Subaru Sambar Seat Heater Failure Fix & Cost Guide

Recently dealt with a similar seat heater failure in my 2004 Subaru Forester 2.0. The heating element showed the same symptoms, complete lack of warmth and error codes in the system. The thermal sensor had failed, causing the entire seat heating system to shut down as a safety measure. Upon inspection, the wiring harness connecting to the heating mat was also damaged from years of seat movement and compression. The repair required removing the seat cover and replacing both the heating element and associated wiring. The seat heating mat was completely defective and needed full replacement, not something that could be partially repaired. This was a serious repair that required special attention since it involved both comfort and safety systems. A faulty heating element can potentially cause overheating if the thermal protection fails. The job took around 4 hours of labor since the entire seat had to be disassembled. Most important was ensuring proper installation of the new heating mat to prevent future wire damage from seat movement. Given the age and mileage of your Sambar, this is a common failure point. Would recommend having a certified shop handle the repair due to the safety implications of seat heater components.

Thanks for sharing your Forester experience. Had nearly identical issues with my Sambar seat warmer last winter. The thermal sensor and seat cushion wiring were completely shot, just like yours. My seat heater repair got done about 6 months ago. Would be curious what you ended up paying for yours? In my case, the shop also found some corroded connectors under the seat that needed fixing while they were in there. Has everything been working properly since the repair? My heating element has been reliable so far but wondering if I should watch for any specific issues down the road.

Happy to report the seat heater repair has been working flawlessly since getting it fixed last month. The total repair cost came to 390€, which included replacing the heating element, thermal sensor and fixing the damaged wiring harness in the seat cushion. The seat warmer now heats up quickly and maintains consistent temperature, unlike before when it was completely non-functional. The repair shop did a thorough job testing the system to ensure no hidden issues remained. While the cost was significant, having a properly functioning heating system again is worth it, especially given how critical the thermal safety components are. The new heating mat was properly secured to prevent future wire damage from regular seat movement. Based on your description of corroded connectors, sounds like you had a more extensive repair needed. But since youve had 6 months of reliable operation, the core heating repair work was likely done correctly. Just keep an eye on the indicator lights and temperature consistency to catch any early warning signs of future issues.

Thanks for the feedback. Wanted to share how my repair journey ended. Took the car to a different mechanic after reading your experiences. They found the seat heater thermal sensor was fried and the wiring in the seat cushion was damaged beyond repair. The whole job cost 450€ including parts and labor. They had to remove the entire seat, replace the heating element and install new wiring harnesses. Also fixed those corroded connectors I mentioned. Been working perfectly for 3 months now. The seat warms up evenly and the error codes are gone. Really glad I switched mechanics, the new shop actually took time to explain the whole repair process and showed me the damaged parts they removed. If anyone else runs into similar seat heating issues, definitely get it checked by someone who knows these systems. The safety risks of faulty heaters arent worth trying cheap fixes.