18 Explorer Heated Seats Not Working Correctly

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

My 2018 Explorer Limited heated seats are not working correctly. We leave the seats on when we shut off the car where it automatically restores to the last setting we had it on when we start the car. When we start it it will not get very warm, no matter how long we leave it on. If we shut the heated seat off and turn it back on, it will get very warm.

 

[15Limited]

My 2018 Explorer Limited heated seats are not working correctly. We leave the seats on when we shut off the car where it automatically restores to the last setting we had it on when we start the car. When we start it it will not get very warm, no matter how long we leave it on. If we shut the heated seat off and turn it back on, it will get very warm.

Are you talking remote start?

 

[peterk9]

My 2018 Explorer Limited heated seats are not working correctly. We leave the seats on when we shut off the car where it automatically restores to the last setting we had it on when we start the car. When we start it it will not get very warm, no matter how long we leave it on. If we shut the heated seat off and turn it back on, it will get very warm.

Welcome to the Forum.
If you are talking about using Remote Start as 15Limited mentioned, then the settings should be on 'Auto', not 'Last Setting' if you want the seats to work. Even so, they will not come on full (3 bars) until you get in and press the brake/start button.

Peter

 

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

No.

Welcome to the Forum.
If you are talking about using Remote Start as 15Limited mentioned, then the settings should be on 'Auto', not 'Last Setting' if you want the seats to work. Even so, they will not come on full (3 bars) until you get in and press the brake/start button.

Peter

I am not using the remote start. We do not use it because we always have it parked inside a garage and do not want the fumes in the garage. We always go sit down in it and start it.

 

[15Limited]

No.

I am not using the remote start. We do not use it because we always have it parked inside a garage and do not want the fumes in the garage. We always go sit down in it and start it.

If you are just getting in the vehicle and starting your car, without touching any other buttons/switches, your heated seats don’t come on automatically to the high setting. After starting your vehicle, you must select the heated seats for them to work to full capacity. According to the owner’s manual it states the heated seats “may” come on when you start your vehicle depending on your previous settings.

I’ll check my 2018 and see what it does...but I think what your vehicle is doing is normal.

 

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

If you are just getting in the vehicle and starting your car, without touching any other buttons/switches, your heated seats don’t come on automatically. After starting your vehicle, you must select the heated seats for them to work.

On the 2018 explorers they do. You can start the vechile and the lights turn on saying the heated seat is on. But they only warm up a little. We have to turn them off and back on to get them to heat up all of the way. And we know it is not made to only heat up a little if it automatically turns back on because it does not act up all of the time

 

[15Limited]

On the 2018 explorers they do. You can start the vechile and the lights turn on saying the heated seat is on. But they only warm up a little. We have to turn them off and back on to get them to heat up all of the way. And we know it is not made to only heat up a little if it automatically turns back on because it does not act up all of the time

I checked my 2018 and I get the same thing you describe...even though the heated seat is showing 3 bars/on high, the seat only warms up as if it’s on the low setting. But you are saying your vehicle doesn’t do this all the time, but is intermittent, correct? Sometimes you start the vehicle and the seats feel like their on high, other times the seats feel like their on low (even when 3 bars/high is shown). Am I understanding you correctly?

I wonder if this is some kind of ‘safety’ feature to prevent sensitive/numb passengers from burning themselves...the system comes on low until you select the high setting again??

 

[peterk9]

FYI, with my 2017, if the seats were on high when the vehicle was turned OFF, they will still be on high (3 bars) when it is restarted.

Peter

 

[peterk9]

No.

I am not using the remote start. We do not use it because we always have it parked inside a garage and do not want the fumes in the garage. We always go sit down in it and start it.

If the issue is intermittent, take it to the dealer and have them check it out. You are under warranty.

Peter

 

[15Limited]

If the issue is intermittent, take it to the dealer and have them check it out. You are under warranty.

Peter

+1...if it’s not to your satisfaction take it to the dealer.

 

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

I checked my 2018 and I get the same thing you describe...even though the heated seat is showing 3 bars/on high, the seat only warms up as if it’s on the low setting. But you are saying your vehicle doesn’t do this all the time, but is intermittent, correct? Sometimes you start the vehicle and the seats feel like their on high, other times the seats feel like their on low (even when 3 bars/high is shown). Am I understanding you correctly?

I wonder if this is some kind of ‘safety’ feature to prevent sensitive/numb passengers from burning themselves...the system comes on low until you select the high setting again??

Yeah that sounds like it. But it sometimes it only gets a little warm and others it gets hot. Does yours sometimes get only warm and others get hot?

 

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

Does anyone know a fix to this problem?

 

[peterk9]

Does anyone know a fix to this problem?

As suggested, take it to the dealer before you start trying anything else. That way they can't say that you may have caused an issue with it.

Peter

 

[18-xplr-u-jacob]

We have talk to our dealer and had them look at and they have not figured it out yet. We were just hoping someone on here has had the problem and found a fix to it

 

[anna.]

Did you ever get the issue resolved?

 

[peterk9]

Did you ever get the issue resolved?

Welcome to the Forum.
FYI, the member was last seen here December 16, 2018, so may not be following this thread any longer.

Peter

 

[speed3b]

Did you ever get the issue resolved?

I am having the same issue in my 2018 Limited. I found this in the TSB thread:

List of Useful Threads - 2011 + Explorer TSB's & SSM's

It specifically mentions remote starts, which I am generally using. But I'm almost certain I'm having the issue with manual starts also. Before I get in after a remote start, I have noticed heat on the seat back but not the seat butt. Then getting in and hitting brake and start button, lights turn on to high. Don't notice heat after that, even on the back.

I usually turn the seat off and wait 10 seconds before turning it back on. If I power cycle it quickly it doesn't seem to come back on. As I said it seems to do this with manual starts also but I haven't been doing them much with the cold weather. I've only had it since October and am still under warranty. Planning to contact the local dealership over the holidays.

 

[peterk9]

^^Welcome to the Forum.
Good to see that you checked into it by looking at that thread.

Peter