Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums

Chevrolet Silverado: Why Do My Heated Seats Malfunction?

There are many reasons why your truck's heated seats could be malfunctioning. While the underlying problems generally aren't tough to repair, they can be quite costly.

By Kate Halse - June 10, 2015
Contributors: in2pro

This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado GMT800, GMT900, and K2XX (1999-Present).

It's frustrating to find that your heated seats aren't working properly, especially if it's cold outside. The problem can be anything from a blown fuse to a short in a wire, or faulty relay. In some cases, the entire heating element is burned out and needs to be replaced, which is a potentially costly repair.

Step 1 – Heating element shorted out

If the seat turns on by itself, the problem may be a short in the heating element within the seat. Aside from turning on by itself, the seat might also cycle through the heat setting. Pay attention to the top and bottom heating elements. The part that isn't getting hot is the one that will need to be replaced. (Continue to Step 4 if it needs to be replaced.) Depending on the year and model of your truck, the heated seat controls are either in the door cards (pre-'07), or in the center stack ('07+).

Figure 1. Test out top and bottom heating elements.

Step 2 – A faulty relay

A faulty relay can show up in the form of a hot seat, or a heated seat that seems to turn on randomly and cycle its way through the various heat settings. You will want to check the heated seat switch before looking at the relay. You may need to replace the relay if the existing one is faulty.

Figure 2. Heated seat connector and relay.

Step 3 – Clean the switch and connectors

You might need to remove the switch and connectors for the heated seats to try cleaning them. Use caution while doing this, as there is some lubricant inside to keep the switches functioning properly. During this step, it may be necessary to open up the switch and clean it, or inspect it for signs of weakness or loose parts.

Figure 3. Clean and inspect switches and connectors.

Step 4 – Replace the heating element

If the previous two solutions have offered no change in performance, it's time to revisit Step 1. There are several telltale signs that the heating element needs to be replaced. One of the most common symptoms is that the heated seat button seems to turn off or switch off on its own. Some drivers also report finding that one seat may switch off when the other one is on. For example, if the driver and passenger both attempt to turn on their heated seats, one of the seats may fail to work. In this case, the culprit may very well be the heating element. Since this part can be tricky to replace, you may need to bring your truck to a repair shop.

Figure 4. Replacing heated seat element.

Related Discussions and Article