VW Crafter Seat Heater Malfunction: Sensor vs Full Swap

Had similar seat heater troubles with my VW Transporter T5 2009 Diesel. The seat warmer stopped working completely and triggered error codes. After testing, the heating mat inside the seat cushion turned out to be defective, not just the sensor. The automotive repair involved removing the entire seat cover to access the heating elements. The technician found several broken connections in the heating wire matrix. This is actually a common failure point in these seat heater systems. The entire heating mat needed replacement since individual wire repairs are not reliable. This was a serious repair requiring specialized equipment to test the electrical circuits and careful disassembly of the seat to avoid damaging other components. The seat heating repair took about 4 hours of labor. The heating mat cannot be repaired, it needs complete replacement when it fails. The symptoms match your case exactly, no heat output and error codes. Would strongly suggest getting it properly diagnosed, as continuing to use a faulty heating element could potentially cause electrical issues. Consider getting a second opinion from a shop that specializes in automotive heating systems, as this repair requires specific expertise with seat heater components.

Thanks for that detailed explanation of the seat heater repair. It really helps since my problem sounds identical. Did you remember roughly how much you paid for the complete heater failure fix? Also curious if you had any other issues pop up with the heating element since getting it repaired? My VW has been at the repair shop for initial diagnosis but I want to make sure the quote they gave me is reasonable before proceeding with the repair. The seat cushion problem is really bothering me now that temperatures are dropping.

Since having my VW T5 seat warmer fixed last winter, the temperature control has worked perfectly with no other heating issues. The complete automotive repair cost me 390€, which covered both the new heating mat and labor. Looking back, it was worth every cent to restore proper seat heating function. The repair shop had to fully remove the seat cover to access and replace the defective heating elements. While not a simple fix, the specialized heating repair resolved the cold seat cushion problem completely. Given how similar your symptoms sound, the quote you received should be in this general range if they are doing a full heating mat replacement. Just make sure they test the entire seat heater system after installation to confirm all connections are working correctly. A proper automotive repair shop will verify the temperature control is functioning at all settings before returning the vehicle.

Thanks for the input. Finally got my VW back from the shop yesterday after the seat heater repair. The thermal sensor was actually fine, but just like others mentioned, the heating element in the seat cushion was completely dead. My total repair came to 420€, slightly more than expected but the temperature control works perfectly now. The mechanic showed me the old heating mat they removed, it had multiple breaks in the wiring. They tested the new seat warmer thoroughly before returning my car. Really glad I got this fixed before winter fully sets in. The whole repair took about 5 hours since they had to carefully remove and reinstall the seat cover to access all the components. Worth every cent to have working heat again. Worth mentioning for others, they also found and fixed a loose connection in the temperature control unit while they were at it, which might have contributed to the original failure. Always good to get a thorough check when these systems fail.