Heated Seats

[kiLLa-cALi]

I just bought a 2012 Mazda - Touring a week ago and yesterday, I turned on my heated seat warmer and it didn't feel like its hot enough. Is this normal? how long does it usually takes for it to feel like its hot? is anyone else have this issue?

 

[tex2670]

Should take 3-4 minutes to get hot on the high (2 lights) setting. If you start on the low setting, it will take a while. It doesn't get has hot as my old Honda Pilot did, though.

 

[kiLLa-cALi]

I tried to see how long it would take but after 5 -10 minutes, I don't really feel like its heating up at all or maybe its just not noticeable?. How hot is it supposed to get?

 

[nsbio]

I live in North Dakota and have a 2012 Sport with heated cloth seats. After the car has been sitting at low single digits for a day, the seat takes about 3 minutes to become uncomfortably hot at the high setting.

 

[kiLLa-cALi]

Then I probably have to take mine to a Mazda dealership since I don't feel the uncomfortably hot..

 

[tex2670]

Then I probably have to take mine to a Mazda dealership since I don't feel the uncomfortably hot..

I agree--you should notice it if it's on high for 5-10 minutes.

 

[Scott91370]

I have noticed that the seats in our 2013 are not as hot as our 2004 Tribute.

 

[2zooms]

My wife has a 2010 CX-9 and like nsbio said, after a few minutes on high, the seats are nice and toasty and I gotta switch it to low.

 

[IgoZoom]

After just a few minutes on HIGH in my 2012 CX-9 GT, my butt is wishing that it came with Ventilated (Cooled) Seats also! I rarely (never) turn mine on, but I also park in a heated garage and live in Georgia.

 

[table5511]

Yeah, my 08 takes awhile, about 5-10 minutes, and once it's warm i turn it off cuz its gets hot!

 

[table5511]

Oh quick word of caution - it may have over zealous clean owner syndrome. When in the course of cleaning your vehicle, you put your knee on the middle of the seat. Very bad idea as this is an easy way to kill a seat heater.

 

[weitrhino]

My wife likes the heaters but I prefer not to roast my nuts.

 

[S197GT]

Any resolution to this issue?

I don't feel our "new to us" '11 CX-9 heated seats get very hot. Never feel the need to take them off the highest setting...

Out of warranty in 600 miles. Would love to know if anyone has ever had warranty work done on their seat heaters.

 

[tex2670]

Any resolution to this issue?

I don't feel our "new to us" '11 CX-9 heated seats get very hot. Never feel the need to take them off the highest setting...

Out of warranty in 600 miles. Would love to know if anyone has ever had warranty work done on their seat heaters.

It's hard to tell because different people may feel different about how hot it is. If you are 600 miles over the warranty limit, I'd make an appointment at the dealer immediately--if it's really malfunctioning, they may waive the milage limit since you are so close. But the more miles over you are, the less likely they will be able to do that.

 

[S197GT]

Tex, I'm actually 700 miles (35,300) until my warranty expires so I'm good there. But I still want to get in so that they know I have a complaint before it does expire.

I drove it last night and even though it was 7 degrees out my engine was blowing hot air before I ever felt any heat from the seat. In fact I went to the store about 10 blocks away, shopped, got back in the car, drove up the interstate to the next exit, turned around, and drove back and this all took probably 10+ minutes and I was JUST starting to feel the seat warming up my tush.

That's just not right compared to every other car I have ever owned or been in with heated seats. Calling the Mazda dealer I bought it from today to set an appt. Will update with what happens.

 

[tex2670]

Tex, I'm actually 700 miles (35,300) until my warranty expires so I'm good there. But I still want to get in so that they know I have a complaint before it does expire.

I drove it last night and even though it was 7 degrees out my engine was blowing hot air before I ever felt any heat from the seat. In fact I went to the store about 10 blocks away, shopped, got back in the car, drove up the interstate to the next exit, turned around, and drove back and this all took probably 10+ minutes and I was JUST starting to feel the seat warming up my tush.

That's just not right compared to every other car I have ever owned or been in with heated seats. Calling the Mazda dealer I bought it from today to set an appt. Will update with what happens.

Try sitting in the passenger seat and see if that one is hotter. If so, you KNOW something's wrong.

I would agree that the Mazda is not as hot on HIGH as in my old Honda or Acura, or my current Lexus (my rank would be Honda/Acura, then Lexus, then Mazda).

 

[S197GT]

sat in the passenger seat last night as well. should have mentioned that. it also did not seem to be doing anything. only sat in it for 5 mins or so.

called dealership and he said they will take a look. scheduled early next week. will post update. seemed like he had heard this complaint before and he said you have to actually be sitting in the seat. while i don't doubt his statement i have never had any other car like that before. i know there was a recall for 2010 and i wonder if they changed the design for safety concerns.

anyway, he said it will take about an hour and they will check to see that it is reaching the designed temperature. he did not know what it was off the top of his head but he said whether it takes 2 mins or 15 mins, if it eventually reaches the temperature it is considered working properly.

so i wonder if a tech has to sit on a temp gauge on the seat listening to a cd or if they have a computer/gauge they hook up to a heating element???

 

[Maccoy]

I can drive nearly 10 miles with seats set to 3 and not really notice the heat. I'm thinking maybe that's not normal

 

[S197GT]

so... had a chance to really drive the car some more.

i finally got to a point where I turned down the heat from the highest to the lowest setting. my wife was in the passenger seat and she said she thought hers was working. we have come to the conclusion that they likely work as designed, they were just designed very weak.

in her bmw it has 3-settings. literally within 5 mins or less at the highest setting your butt and back are on fire.

i feel confident that they are working, they just aren't that great, and i think that anyone who has any experience with heated seats in other cars will be like, "these suck". i will probably cancel my appt at the dealer. don't want to waste everyone's time.

if this is the worst surprise about the car i think it will be ok!

 

[tex2670]

I was driving around on Saturday with outside temps of about 20 degrees. I notice the heat more if I position my rear in the exact middle of the seat.