Subaru Mirror Heater Fix: Troubleshooting Tips

Thanks for posting about your Legacy mirror issue. I had a similar problem with my 2009 Subaru Outback diesel last winter, and cold weather driving became quite challenging without working mirror heaters. After dealing with foggy mirrors for a few weeks, I took it to a workshop. They diagnosed a loose connection between the heater element wiring and the main plug. The technician found that the cable connection had deteriorated over time, affecting the heating function. The fix was straightforward, they repaired the connection and tested the mirror heating system. Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics and repair. Been working perfectly since then, making winter driving much safer. To help troubleshoot your specific case, could you share: Have you noticed any other electrical issues with the car? Does the issue affect both side mirrors or just one? When did you first notice the problem? Are there any visible signs of damage to the mirror housing? This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced with my vehicle.

Thanks for sharing those details. Mine has the same symptoms but with 169637KM on the clock, this could be age-related deterioration. The electrical fault actually affects both mirrors, which started acting up after the last cold snap. Had my regular service done last month where they found no other electrical issues, so its likely isolated to the mirror system. A proper safety check might be needed specifically for the heater element circuit. Definitely going to check those wiring connections you mentioned. The 95€ repair cost sounds reasonable compared to a full mirror replacement. Winter driving safety is worth the investment, especially with morning frost becoming more common. Would you mind sharing if the repair shop needed to order any specific parts, or was it purely a wiring fix?

The fix for my Outback was mainly focused on the wiring connections, no new parts were needed. The technician cleaned the corroded contacts and repaired the deteriorated wiring harness connection. This resolved the temperature control issues for both mirrors. Since your mileage is similar to what mine had, the symptoms definitely point to the same electrical fault. These Legacy and Outback models often develop connection issues around the 160000KM mark, particularly in the mirror wiring harness. Your vehicle safety concerns are valid, especially during winter driving conditions. For reference, my repair took about 2 hours, mostly because they had to carefully trace the wiring path to ensure no other connections were compromised. Suggest having them check the entire mirror circuit while they are at it. Sometimes the rearview mirror connections can show early signs of wear even if they are still functioning. Better to address all potential issues during one repair session. A quick tip: make sure they update the error memory after the repair to prevent false readings during future diagnostics.

Thanks for that detailed info about your repair experience. Having similar mileage on my Legacy does make me feel better about it likely being a wiring issue rather than needing completely new mirrors. Going to book it in next week for a proper check of the heater element connections you described. The fact your repair only needed wiring fixes without replacement parts is encouraging. I will make sure to ask them to do a thorough check of all mirror circuits and clear those error codes. Since both my mirrors are affected and the problem started during cold weather, this really sounds like the same electrical fault you encountered. At 95€ for the complete fix, that seems like a fair price to restore proper winter driving visibility. Much appreciated hearing about your specific repair timeline and process. This helps set realistic expectations for what needs to be done to get my rearview mirror heating working properly again.