Verano Seat Heater Dies, Fix Before Winter Hits

I had the same heating element failure in my 2018 Regal. The symptoms matched exactly, no response from controls and error code on display. Initially thought it was a fuse, but diagnostic revealed a broken heating mat in the seat cushion. The seat heating repair required removing the entire seat cover and replacing the heating element assembly. The original heating mat had developed several breaks in the wiring paths, likely from regular seat movement over time. This is actually a common automotive repair issue with heated seats around 60-80k miles. The job took about 4 hours at the shop since they needed to carefully separate the seat covering without damaging other components. This was definitely more involved than a simple fuse replacement, but not a critical safety issue. Just affects comfort. Would recommend having a certified shop handle this since improper heating mat installation can lead to uneven heating or complete heater failure again. They need special tools to properly secure the new element and test the resistance levels. Had no issues with the seat heating system since the repair, going on 2 years now. The new heating elements are usually more durable than the original ones.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Dealing with something very similar in my 2019 Buick Verano right now. The seat warmer symptoms match what you described. Seeing the same error message and complete lack of response from controls. Really helpful to know about the heating mat being the culprit rather than just a fuse. Any chance you remember the total cost for your seat heater repair? Also curious if youve had any other heating element issues since getting it fixed?

Had my Verano fixed last week and the thermal sensor readings now show everything working properly. The total repair cost was 390€ to replace the defective seat heater components. The shop found multiple breaks in the original heating element, just like what happened in my previous repair experience. The seat warmer now functions perfectly, all temperature control settings work as intended. The new heating mat seems more durable than the original. Since getting it fixed, I have had zero issues with the heating system, and the warmth distribution is actually more consistent than before. For reference, I specifically asked the mechanic to check the entire seat heating assembly while they had it apart. The repair included a new temperature control module along with the heating element to prevent future failures. This comprehensive fix was worth the investment to avoid repeated repairs.

Just wanted to update everyone on my seat warmer repair outcome. Took it to a shop this morning and turns out you were all right about the heating element being the main issue. The thermal sensor was also showing intermittent signals, which explained the error codes. The repair took about 3.5 hours total. They had to remove the entire seat cushion to access the faulty components. Cost came to €450 including parts and labor, which seems fair given the work involved. The automotive repair tech showed me the cracked heating element they removed, definitely not something a simple fuse change would have fixed. Just drove home and tested all the temperature settings. The seat heater is working perfectly now, actually better than it did before. Really glad I got this taken care of before winter. Thanks for helping me avoid getting overcharged and for pointing me in the right direction on the likely cause.