Mirror Heater Failure: DIY Diagnosis Guide & Fix Options

Dealt with this exact car mirror issue on my 2019 Chevy Traverse last month. The electrical fault turned out to be simpler than expected, a damaged wiring harness connector behind the mirror housing was causing the heater element to fail. The repair involved testing the circuit continuity, which showed the heater element itself was fine. The main culprit was corrosion in the connector pins that feed power to the mirror assembly. A thorough cleaning of the connections and replacing the damaged harness clip fixed it completely. While not a major vehicle safety concern, faulty mirror heaters can definitely create visibility issues. The job wasn't particularly complex, but accessing the wiring required partial door panel removal to reach the car electronics properly. One warning though, if your error code is different, it could indicate a more serious control module problem rather than just connection issues. What's the specific error code you're getting? That would help narrow down if you're dealing with a similar connector issue or something more involved with the heating system.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Traverse! I had similar symptoms on my Captiva, turned out my mechanic found a burned connection in the wiring harness too. Really glad I didn't have to replace the entire mirror assembly. For winter driving, working mirror heaters are pretty essential. Did your repair hold up well since then? Those corroded connections can sometimes come back to haunt you. Just curious what the total repair cost was on yours? My local shop quoted pretty high, but I managed to get it done for less elsewhere. Sometimes these electrical fault issues can reveal other problems, did you notice anything else that needed attention while they had it apart?

Just following up on the mirror heater repair, the fix on my Traverse has been working perfectly since I got it sorted! The cable connection repair cost me 95 for parts and labor, which was way better than replacing the entire rearview mirror assembly. Really glad your Captiva had a similar straightforward fix. The repair has held up great through several rainy days, and the heater element kicks in perfectly now. No more foggy mirrors during cold mornings! Haven't had any other electrical issues pop up either, sometimes these connection problems can cascade into other systems, but everything's stayed solid. For anyone else reading this with similar mirror heating problems, it's worth getting the wiring checked first before assuming you need a complete mirror replacement. A lot of shops might push for the more expensive option, but often it's just a connection issue that needs fixing. The winter driving visibility is so much better now with properly functioning heated mirrors. These seemingly small electrical problems can really impact safety if left unchecked.

I took my Captiva to a local repair shop last week after getting some great advice here. The mechanic found exactly what we suspected, a damaged wire connection in the mirror assembly. Total bill came to €110, which included fixing the harness and testing the temperature control system. Way better than the €400+ quote I got from the dealer! The repair process was pretty quick, took about an hour. They showed me the corroded connector that was causing the problem. Really glad I didn't need a whole new mirror assembly. The heater's working perfectly now, which is a huge relief with cold weather coming. While they had the door panel off, they also noticed and fixed a loose window regulator clip at no extra charge. Always good when shops catch these little things before they become bigger problems. Been testing the mirror heater every morning this week, no issues at all with clearing fog or frost. Having working heated mirrors makes such a difference for vehicle safety during winter commutes. Really happy I got this sorted before the temperature drops further.