Audi Mirror Heaters Fail: Common Fixes Revealed

As someone with some hands-on experience with car electronics, I had a similar issue with my 2017 A5. The mirror heaters failed during winter driving last year. Initially thought it was just the heating elements, but the workshop discovered it was actually a faulty wiring connection in the mirror assembly. The main problem was a loose cable connection where the wiring harness enters the mirror housing. The constant movement of adjusting mirrors had worn down the connection over time. This is pretty common in these models, especially after a few years of use. The repair involved carefully opening the mirror housing and resoldering the connection points. Including diagnostic time, the total cost was 95 Euro. Much better than replacing the entire mirror assembly, which was my initial worry. For proper diagnosis, could you share: Are both mirrors affected simultaneously or did they fail at different times? Does the error code appear immediately when activating the heating function? Have you noticed any other electrical issues with the mirrors (adjustment, folding)? Did this start suddenly or gradually get worse? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced. Cold weather can definitely expose these kinds of electrical problems, but its important to get a proper diagnosis for vehicle safety.

Thanks for the detailed response. To clarify: both mirrors stopped working at the same time, and the error shows up right when I hit the heating button. The mirrors still adjust and fold fine, its just the heating that doesnt work. This started suddenly during a cold snap last week. Last service was at 143028 KM, where they didnt mention any electrical faults. Hope its just the wiring issue you described and not a full rearview mirror replacement needed. Did you notice if your error code disappeared after the repair?

Yes, my error code cleared completely after the repair, which confirms it was definitely the wiring connection causing the issue. The symptoms you describe match my experience exactly, particularly both mirrors failing simultaneously while retaining normal adjustment functions. The sudden failure during cold weather is actually a typical indicator of this wiring issue, since temperature changes can affect loose connections more severely. The car electronics are designed to detect these connection problems and trigger an error code to prevent any potential temperature control malfunctions. In my case, the heater element itself was still functional, it just wasnt getting proper power due to the degraded connection. Since your mirrors still adjust and fold properly, this points even more strongly toward the same wiring problem rather than a complete mirror assembly fault. The repair procedure the workshop used on my A5 took about 2 hours. They tested the heater elements thoroughly after resoldering to ensure proper function and checked the temperature control system was responding correctly. The error code hasnt returned in over a year of winter driving. For reference, when I first noticed the issue my mileage was around 140000 KM, very close to yours. This seems to be a common point for these wiring issues to surface in this model range.

Thanks everyone for the insights. After hearing about these experiences, I feel more confident about the repair now. Sounds like my issue matches the wiring problem described, especially since both mirrors failed at once but still adjust normally. Will book the car in next week and ask them to check the wiring connections first before jumping to a full mirror replacement. The timing seems right too at 143000 KM, and the sudden failure during the cold snap fits the pattern. Really hoping its just the loose connection and can be fixed with some rewiring work. Will definitely make sure they test the heater element functionality after the repair to avoid any electrical faults coming back. Vehicle safety is my priority with winter approaching, so getting those heated mirrors working properly again is essential. Will update once I get the final diagnosis and repair cost. A 95 Euro repair would be much better than replacing both mirror assemblies.

Hello, I have a 2019 Audi A4 Avant. My side mirrors no longer heat or adjust, and haven't for a month. Previously, the passenger side mirror wasn't heating, but I disassembled it and reversed the connector. That fixed it. Today, nothing works anymore. Have you had the same problem? Thank you and have a good day.

(community_translated_from_language)

It sounds like there might be a more extensive electrical issue affecting your side mirrors. Since reversing the connector temporarily fixed the heating issue before, it could indicate a problem with the wiring or connectors. I recommend checking the fuse related to the mirror functions first, as a blown fuse could cause both heating and adjustment to stop working. If the fuse is intact, inspect the wiring and connectors for any signs of damage or corrosion. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, it's best to have a professional mechanic take a look to ensure everything is safe and functioning properly. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!