Audi Q4 Mirror Heater Failure, Fix Advice Needed

Having dealt with a similar electrical fault on my 2021 Q4 Sportback e-tron, I can share my experience. As someone with some experience working on car electronics, I initially thought it might require complete mirror replacement. The issue turned out to be simpler than expected. After inspection, the workshop found a loose cable connection between the mirror heating element and the main wiring harness. Winter driving conditions and regular mirror adjustments had caused the connector to work itself loose over time. The repair involved accessing the mirror assembly, reconnecting the cables properly, and securing them with additional protection against vibration. Total cost was 95 Euro including diagnostic work. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, could you provide: Current mileage, Whether the issue affects one or both mirrors, If you notice any other electrical issues with mirror functions, Whether the problem started suddenly or gradually, If you recently had any work done on the doors or mirrors This information would help determine if your issue matches what I encountered or if it might be something different.

My vehicle has 122223 KM on the odometer, and thanks for asking those detailed questions about the temperature control issue. The rearview mirror heating problem affects both sides and started quite suddenly last week. The other mirror functions work perfectly fine, and I havent had any recent work done on the doors or mirrors. Given that my vehicle is still under warranty and this appears to be an electrical issue with the heater element system, I will likely take it to the dealer for diagnosis rather than attempting any fixes myself. Good to know about the potential for loose connections being the root cause. I should mention the latest service was completed just 2 months ago with no issues reported regarding the car electronics or mirror systems at that time.

Thanks for providing those details. Having gone through this with my Q4 e-tron, the symptoms you describe are very similar to what I experienced, though yours occurred at a higher mileage than mine. Given that both mirrors are affected simultaneously and the issue appeared suddenly, this actually strengthens the likelihood of a wiring connection problem rather than failed heating elements. In cold weather conditions especially, these connections can deteriorate without warning. Since your car is still under warranty and the problem emerged after your recent service, definitely have the dealer investigate. The fact that other mirror functions work normally is actually good news, as it typically indicates the core mirror systems are intact. In my case, the loose connection diagnosis was confirmed when the temperature control system showed intermittent function during the dealer's testing. The car mirror heating would occasionally work when the wiring harness was moved in certain positions. While your warranty will cover the repair, for reference, my repair costs and two hours of labor came to 95 Euro. Make sure the dealer checks the entire mirror heating circuit, not just the heating elements themselves, as the connection points are often overlooked during initial diagnosis. Would be interested to hear what they find once you get it checked.

The sudden failure of both mirror heating elements definitely points to a system-wide electrical fault rather than individual mirror issues. The timing is interesting since it happened shortly after the regular service, I will mention this to the dealer when I bring it in next week. Based on your feedback about the wiring connections, I will specifically ask them to inspect the harness and connection points during diagnosis. The fact that the other mirror functions work perfectly makes me more optimistic that this could be resolved without extensive mirror replacement. The warranty coverage is reassuring, though it is helpful to know the potential repair costs you mentioned in case I encounter similar issues after the warranty period. Having proper mirror heating is especially important for vehicle safety during the colder months, so I want to get this resolved quickly. I will update once the dealer completes their inspection and let you know if they find similar connection issues or something different. Thanks for sharing your detailed experience with resolving this electrical fault, it has given me a much better understanding of what to expect.