Vitara Seat Heater Repair, Common Causes & Costs

Had the exact same heater failure in my 2014 Grand Vitara diesel last winter. Having some experience with automotive repair, I first checked the fuses but found them intact. The seat warmer stopped working suddenly, just like yours. Took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a defective heating mat in the seat cushion. The entire heating element needed replacement, it wasnt just a loose connection or wiring issue. Total cost was 390€ including parts and labor for the seat heater repair. The repair took about 2 hours since they had to partially disassemble the seat to access the heating element. The new heating mat works perfectly now, and the temperature control is actually more consistent than before. Which trim level is your Vitara, and is it the driver or passenger seat thats affected? Also, does the control light on the switch still come on when you activate it? This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced. Worth mentioning that some heating failures can also be caused by damaged wiring or a faulty temperature sensor, but the heating mat is often the culprit in these models. A proper diagnosis at a workshop will pinpoint the exact issue.

Last service was done at 149000km, so pretty recently. Thanks for sharing your experience. My issue sounds identical, its the drivers seat and yes, the indicator light still works when I press the switch. Based on your feedback, Im prepared for the possibility of a complete heating element replacement. Good to know what costs to expect if the thermal sensor and seat warmer need replacing. Will get it checked at a workshop next week and update once I know more about the repair needed for the seat heater.

Thanks for the follow-up. Yes, the symptoms you describe with the working indicator light but no heat exactly match what I experienced. Since your indicator light works, this reinforces my suspicion that your heating element has failed rather than the thermal sensor or wiring. Just make sure the workshop properly tests the temperature control circuit before replacing parts. In my case, they first verified the failure using diagnostic equipment to confirm the heating element was the problem. Given your similar mileage and identical symptoms, you will likely need the same heating element replacement I had done. The repair resolved all issues and the seat warmer has worked flawlessly since then, with proper temperature control at all heat settings. Keep us updated on what they find. Be sure they check the wiring connections near the seat base too, while rare, sometimes the heating repair can be as simple as fixing a loose connection that developed over time.

Thanks for sharing all those details. This really helps confirm its likely the heating element, since my symptoms match yours exactly, working indicator but no heat output. The 390€ cost estimate gives me a good baseline for budgeting the repair. Based on my recent 149000km service and the fault symptoms, a complete seat heater replacement seems the most probable fix needed. Will book it in for next week and make sure they do the full diagnostic check of the temperature control system first, just to rule out any wiring issues near the seat base. Will definitely update the forum once the workshop confirms the exact issue and completes the seat warmer repair. Really appreciate the detailed explanation of what to expect with the repair process and timing.