VW Touran Mirror Heater Failure: Repair Guide & Costs

As someone with moderate experience working on VWs, I encountered a very similar issue with my 2009 VW Passat. The temperature control for the heated mirrors failed during cold weather, showing an error code just like yours. Initially thought it was the heater element, but the workshop discovered it was actually a damaged wire connection where the cable enters the mirror housing. The constant mirror adjustments had caused the wire to fray over time, compromising vehicle safety. Total repair cost was 95€, which covered fixing the connection and testing the system. The good news is that in most cases, you dont need to replace the entire mirror assembly. These temperature control issues are commonly caused by either: Broken wire connections, Corroded plug contacts, Faulty mirror heating element, Control module problems Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Which error code youre getting? Does this affect one or both mirrors? Can you hear the mirror adjustment motor working normally? Have you noticed any water inside the mirror housing? This information would help determine if youre dealing with the same connection issue I had or if its something else in the system.

Had my last service 2 months ago. Mechanic didnt spot any electrical fault with the mirror heating. Both mirrors stopped working simultaneously last week after heavy rain. Error code P0123 appears on the dashboard. The adjustment motor works fine and I can hear it clearly, but cant see any water inside the mirror housing. Looking at the rearview mirror closely, I noticed some discoloration near where the heating wires connect to the glass. Makes me think it might be corrosion related. Will definitely check those wire connections you mentioned, as that seems like a logical starting point before considering full mirror replacement.

Thanks for providing those additional details about the error code and symptoms. My experience with that exact fault code on my Passat points to a common issue in these VW models. The simultaneous failure of both mirrors after rain, combined with the P0123 code, strongly suggests a wiring or connection problem rather than failed heater elements. The discoloration you noticed matches what I saw in my case, it was actually corrosion spreading from the connector points. After getting mine fixed, I learned these temperature control systems often fail due to water ingress at the main connector block behind the door panel. The heavy rain likely accelerated an existing minor issue. The electrical fault usually starts small but quickly affects both mirrors since they share a common control circuit. While my repair cost was 95€, yours might be slightly different depending on how much corrosion needs addressing. Based on the identical symptoms, I recommend: 1. Getting the connector block checked first 2. Having the wiring harness inspected for moisture damage 3. Testing the actual heater elements once the connections are cleaned No need to rush into buying new mirrors yet. The vehicle safety system is flagging the error, but the core heating components are likely still functional once the connection issues are resolved.

The P0123 error code and your description of the fix really helps narrow this down. Thanks for the detailed explanation about dealing with the mirror heating system. Your experience with the Passat gives me more confidence its likely a wiring issue on my Touran rather than the actual heater elements. The simultaneous failure during winter driving conditions seemed suspicious, and now I understand why, the shared control circuit explains a lot. I checked both mirrors again today during cold weather and noticed the discoloration is slightly worse than before. Will have my local shop look at the connector block and wiring harness first, since the car electronics seem to point to that being the culprit. The 95€ repair cost you mentioned sounds reasonable compared to replacing both car mirrors completely. Going to book it in next week and ask them to specifically check those connection points for corrosion damage. Hopefully its a straightforward fix like yours was. Really appreciate the help in avoiding unnecessary parts replacement.