixed most issues, and only a small section of the wiring harness needed replacement. Total cost ended up at 95€, which was way better than replacing the entire wiper switch or motor. Since youre at 120650 KM, its around the same mileage where these connection issues start showing up. Would definitely suggest having those harness connections checked before spending money on new parts.

Thanks everyone for the helpful input. Just wanted to follow up and confirm the wiring harness was indeed the culprit. Had my mechanic inspect the connections in the steering column area and found corrosion on two main connectors. The repair involved cleaning the connections and replacing a small section of damaged wiring. Total cost was 110€ and took about 1.5 hours. The windshield wipers are now working perfectly, and as a bonus, the cruise control issues have completely resolved too. For future reference, that clicking sound from the wiper motor combined with error code P1613 seems to be a good indicator of wiring harness problems rather than a faulty switch. Saved some money by checking the connections first instead of replacing parts unnecessarily. Really appreciate all the guidance that helped point me in the right direction. Case closed on this one.