Audi Q8 Mirror Heater Fault: Diagnosis Guide

As someone with moderate experience working on hybrid vehicles, I dealt with a similar electrical fault on my 2020 Q7 Hybrid last winter during particularly cold weather. The rearview mirror heating failed completely, showing error codes. The temperature control issue turned out to be a faulty cable connection at the mirror assembly. My workshop found that moisture had gotten into the connector, causing corrosion and breaking the circuit. The repair involved replacing the wiring harness and connector. Total cost was 95 Euro including diagnostic work. From what I understand, this is a somewhat common issue with these models, especially when exposed to harsh weather conditions. The repair completely resolved the problem, and the mirror heating has worked flawlessly since. Could you share: Current mileage on your Q8? When did you first notice the heating stopped working? Are you getting any specific error codes? Have you noticed any other electrical issues with the mirror functions? This information would help determine if your situation matches what I experienced and could guide you toward the right solution.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My 2022 Q8 Hybrid just hit 151412 KM at the latest service two weeks ago. The mirror heating failure started during the recent cold weather snap. Getting error code B1A5501, but unlike your case, my mirror motor and position adjustment still work fine. The electrical fault seems isolated to just the heating element. Going to schedule an inspection soon since proper mirror defrosting is essential for vehicle safety. Would appreciate hearing if anyone else had similar symptoms with this specific error code.

I can confirm that error code B1A5501 matches exactly what I encountered with my Q7 Hybrid during winter driving conditions. While your mileage is higher than mine was when the issue occurred, the symptoms are nearly identical. The key difference in your case is that the mirror adjustment functions remain operational. This actually supports my initial diagnosis about the connector issue, as the heating element circuit is separate from the motor controls in these models. In my experience, when the temperature control system fails but other mirror functions work, it often indicates a problem isolated to the heating circuit rather than the entire mirror assembly. Looking back at my repair records from that car electronics issue, the workshop also found that the heating element connector had a different routing than the motor wiring, making it more susceptible to moisture intrusion during cold weather. Since you mentioned a recent service, it might be worth checking if any work was done near the mirror assembly that could have disturbed the connections. The repair in my case was straightforward and cost-effective compared to replacing the entire mirror unit. For reference, after fixing the electrical fault, I had no recurring issues even through multiple winters. The mirror heating now activates reliably when temperatures drop below freezing.

Thanks for those details about the Q7 repair experience. My Q8s situation does sound similar, though mine seems more contained to just the heating element. The error code matching is particularly helpful to know. Will get it checked next week to see if its also a connector issue since the cold weather timing matches your experience. Makes sense about the separate circuits for heating versus adjustment, good to know the full mirror might not need replacement. Hoping for a straightforward fix like yours since clear mirrors are crucial for winter driving safety. Will update the forum once I get the electrical fault diagnosed and know if its the same connector problem you encountered.