SQ5 Blower Motor Failure: Common Causes & Repairs

Had the exact same issue on my 2015 S4 about 6 months ago. The climate control system completely stopped working, no air flow at all through any vents regardless of fan speed settings. After diagnosis, the blower motor was confirmed faulty. The repair including parts and labor came to 365 Euro. The workshop had it fixed within a day, mainly because they had the replacement part in stock. The cabin fan had developed a mechanical fault causing it to seize up completely. In my case, it was purely the motor, no issues with wiring or the control module. The air conditioning and heating system worked perfectly after the replacement. To help diagnose your specific case better, could you share: Does the system make any noise when you adjust the fan speed? Have you noticed any unusual sounds from the blower before it failed completely? Are there any other climate control functions still working? Did the problem develop gradually or happen suddenly? This could help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced with the blower motor or if there might be other components involved.

Last service was at 135000 KM in October. Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, actually I did notice a whining noise from the cabin fan about two weeks before it completely failed. There was no gradual loss of air flow, it just stopped working suddenly while driving. No noise or response now when adjusting the fan speed controller. The temperature controls and air distribution settings still work, but without the blower motor there is obviously no air movement through the system. Based on your experience and the similar symptoms, it sounds like I am dealing with the same type of blower motor failure. Will schedule a repair appointment to get it checked out.

Thanks for the follow-up details. The symptoms you describe are nearly identical to what I experienced with my S4, particularly the whining noise before complete failure. This is a classic sign of bearing wear in the blower motor before it seizes completely. When my cabin fan exhibited that whining sound, I regret not addressing it immediately. The complete failure during driving is exactly what happened to me too. The electrical wiring and control module testing came back fine in my case, which made the diagnosis straightforward. From your description, the temperature and air distribution controls still functioning suggests the climate control module is working correctly. Since the heater fan stopped responding suddenly after making noise, this strongly points to a mechanical failure of the blower motor itself. A word of caution based on my experience, even though the repair is relatively straightforward, make sure they check the ventilation system for debris while replacing the motor. My mechanic found some leaves had made their way into the system, which could have contributed to the motor strain. Given the similar vehicle age and symptoms, you are likely looking at a comparable repair cost to what I paid (365 Euro). The replacement restored full air conditioning and heating system functionality immediately.

Thanks for all the feedback and helpful insights. The matching symptoms, especially the whining noise from the cabin fan before total failure, definitely suggest I am dealing with the same type of blower motor issue you had. That is somewhat reassuring since it seems to be a straightforward fix without electrical wiring complications. I have booked an appointment for next week to get the heater fan replaced. The repair costs you shared give me a good baseline for what to expect. Really glad there is no air circulation at all rather than partial function, as that makes it pretty clear the blower motor itself is the culprit rather than a more complex problem. Will make sure they check for debris build-up during the repair like you suggested. Will also take this as a lesson learned about addressing unusual noises from the air circulation system right away rather than waiting for complete failure. Appreciate you sharing your similar experience to help confirm the diagnosis.