How hot/cool should ventilated seats feel?

[LurkingLuke]

I'm not certain how well my heated and ventilated seats are working. Hot or cold, when I crank the settingto max (3/3), I can barely feel the effects. Something is working, but not a ton more than the placebo effect would be expected to.

HEAT: unlike some cars I've had, the seat in my Denali never feels "hot", as in, "I should lower this to setting 1 or 2." Should my seat be cranking out the heat?

COLD: I can't hear a fan going or feel any breeze. Should it be this subtle when working properly?

 

[Fefanatic]

The heated seats in my '11 will burn you out on 3. I have to set to two or one to be comfortable.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I cannot help you on the cooling side of the question, as my 2007 does not have that feature. But, on the heating side, as @Fefanatic stated above, the heating side gets HOT. In the cold weather, I often start the heating side to full heat position 3, and after a few minutes, I suddenly realize that my a** is on fire, and I need to turn the heat position down to 2 or 1.

 

[PPV_2018]

On my 2003 SILVERADO the heated seats on MAX will have you sweating bullets after 20 minutes, even if it’s icicle freezing outside

I don’t own a vehicle with cooled seats, but any vehicle I’ve ridden in or driven with the feature is noticeably pleasing on max, regardless of how hot it was outside (get’s real hot where I am at).. so, bottom line, these features on max setting should be definitely noticeable.

 

[petethepug]

2013 Denali XL.

2011 GM yanked the Peltier cooling units from the seats and they had heat from resistance heating mats and ventilated cabin air pulled from the back of the seats only. No a/c seats in the trucks since 2010.

The factors that usually affect the 11-14 combo seats are a flattened out seat cushion that restricts air flow or the plastic fan duct has torn.

If it’s not heating as it should it’s usually the resistance heated mats that need replacing.

 

[UtahYukonAT4]

I have a 2025 Yukon AT4 and I came on here today to ask the same question. I have a 2024 Lexus RX and a 2017 Ford Flex. Both of the later have heated seats that within 5-10 min of the ride and depending on the temp outside, you are are turning both vehicle’s heated seats down to one or off completely. I’m nearly convinced that the Yukon’s seats don’t even warm up. I’ve been wearing jeans and a hoodie almost every day since I got it a couple weeks ago, the weather in Utah has been mid 30’s or lower every day and I’m not sure I’ve had a warm butt or back once. I don’t know if it’s not working at all or this is as good as it gets.

 

[petethepug]

If it feels like you’re not sure, then they’re not working.