2013 Dodge Dart visibility/wiper problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE DART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT STOP WHEN THE WIPER BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEFFER CHRYSLER DODGE (8214 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28227) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT WAS RAINING THEN IT STOPPED THEN IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND WENT TO TURN ON MY WIPERS AND THEY WOULDNT TURN ON, SO I CALLED A BUDDY OF MINE THATS A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ITS PROBLY THE STEERING COLUMN RIBBON BROKE AND SURE ENOUGH I TOOK IT TO DODGE AND THATS WHAT IT WAS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE THIS IS A ALMOST $500.00 PART TO REPLACE IT.”

“THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STALK MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STAY IN THE ON POSITION EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH ON THE STALK SAYS OFF. THROUGH NORMAL DRIVER USE, THE SPRING/RIBBON BEHIND THE STALK BREAKS OR SEVERS AND USE OF WIPERS AND MIST IS COMPROMISED. WITH WIPERS ONLY WORKING AT ONE SPEED, IN A HEAVY RAIN OR NO RAIN AT ALL, THE DRIVERS VISION IS AFFECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. RESEARCHING ONLINE IN DART FORUMS AND OTHER POSTS, THIS ISSUE IS PREVALENT AMONG THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. THE FAULTY WIPER STALK COULD ALSO BE AN INDICATOR OF A FAILING BCM. IN MY SPECIFIC INSTANCE, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO MIST MY WINDSHIELD AND CLEAR IT OF DEBRIS, NO MIST WAS DISPENSED AND THE WIPERS STAYED ON PERMANENTLY”

“THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITHC ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTROLS THE WIPERS, HIGH BEAMS, AND TURN SIGNALS IS KNOWN TO BREAK THROUGH WEAR AND TEAR OR NORMAL USE. THE SWITCH IS RAN BY A RIBBON WHICH CONTROLS THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE SWITCH AND THROUGH NORMAL USE THIS PART IS KNOWN TO BREAK. MY 2013 DODGE DART RALLYE HAD THIS HAPPEN CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO NOT TURN OFF CREATING A SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE YET DODGE REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE KNOWING THAT THE PART IS FAULTY. THE TOTAL COST TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED WAS OVER $900 FOR A PART THAT SHOLD BE REPLACED BY DODGE AS IT IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE.”

“WIPERS HAVE TURNED AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND AM UNABLE TO CHANGE THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS. IT STARTED WITH THEM TURNING ON WHEN THE LEFT BLINKER WAS ACTIVATED, BUT THEY WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE BLINKER DID. THEY ARE NOW TURNING ON EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THEY WASHER SPRAYER DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE EITHER. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE WIPERS KEEP MOVING IN FRONT OF YOU AND THEY SCREECH HORRIBLY SINCE THE WINDSHIELD IS DRY AND THE WASHER FLUID NO LONGER WORKS. THIS IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT CHANGE THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS TO KEEP UP WITH THE HEAVINESS OF THE RAIN. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL.”

“THE RIBBON CABLE THAT CONTROLS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS BEEN SEVERED, DUE TO REPEATED USE OF THE BLINKERS ON THE SAME CONTROL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALWAYS RUN NOW, AT A LOW SPEED. THEY CAN NOT BE STOPPED, SPED UP, AND CAN NO LONGER USE THE WIPER FLUID DISPENSER.”