VW Passat Hybrid Fan Dead Despite Working Controls

I experienced an identical issue on my 2019 VW Golf GTE Hybrid. The heater fan stopped working completely, no air flow at any speed setting while the climate control remained functional. The diagnosis revealed two problems: The blower motor had failed, and there was damage to the electrical wiring harness connecting to the motor. The harness had worn through due to vibration, causing a short circuit that ultimately killed the blower motor. What seemed like a simple fan replacement turned into a more complex repair involving both the blower motor assembly and electrical system work. The air conditioning and heating system remained non-functional until both components were replaced. This is considered a serious issue since it affects both heating and cooling functions, plus proper windshield defrosting which is a safety concern. Without proper air circulation, you also risk moisture buildup inside the cabin. Given your car is under warranty, I suggest having it repaired at an authorized dealer. The combination of blower motor failure and potential electrical wiring issues typically requires specialized diagnostic equipment and factory parts to ensure proper system function. The full repair took about 6 hours at the shop, most of which involved accessing the blower motor assembly behind the dashboard and testing the electrical connections after installation.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Really helps to hear about a similar HVAC system failure. I also had my cabin fan die completely in my 2019 Passat, and the symptoms match exactly what you described. Would you mind sharing what the final cost was for your repair? Mine ended up running close to 900€ since they had to replace both the fan motor and some damaged electrical wiring. Just wondering, have you had any climate control issues pop up since getting it fixed? My repair was done about 6 months ago and everything has been working perfectly since then, but always good to know what to watch out for.

Had my car diagnosed and repaired a few weeks ago for the exact same air flow problem. The mechanic confirmed it was just the blower motor that was defective, fortunately no wiring damage in my case. Total repair cost came to 365€ which included parts and labor. The cabin fan has been working flawlessly since the fix. The heater fan now responds properly to all climate control settings and the air circulation is back to normal. Having proper fan speed control again makes such a difference, especially for defrosting and ventilation. Your repair cost sounds higher because you needed additional electrical work, but at least everything is sorted now. These HVAC issues can be tricky, but once properly fixed they tend to stay fixed. Havent noticed any new problems with the system in the weeks since the repair.

Thanks for the feedback. Just wanted to share how my warranty claim experience turned out. Took the car to the authorized dealer after reading about similar HVAC system failures here. The service advisor confirmed the fan speed controller had failed and also found a fault in the wiring harness. Since my car was still under warranty, they covered the full repair which would have cost around 900€. The job took about 5 hours, they had to remove part of the dashboard to access the climate control components. The air circulation is working perfectly now and the cabin fan responds smoothly to all settings. The technician mentioned they see this type of air flow problem occasionally on newer models. He recommended having the HVAC system inspected during regular service to catch any early signs of wiring wear. Really glad I checked here first before paying for repairs that should have been covered under warranty.