Porsche 997: Seat Heater Failure at Low Mileage

Hi there, had the same issue with my 2012 Porsche 911 (991) last winter. The heating elements in both front seats stopped working suddenly. Took it to my regular Porsche specialist who diagnosed it as a faulty heating mat in the seat cushions. The wire elements inside the mat had broken, which is actually a common wear issue in these models. They had to remove the seat covers and replace the entire heating mat assembly. The job took about 4-5 hours total. It's not a complicated repair, but it requires careful disassembly of the seats to avoid damaging the leather. My mechanic mentioned seeing this fairly often on 997s and 991s from that era. I'd recommend going to a certified Porsche specialist rather than a general mechanic for this job. They'll have the right diagnostic tools and experience with these specific seat systems. Hope this helps!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! This is super helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working fine since then, or have you had any other heating-related issues pop up? I'm trying to figure out if I should budget for any potential follow-up repairs.

Hey again! Great to hear back from you! Yeah, after getting my 2012 911's seat heaters fixed, I can tell you exactly what it cost me, I paid 390€ for the whole job. The mechanic replaced the faulty heating mat, and I gotta say, it was worth every penny. Since the repair, my seat heaters have been working like a charm, no more cold drives in winter! Haven't had a single issue with them for over a year now. From my experience, once they fix the heating mat properly, you shouldn't need to worry about any follow-up repairs. These Porsche seat heaters are pretty reliable once they're repaired correctly. Just make sure you get a proper Porsche specialist to do the work, it makes all the difference. Let me know if you need anything else! Always happy to help out a fellow Porsche owner.

Thanks again for all the detailed info! Just wanted to update you all on how it went. I took your advice and found a certified Porsche specialist in my area. Turns out it was exactly what you described, a faulty heating mat. The final bill came to about 420€, which wasn't too bad considering what I was worried it might cost. The mechanic was super professional and got it done in about 4 hours. Had a coffee nearby while waiting, and when I got back, everything was sorted. Took it for a test drive, and both seat heaters are working perfectly now, such a relief with winter coming up! Funny thing is, while I was there, the mechanic actually showed me the old heating mat and explained how these things typically wear out. Makes me feel better knowing it's a common issue and not something wrong with my specific car. Thanks again for steering me in the right direction, everyone! Really appreciate the help. Case closed on this one!