VW Polo Seat Heater Repair, Common Causes & Fixes

As a Golf TDI 2006 owner, I faced almost the identical seat heating issue last winter. The thermal sensor testing confirmed a defective heating mat in the seat, not just the heating element as initially suspected. The temperature control module was functioning correctly, but the seat warmer simply stopped working completely. After proper diagnosis using fault code testing, the workshop determined the heating mat needed replacement. The repair involved removing the seat cover and replacing the entire heating mat assembly. Total cost came to 390€ including parts and labor. The repair took about 3 hours to complete and has worked flawlessly since. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Which seat has the issue (driver or passenger)? Does the indicator light on the switch still work? Are there any other electrical issues in the car? Have you noticed any damage or wet spots on the seat? These heating repair jobs can vary between models, but with Volkswagen products from that era, failed heating mats were a known issue. Getting it diagnosed properly is crucial before replacing parts.

Thanks for the detailed reply. The issue affects the driver seat and the indicator light does still illuminate when switched on. No other electrical problems detected and the seat shows no visible damage or moisture. My latest service was done just 2 weeks ago where they updated the error memory but did not address the seat heater failure. The mileage reading shows 59153km. Looking at your repair costs, would a heating mat replacement be covered under any extended warranty? I want to avoid unnecessary automotive repair costs if possible.

Thanks for providing those extra details. From my experience with the Golf TDI, warranty coverage for seat heating components typically expires after 5 years, so you would likely need to cover the repair costs yourself at this point. The symptoms you describe match my situation exactly, working indicator but no heat output from the seat heater. Since your seat cushion shows no damage and the control switch functions normally, this strongly suggests a failed heating element or broken connection within the heating mat assembly. One cost-saving tip: some workshops will first try testing the electrical connections and temperature control unit before replacing the entire heating mat. In my case, this preliminary check cost 60€ but confirmed the heating mat itself was the problem. While the full repair was expensive, knowing exactly what needed replacing helped avoid unnecessary parts replacement. For your Polo, the parts and labor costs might be slightly lower than what I paid for the Golf, possibly around 320-350€ total. The seat heating system design is quite similar between these models. Would recommend having a proper diagnosis done soon, as continuing to use a faulty seat heater could potentially cause further electrical issues over time.

Thanks for the input. After considering the responses and checking with my local VW workshop, I decided to proceed with the repair next week. They quoted 340€ for replacing the seat heating mat, which seems reasonable based on the feedback here. The service advisor confirmed the seat warmer diagnosis matches what others experienced, likely a failed heating element in the mat assembly. They will first verify the temperature control connections before proceeding with the full replacement. The shop estimated 3 hours labor time which aligns with previous repair experiences shared here. While not cheap, getting the seat heater working properly again will be worth it with winter approaching. I appreciate all the helpful details about checking warranty coverage and getting proper diagnosis first. Will update once the repair is completed to confirm if the heating mat replacement resolved the issue.