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Climate control, bodywork and interior

Problems with the heating: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 28 faults with the heating in 28 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: faulty connector in the electric auxiliary heater with fire risk (Kia Sportage IV), fire risk from the heater fan resistor (Opel Zafira B) and short circuit in the auxiliary PTC cabin heater with fire risk (Land Rover Freelander 2).

Documented faults
28
14 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
28
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
28
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

2 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Heating and heat pump

In combustion cars the heating uses heat from the engine; in electric cars a resistance heater or a heat pump is used, which is more efficient but more complex. Fans, resistance elements and auxiliary heaters have had faults and some campaigns over a risk of overheating.

What to do

If the heating takes a long time to warm up in a combustion car, check the thermostat and the coolant level. In an EV, a heat pump that stops heating usually needs a diagnosis and, often, an update. If you smell burning from the air vents, switch the fan off and have it checked.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the heating. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the heating by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentKia Sportage IVFaulty connector in the electric auxiliary heater with fire riskYes: in August 2022 the KBA recorded a campaign over a faulty connector in the electric auxiliary heater of some Sportage QL cars, with a fire risk.
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: CommonOpel Zafira BFire risk from the heater fan resistorYes: Opel/Vauxhall recalled Zafira B cars built between 10 February 2005 and 24 October 2014 because the heater fan resistor can overheat and cause a fire. A first recall at the end of 2015 did not stop the fires and Opel extended the recall in August 2016.
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Freelander 2Short circuit in the auxiliary PTC cabin heater with fire riskBetween 2008 and 2015 there were three British recalls for a possible short circuit in the auxiliary PTC cabin heater of the Freelander 2. Typically the battery is drained and the car will not start; it can also produce a smell of melting components and, in extreme cases, a fire.
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot RCZFire risk from a short circuit in the heating resistor near the fuel lineAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, a campaign was announced in October 2015 over the risk of a short circuit in a heating resistor close to a fuel line, affecting 61,295 vehicles across the group, including the RCZ.
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat AlteaA poorly secured earth cable in the optional parking heater could cause a fireThe KBA documented that, on Altea cars with a factory-fitted parking heater built between 1 November 2006 and 21 December 2007, a poorly secured earth cable could cause heat damage and even a vehicle fire.
  6. 6Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Jetta VPoor earth connection of the auxiliary cabin heater on diesel JettasThe British register lists campaign 87B4 (R/2008/009): on diesel Jettas and Golf Estates built between January 2007 and January 2008, the contact resistance of the earth connection of the auxiliary air heater may exceed specification and cause localised overheating, with a risk of burns or fire.
  7. 7High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 E90Campaign over fire risk from the heater fan connectorYes: in January 2021 BMW recalled around 430,000 3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93 cars in Germany (more than half a million worldwide) because the wiring connector of the heater fan regulator can corrode, cause a short circuit and set the vehicle on fire, even when parked. An earlier campaign, in autumn 2017, had already covered a first batch of cars in the United States.Repair: €0
  8. 8High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Sprinter 907Overheating of the heater and air conditioning fan fuseCampaign KBA 012571 (Safety Gate A12/00865/23) warns that the design of the cabin fan fuse can overheat when the fan is run continuously at maximum, with a risk of fire. It affects Sprinters built between March 2017 and November 2020.
  9. 9High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Espace V2015 electrical recalls: battery sensor earth and auxiliary heaterTwo 2016 recalls affected the earliest Espace V cars: a poorly routed earth braid on the battery current sensor could stall the engine without warning (alert notified by Spain), and a loose earth wire on the auxiliary heater could cause a fire.
  10. 10High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Talisman2015 electrical recalls: battery sensor earth and additional heater wiringTwo 2016 recalls affected the earliest Talisman: a poorly routed earth braid on the battery current sensor could stall the engine without warning (notice reported by Spain), and a loose earth on the additional cabin heater could cause a fire.
  11. 11High severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Swift IVSeat heater poorly secured with fire risk (campaign, Swift 2013-2015)The adhesive tape holding the front seat heater can lose strength, shift the heating element and overheat one part of the seat to the point of catching fire; it affects Swifts built between April 2013 and September 2015.
  12. 12Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 3008 III48V auxiliary heater connector at risk of overheating and fireStellantis recalled Peugeot 3008 III units built between 26 June and 20 August 2025: the connection of the 48V battery wiring harness terminal for the auxiliary heater may not be properly seated, which can cause an electric arc, overheating and a risk of fire.
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Kona IIInefficient heat pump on the Kona ElectricOn some Kona Electric units (Kona II), the heat pump can lose efficiency and leave the heating insufficient or demisting poor, according to a French collection of the model's known faults; it does not affect the petrol or hybrid versions.
  14. 14Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLexus UXUX 300e electric compressor and heating fault: no heating or demistingIn September 2025 Safety Gate listed a recall of the 2021-2022 Lexus UX 300e: the electric compressor can fail and put the climate control into a safety mode that suspends the heating and reduces demisting, with a risk of the windscreen misting up or freezing in cold weather.
  15. 15Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault ZoeHeat pump and air conditioning leaks and failuresSeveral Zoe owners document refrigerant leaks and heat pump failures: the air comes out cold or the heating works erratically, a problem described as especially annoying in winter on the Zoe II.
  16. 16Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota bZ4XHeat pump electric compressor failureAccording to the fiches-auto.fr profile, there is a recall (25SD-075) for cars built in 2022-2025 over the risk of the electric compressor failing, which would affect heating and demisting in cold weather.
  17. 17Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Golf VIINoise or failure of the air conditioning compressor and the heatingSome Golf VII models show a high-pitched air conditioning compressor noise when it switches on, dampness in the front passenger footwell, or a heater that does not warm up because of a broken thermostat, blocked hoses or air in the circuit. No manufacturer has acknowledged a pattern with an official campaign.
  18. 18Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S40 IHeater fan and demisting failure caused by the climate control diode on the 2001 Volvo S40A diode in the climate control system of S40 and V40 models built in 2001 lacked sufficient durability, and its failure could stop the fan and leave demisting and defrosting inoperative. The British campaign R/2001/074 adds a wiring harness with a diode for the fan.
  19. 19High severityFrequency: RareAudi Q5 ICorrosion in the auxiliary heater connectors of the Audi Q5According to the KBA, as cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, contact corrosion in the auxiliary heater connectors can cause a short circuit with burning on Q5s built from 15/03/2011.
  20. 20High severityFrequency: RareLand Rover Range Rover IVAir-conditioning fan earth cable poorly specified with fire riskIn 2015 4,860 Range Rovers built between October 2014 and February 2015 were recalled for inspection, because the earth cable of the air-conditioning blower fan in the dashboard harness could overheat and melt its insulation, with a burning smell and, if ignored, a risk of fire. The cable was replaced.
  21. 21Low severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen ID.3The optional heat pump does not deliver the promised range savingIn part: in June 2021 Volkswagen acknowledged that the optional heat pump on the ID.3 and ID.4 did not deliver the cold-weather range saving it had promised in its advertising, cut the price of the option and compensated customers who had already paid for it financially, as well as releasing a software update to improve its performance.
  22. 22Low severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen ID.4The optional heat pump does not deliver the promised range savingIn part: in June 2021 Volkswagen acknowledged that the optional heat pump on the ID.3 and ID.4 did not deliver the cold-weather range saving it had promised in its advertising, lowered the price of the option and financially compensated customers who had already paid for it, as well as releasing a software update to improve its performance.
  23. 23Medium severityFrequency: RareNissan Leaf IHeating (heat pump) stops warming the cabinOn versions fitted with a heat pump, some owners report that the system stops producing warm air even though the ventilation keeps working normally.
  24. 24Low severityFrequency: OccasionalChrysler 300CElectrical faults: xenon lights, heated seats and climate and navigation controlsAUTO BILD says the 300C suffers faults with xenon bulbs, seat heaters and the climate control and navigation control units. It is a list from the used-car test, with no figures, causes or costs.
  25. 25Low severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Fiesta VAir-conditioning faults: compressor, fan resistor and flapsThe Fiesta V's air conditioning gives trouble fairly often: the compressor, the fan resistor or the air distribution flaps can fail, leaving an air-con that cools poorly or a fan that knocks when it starts.
  26. 26Low severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault AvantimeSeat heater failureSeat heating is among the Avantime's known weak points according to Auto Bild, which advises not kneeling on the seat. An owner of a 2.2 dCi said in 2008 that theirs still did not work. There are no recalls or published costs.
  27. 27Low severityFrequency: OccasionalRover 45Heater blower resistor failureThe heater blower resistor fails regularly on the Rover 45, according to Classic Car Reviews: the fan stops working at some speeds. It is a small, cheap part.
  28. 28Low severityFrequency: RareMG MG4Ineffective climate control or heat pumpThere is the odd documented case of ineffective or inoperative climate control in the MG4, with no cooling or heating, according to a French compilation of testimonies; the source does not distinguish whether it affects versions with conventional air conditioning or with a heat pump more.

Problems with the heating by make

How much it costs to repair a fault with the heating

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with the heating?

Among those we have analysed: Kia Sportage IV (faulty connector in the electric auxiliary heater with fire risk), Opel Zafira B (fire risk from the heater fan resistor), Land Rover Freelander 2 (short circuit in the auxiliary PTC cabin heater with fire risk), Peugeot RCZ (fire risk from a short circuit in the heating resistor near the fuel line), Seat Altea (A poorly secured earth cable in the optional parking heater could cause a fire), Volkswagen Jetta V (poor earth connection of the auxiliary cabin heater on diesel Jettas), BMW Serie 3 E90 (campaign over fire risk from the heater fan connector) and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 907 (overheating of the heater and air conditioning fan fuse). In total, 28 cars with documented faults with the heating.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the heating?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 1 fault with a documented cost. The most expensive is campaign over fire risk from the heater fan connector (BMW Serie 3 E90).

What symptoms does a fault with the heating cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: burning smell, air conditioning not cooling, engine stalls or cuts out while driving, battery goes flat while the car is parked, screen or infotainment system freezes or restarts and windscreen will not demist or takes a long time to clear.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. BMW E90Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  2. BMW 3er E90/E91/E92/E93: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German