VW Golf Seat Heater Failure: Fix Guide & Costs

Had the exact same issue with my 2011 VW Jetta TDI. The seat heating stopped working completely in the driver seat, and the warning light kept flashing. After some basic troubleshooting (checking fuses and connections), I took it to my regular workshop. They diagnosed a defective heating element in the seat cushion. The seat heating mat had developed a break in the internal wiring, which is apparently a common failure point in these models. The repair involved replacing the complete seat heating element assembly. Total cost was 390€ including labor and parts. The work took about 2 hours since they had to partially disassemble the seat to access the heating mat. Since the repair, the seat heater has worked flawlessly. The workshop mentioned this is a fairly standard issue they see in VW models from that era. To provide more specific advice: What trim level is your Golf? Also, is the problem affecting both front seats or just one side? Have you noticed any warning lights on the dash or just the non-functioning seat heating?

Last service was at 47177km and they found no other electrical issues during inspection. When I first noticed the problem, both front seats showed intermittent heating function. The passenger side eventually failed completely while the driver side still warms up occasionally but never reaches full temperature. The basic heating control buttons illuminate normally, suggesting power is reaching the switches. The trim level is Highline with full electrical seat adjustment. No warning lights appear on the dash, but the seat heating control lights flash briefly when activated. A diagnostic scan showed error code B10F3 related to the temperature control module. Called a few repair shops and quotes range from 350€ to 480€ just for parts. Before committing to such expensive thermal sensor and heating element replacements, wanted to check if anyone found alternative solutions or knows reliable parts suppliers.

Thanks for those details about your Golf Highline. Your symptoms match exactly what I experienced with my Jetta before the complete failure, the intermittent heating and flashing control lights are classic signs of failing seat heater elements. The error code B10F3 was the same one my car showed. Since both seats are affected but showing different symptoms, you likely have the same progressive failure of the heating elements that I dealt with. The occasional warming on the driver side suggests the thermal sensor is still functioning, but the heating element is deteriorating. I initially tried finding cheaper parts online, but ended up going with OEM components through my workshop. While aftermarket seat heater parts were available for around 200€, the workshop advised against them due to frequent compatibility issues and shorter lifespan. The 350-480€ parts quote you received is in line with what I paid. The full repair cost will likely be similar to my 390€ bill when labor is included. Given both seats are affected, you might want to consider replacing both heating elements at once, it could save on labor costs compared to doing them separately when the second one inevitably fails. My workshop offered a small discount for doing both seats simultaneously. Have you checked if any of the shops you contacted would do the same?

Based on the conversation, I can say that labor costs are definitely a consideration for this repair. The quotes I received actually come down to around 320€ per seat if both are done at the same time, which is a bit better than the individual pricing. After hearing about the similar issues and repair outcomes, I will likely proceed with replacing both heating elements together. The consistent pattern of failure between our vehicles and matching error codes makes me confident this is the right approach rather than trying cheaper alternatives. The repair shops confirmed they use genuine VW temperature control components, so I will schedule the work for next week. No point risking further damage or dealing with compatibility issues from aftermarket parts, especially given the electrical nature of the seat warmer system. Will likely go with the shop that offered the better labor rate for doing both seats, even though their parts cost slightly more. Their familiarity with this specific thermal sensor and heating element replacement in VW models gives me more confidence in the repair quality.