VW T-Cross Seat Heater Fault: Repair Guide & Costs

I had a similar heating repair issue with my 2017 T-Roc, which shares many components with your T-Cross. With some experience in automotive repair, I can share what worked for me. The seat heating mat was completely defective in my case. Initially thought it was the temperature control module, but diagnostic testing revealed the heating element itself had failed. The workshop found breaks in the heating wire inside the seat cushion. Total repair cost was 390€, including parts and labor. The job involved: Removing the seat cover, Replacing the entire heating mat, Testing the new installation, Resetting error codes Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Which seat is affected (driver, passenger, or both)? Does the issue occur immediately at startup or after some time? Are you getting any specific error codes? Have you noticed any burning smell or unusual behavior before the heater failure? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced. The T-series cars from that generation often share similar heating system components, so the fix might be comparable.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The driver seat is affected and the issue started suddenly without any warning signs. Error code P0652 shows up. No burning smells noticed. Just had my service done last week at 53379km where they performed a full diagnostic check, but the seat heater was still working then. The heat stopped working completely 2 days ago, no partial heating or intermittent function, just completely cold. Has anyone encountered this specific error code with their seat heating system? The quoted 450€ repair seems high compared to your costs, especially since this appears to be a relatively common heating element failure in these seats.

Based on my experience with the same issue in my T-Roc, error code P0652 typically points to a seat heater element failure rather than a thermal sensor problem. After dealing with my own repair, I can confirm these heating elements tend to fail completely rather than gradually. Your symptoms match exactly what I experienced, sudden failure without warning and complete loss of heat. The price difference between my 390€ repair and your quote of 450€ is likely due to parts cost increases over the past year, as the seat cushion assembly with integrated heating elements has gone up in price. Since the issue started right after your service, have the temperature control module checked first, sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting during service can cause connection issues. However, given the complete loss of heat and the specific error code, you are likely facing the same heating element failure I had. A professional workshop should be able to perform resistance testing on the heating mat to confirm before replacement. Make sure they check the wiring harness connections too, this only adds about 15 minutes to diagnostic time but can save unnecessary parts replacement.

The situation matches your previous repair case perfectly. The P0652 code and complete heat loss does seem to point to a heating element failure rather than a control module issue. Your experience with the T-Roc repair is really helpful since these models share similar seat heating components. The price gap makes more sense now, 60€ difference over two years for the same repair is reasonable considering parts inflation. Since my system was working fine during the recent service, it does seem like a sudden heating element failure rather than a gradual breakdown or connection issue. Based on this information, I will proceed with the repair. I will request they perform the resistance testing on the heating mat and check the wiring harness first, as suggested. At least I can be more confident now that the 450€ quote is in line with typical repair costs for this type of seat heater failure. Will update once the repair is completed in case others run into similar issues with their T-Cross seat heating systems. Thanks for the detailed insight, it helped confirm my suspicions about the heating element being the core problem.