VW Seat Heater Problems: Repairs and Solutions Guide

I had a similar issue with my 2010 VW Touareg diesel last winter. As someone who has dealt with several heating system repairs, this particular seat heater failure was quite straightforward to diagnose. The seat heating stopped working exactly like yours, control light on but no warmth. My workshop scan also showed heating element related codes. After inspection, they found the seat heating mat was completely defective and needed replacement. The repair involved removing the seat cover and replacing the entire heating element assembly. Total cost was 390€ including parts and labor. The fix completely resolved the issue and the seat warmer has been working perfectly since then. For a more specific diagnosis of your case, could you share: Which seat is affected (driver, passenger, or both)? Did the problem start suddenly or gradually? Does the thermal sensor show any temperature change when activated? Are there any visible damage signs on the seat? This information would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced with my Touareg.

Thanks for the info about the seat heating repair. Had mine fixed just after the latest service 2 weeks ago at 73578km. In my case, they found a broken wire in the seat cushion wiring harness that had worn through from repeated movement. Much cheaper fix than a full heating element replacement, repair cost was 120€ including labor. The seat warmer works perfectly now. The heating failure turned out to be a common issue with these seats due to wire routing. Having the wiring properly secured during repair prevents it from happening again. If anyone else faces this, get the wiring checked first before replacing the whole heater assembly.

Thanks for sharing those details about your wire harness repair. I wish I had known about checking the wiring first when I had my Touareg seat heater issue fixed. The mechanic went straight to replacing the heating element without thoroughly inspecting the wiring. The 270€ price difference between our repairs is significant. A broken wire in the seat cushion would explain the same symptoms I experienced, the control light working but no heat output from the thermal sensor. The complete heating element replacement might have been overkill in my case. This is valuable info for other owners, always have the seat wiring harness inspected before assuming the entire heating element needs replacement. The repeated movement causing wire wear makes perfect sense given how often we adjust our seats. Would you mind sharing which specific wire was damaged in your case? This could help others pinpoint similar issues with their seat warmer systems.

Thanks for the wiring harness question. The broken wire was actually the positive lead going to the seat heating element in the bottom cushion. It had rubbed through right where it passes through the seat frame near the height adjustment mechanism. Based on what the automotive repair tech showed me, these wires flex every time the seat moves up/down or forward/back. Without proper securing clips, they can eventually wear through the insulation and break. In my case, fixing just this one wire restored the complete seat heating function. For anyone dealing with similar seat warmer problems, insist on a thorough wiring check during diagnosis. Even though the error codes pointed to a heater failure, the real issue was much simpler. The 120€ I paid for the wire repair was way more reasonable than replacing the entire heating element. The tech also mentioned this is a fairly common issue in VW seats from that era due to the wire routing design. Having the harness properly secured with new clips during repair should prevent future heating element failures from wire damage.