Audi S5 Seat Heater Failure Guide & Cost Insights

Had a similar issue with my 2013 Audi S4. The seat heating failed completely on the drivers side. The thermal sensor was reporting errors through the diagnostic system. Initial inspection revealed the seat heating mat had developed a break in the wiring, which is a common failure point. The seat heater replacement was necessary as the heating elements inside the cushion were damaged beyond repair. The temperature control module was tested and worked fine, the issue was isolated to the heating mat itself. This is generally not a critical safety concern, but leaving it unfixed can lead to electrical system faults. The repair requires removing the seat cover and replacing the entire heating element assembly. Labor time typically runs about 2-3 hours since the entire seat needs to be disassembled. The seat warmer system in these Audi models uses similar components, so the diagnosis process should be comparable. Best to have it properly diagnosed with a scanner that can read the specific fault codes for the seat heating system. Would recommend having it checked soon, as continuing to use faulty heating elements can potentially cause other electrical issues in the comfort control modules.

Really helpful info, thanks. Your situation sounds identical to what Im experiencing. My S5 is showing the same symptoms, complete failure on drivers side and error codes. Good to know its likely just the heating element and not the whole temperature control system. Been meaning to get this fixed since winter is approaching. Have you had any other issues pop up since the repair was done? Also curious what the final cost was for the heating element replacement and labor if you dont mind sharing. The part about seat heater replacement requiring full disassembly is useful to know. At least it seems straightforward even if time consuming. Better to fix it properly than risk more electrical problems down the line.

Actually got it fixed last week and very happy with the results. The seat heater replacement went exactly as expected, they had to take apart the seat cushion to access the faulty heating element. Total repair time was around 2.5 hours. Final cost came to 390 Euro which included the new heating mat, labor, and testing. Worth every cent since the temperature control now works perfectly again. No more error codes and the heat distribution is actually better than before. Since the repair, everything has been working flawlessly. The seat heater kicks in quickly and maintains consistent warmth. No electrical gremlins or related issues have surfaced. My mechanic mentioned these heating element failures are pretty common in our models, but once fixed properly they typically dont cause problems again. Getting the entire seat heating system checked was smart, confirmed the issue was isolated to just the heating mat in the seat cushion. The main temperature control unit was fine, which helped keep the repair costs reasonable.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to close this thread with my experience. The seat heating repair went smoothly but took a bit longer than expected, about 3 hours total. My issue was indeed the heating element, just like yours. The mechanic found a complete break in the seat warmer wiring. Cost me 420 Euro for parts and labor, slightly more than yours but still reasonable. They did a full check of the temperature control system while they were at it, which was good peace of mind. Really glad I went ahead with the fix. The seat heater works better than it has in years. They showed me the old heating element and it was pretty worn out. No wonder it failed. Everything is working perfectly now, no error codes and the heat distribution is even across the whole seat. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It definitely helped me know what to expect and gave me confidence to get it sorted properly.