100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

lauraswift8

Subaru Sambar Massage Seat Switch Malfunction Fix Tips

Having trouble with my 2021 Subaru Sambar luxury car massage function. The seat switch for the massage feature stopped working completely, and the system shows an error code. I checked the basic connections but no luck. Has anyone dealt with a similar switch failure in their massage seats? Would appreciate hearing about repair costs and solutions from those who got it fixed at a shop. Mainly wondering if this is typically just a seat switch replacement or if there could be deeper electrical issues with the car upholstery controls.

4 comment(s)

rainereagle1

I had a similar massage chair issue with my 2019 Subaru Levorg. As someone with some experience working on automotive seats and electrical systems, I initially thought it was just a loose connection. After basic troubleshooting failed, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty connection in the massage setting control module. The main issue was a damaged cable harness connecting the switch to the seat control unit. The repair involved replacing the wiring and reconnecting the massage chair components properly. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostics and parts. The switch failure turned out to be pretty common in these luxury car comfort systems. The repair completely resolved the error codes and restored full massage functionality. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Have you noticed any intermittent function before complete failure? Are other seat adjustment controls still working normally? Does the error code display permanently or only when trying to activate the massage feature? Can you hear any sounds from the massage motors when attempting to operate them? This information would help determine if youre dealing with a similar connection issue or something different in your massage system.

lauraswift8 (Author)

Latest service was done at 52000 KM. Thank you for sharing that detailed repair experience. The intermittent function did occur about 2 weeks before complete failure, the massage seat would work sporadically before stopping entirely. All other seat adjustment functions work fine, but there is a constant error code displayed on the comfort control screen. No sounds come from the seat motor when trying to activate the massage feature. My situation sounds quite similar to what you described with the cable harness issue. Based on your feedback, I will have the wiring connections checked first before replacing any major components. Good to know this is a common switch failure pattern in these luxury car systems.

rainereagle1

Thanks for those additional details. Yes, your symptoms match exactly what I experienced with my Subaru, especially the intermittent function before total failure. The sporadic operation followed by complete shutdown is a classic sign of a deteriorating wire harness in these luxury car massage systems. Since your other seat functions work normally, this further confirms my suspicion its likely the same wiring issue between the massage control module and the seat motors. The lack of motor sound when activating is also consistent with a broken connection rather than a failed motor or switch. The repair cost on my car upholstery system ended up being reasonable considering the complexity of automotive seats with massage features. The electrical issue was resolved without needing to replace the entire massage unit, which would have been significantly more expensive. From my experience, I recommend: 1. Have them specifically check the wiring harness near the seat frame pivot points 2. Request inspection of the massage control module connections 3. Get the error codes properly scanned before any parts replacement With the same symptoms and mileage range, you should be looking at a similar repair cost around 90-120€ depending on labor rates.

lauraswift8 (Author)

Since the seat motor is completely silent and other functions work, this does seem like the same wiring harness issue you experienced. Really helpful to know the repair was straightforward and didnt require replacing the whole massage seat system. The cost range you mentioned is much more reasonable than I feared. I will schedule a diagnostic check this week and specifically ask them to inspect the connections near the seat frame pivot points. Good to have a clear starting point for troubleshooting rather than blindly replacing parts. Based on the similarity of symptoms, sporadic function before failure, error code display, and silent massage motors, I am optimistic this can be resolved with a similar wiring repair. Having gone through several luxury car repair quotes lately, 90-120€ for restoring the massage setting functionality seems quite fair. Thanks for sharing such specific repair details and follow-up recommendations. This gives me a much better idea of what to expect when I take it in for service.

Join the discussion now: