VW Up Mirror Heater Failure: Solutions & Costs

I had the exact same issue with my 2017 VW e-Golf. The heater element in the rearview mirror stopped working completely during last winter. After basic troubleshooting with the temperature control settings, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty connection in the mirror wiring. The cable connection to the heater element had degraded over time, causing intermittent function before complete failure. The repair involved accessing the car mirror assembly and replacing the damaged wiring connector. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostic and parts. The whole repair took about an hour and the temperature control for the mirror has worked flawlessly since. To help diagnose your specific case, could you share: Does the error code appear immediately when starting the car? Have you noticed any other electrical issues with the mirrors? Did the heating function gradually decline or stop suddenly? Are both mirrors affected or just one side? This kind of car electronics issue is fairly common in EVs from that generation, but its usually straightforward to fix once properly diagnosed.

After getting my Up serviced last month at 76917km, I had similar mirror heating problems. The error code appeared right at startup, and the heating element completely failed. My case turned out to be simpler, a blown fuse was causing the rearview mirror heating system to fail. Cold weather driving revealed the issue when the mirror remained foggy. The fuse replacement and system check cost 45€ total. However, based on your description, it sounds more like the wiring issue mentioned above. These car electronics problems often stem from connection points deteriorating. Have you checked if the error persists after the car warms up? This could help narrow down whether its a temperature-related connection issue or a complete component failure. A basic voltage check at the mirror connection points might help identify where the fault lies before committing to a full mirror replacement.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the fuse replacement. My repair journey with the VW e-Golf started similarly, initially suspecting a simple fuse issue. However, after ruling that out, the vehicle safety system kept throwing the same error code consistently, regardless of warm or cold starts. The workshop did a complete diagnostic on the car electronics and traced the issue to corroded connection points inside the mirror housing. The cold weather definitely accelerated the problem, as moisture had seeped in through tiny cracks in the housing seal. Your suggestion about checking voltage at connection points is spot on, this helped identify that power was reaching the mirror but not the heating element itself. For anyone else reading: testing connection points is a crucial step before replacing the entire rearview mirror assembly. Since my repair, I have been monitoring the system closely during cold weather starts, and the heating function engages properly every time. The error code has not returned in over 8 months of regular use. Glad you got yours sorted with just a fuse replacement, definitely the best-case scenario for mirror heating issues.

Thanks everyone for the helpful insights about mirror heating problems. The voltage test was a good suggestion, so I ran it this morning. The reading confirmed what I suspected, its definitely a wiring issue rather than just a fuse in my case. The electrical fault shows consistently on startup regardless of temperature, just like the e-Golf case mentioned. The vehicle safety system throws the same error code every time. After testing both sides, only the driver side rearview mirror heating is affected, suggesting a localized wiring problem rather than a system-wide issue. I have booked it in for repair next week. The shop estimates around 90€ for diagnostics and repair, which seems reasonable based on the experiences shared here. They will check the connection points and replace any degraded wiring in the mirror assembly. Will update once fixed in case anyone else runs into similar temperature control issues with their VW Up. These electrical problems seem fairly common in our models, but at least they are typically straightforward to resolve once properly diagnosed.