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Heated Seat Retrofit

11173 Views 34 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  zedknepplin
I have a 2022 Envision Avenir which I purchased in April of 2022 and it was noted on the window sticker that the heated seats and heated steering wheel wouldn't work due to the chip shortage but would be a 2nd or 3rd quarter 2022 dealer retrofit. Well, surprisingly, the heated steering wheel does work properly, so that won't be an issue but in contacting the dealer today, they have no idea as to when the retrofit will be available for the heated seats but when performing a Google search on the issue, I saw several articles that state that parts were shipped to dealers during the first week of August. Just wondering if anyone has any clarity as to what is happening with this as what I read and the dealer seem to contradict each other. Thanks for any input.
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I just bought an envision avenir, and I hope they will retrofit those features soon.

By the way, do you have a moonroof? do you hear any buzzing/high-pitch noise from the roof control panel?
I just bought an envision avenir, and I hope they will retrofit those features soon.

By the way, do you have a moonroof? do you hear any buzzing/high-pitch noise from the roof control panel?
From what I understand, not all will be retrofitted as after a certain date the vehicles were built entirely without the feature. If your window sticker listed "Includes Later Retrofit" you should be good, if it doesn't, it's possible that you have one that was built after that date and won't be eligible for it. I do have a moonroof and haven't heard anything that stands out, but I'll give it a listen and see if anything is there and if it is, I'll let you know.
I just bought my 2022 Envision Avenir a month ago. It did have the comment about the retrofit. Mine is missing the front heated/ventilated seat feature, rear heated seats, and rear cross traffic alert feature. My dealer told me that GM and Buick did receive a bunch of the delayed chip components but they are now retrofitting the first group of vehicles. I was told my car's turn may be as late as the end of the year. On GM Authority website I read an article that stated the heated steering wheel feature will be left out starting with the November 2022 assemblies. My steering wheel heats. Also, my moonroof control module is dead silent....so far.
I have a 2022 Imagine Avenir which I bought in April of 2022 and it was noted on the window sticker that the warmed seats and warmed controlling wheel wouldn't work because of the chip deficiency yet would be a second or third quarter 2022 vendor retrofit.
I too have a concern about this issue. I am trying to purchase a new 2022 Envision Essence and the window sticker says under "Options",

CREDIT - $50 NOT EQUIPPED W/ FRONT HEATED SEATS: INCLUDES LATER RETROFIT.

Does that mean it has heated seats installed but they will be retrofitted later? Or it does not have them at all and is not an option?

It is a medical issue with me (spinal disease, have had back surgery once) and I have to be sure it will have heated seats later. I don't know how to interpret this and the dealer wasn't much help. Thanks anyone who knows.
I too have a concern about this issue. I am trying to purchase a new 2022 Envision Essence and the window sticker says under "Options",

CREDIT - $50 NOT EQUIPPED W/ FRONT HEATED SEATS: INCLUDES LATER RETROFIT.

Does that mean it has heated seats installed but they will be retrofitted later? Or it does not have them at all and is not an option?

It is a medical issue with me (spinal disease, have had back surgery once) and I have to be sure it will have heated seats later. I don't know how to interpret this and the dealer wasn't much help. Thanks anyone who knows.
Hi Mom22Mimi24, from what I was told when I purchased in April of this year, if it reads that on the sticker, then it's set up for heated seats and the only thing missing is the chips to make them work. I believe that vehicles built after November 2021, won't have the heated feature available at all but ones built prior will have the notation on the sticker that a later retrofit is included. I was told back then that it'll be the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2022 that this will be completed but, same here, the dealer can't shed any light on it, they told me that it'll be handled as a vehicle recall when the chips are available. I read a GM Press Release back at the end of July that stated that the chips were going to be sent to the dealers beginning the first week of August and that the dealers will be contacting the vehicle owners but when I went for service two weeks ago, the dealer claims that they don't have any and no nothing about the GM Press Release, seems like they're just pointing fingers at each other, I'm kind of frustrated at this point.
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Hi Mom22Mimi24, from what I was told when I purchased in April of this year, if it reads that on the sticker, then it's set up for heated seats and the only thing missing is the chips to make them work. I believe that vehicles built after November 2021, won't have the heated feature available at all but ones built prior will have the notation on the sticker that a later retrofit is included. I was told back then that it'll be the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2022 that this will be completed but, same here, the dealer can't shed any light on it, they told me that it'll be handled as a vehicle recall when the chips are available. I read a GM Press Release back at the end of July that stated that the chips were going to be sent to the dealers beginning the first week of August and that the dealers will be contacting the vehicle owners but when I went for service two weeks ago, the dealer claims that they don't have any and no nothing about the GM Press Release, seems like they're just pointing fingers at each other, I'm kind of frustrated at this point.
Hi Mom22Mimi24, from what I was told when I purchased in April of this year, if it reads that on the sticker, then it's set up for heated seats and the only thing missing is the chips to make them work. I believe that vehicles built after November 2021, won't have the heated feature available at all but ones built prior will have the notation on the sticker that a later retrofit is included. I was told back then that it'll be the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2022 that this will be completed but, same here, the dealer can't shed any light on it, they told me that it'll be handled as a vehicle recall when the chips are available. I read a GM Press Release back at the end of July that stated that the chips were going to be sent to the dealers beginning the first week of August and that the dealers will be contacting the vehicle owners but when I went for service two weeks ago, the dealer claims that they don't have any and no nothing about the GM Press Release, seems like they're just pointing fingers at each other, I'm kind of frustrated at this point.
Moa57,

Thanks for your reply. I pinned my sales manager down today and he said, yes if it says to be retrofitted later (on the Window sticker) on the heated seats, it will be, but no time frame yet. With me, it is a medical issue and I explained that to him. Since he says the Essence you can't order the Premium seats that have 4 way lumbar, (even though it is on the build your own on GM's website) because he said they are saving those parts for the Avenir.
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Hi Mom22Mimi24, from what I was told when I purchased in April of this year, if it reads that on the sticker, then it's set up for heated seats and the only thing missing is the chips to make them work. I believe that vehicles built after November 2021, won't have the heated feature available at all but ones built prior will have the notation on the sticker that a later retrofit is included. I was told back then that it'll be the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2022 that this will be completed but, same here, the dealer can't shed any light on it, they told me that it'll be handled as a vehicle recall when the chips are available. I read a GM Press Release back at the end of July that stated that the chips were going to be sent to the dealers beginning the first week of August and that the dealers will be contacting the vehicle owners but when I went for service two weeks ago, the dealer claims that they don't have any and no nothing about the GM Press Release, seems like they're just pointing fingers at each other, I'm kind of frustrated at this point.


Moa57,

Thanks for your reply. I pinned my sales manager down today and he said, yes if it says to be retrofitted later (on the Window sticker) on the heated seats, it will be, but no time frame yet. With me, it is a medical issue and I explained that to him. Since he says the Essence you can't order the Premium seats that have 4 way lumbar, (even though it is on the build your own on GM's website) because he said they are saving those parts for the Avenir.
I bought the Avenir as it was all that was available. Three dealers in Rhode Island had a total of 18 Envisions arriving that week 17 were the Avenir and 1 base model. All of my previous Envisions were the Essence model and if they had power seats, that included lumbar, it's not included on the Avenir. You would think that if you bought the high end vehicle that it would have everything, not in this case, I found out after the fact that if you wanted lumbar, it was an additional $350 upgrade. For a $47+k sticker price you would think that it would just include it, $47,000 or $47,350 isn't going to change my mind. Here is the link to the release from late July about chips going out to dealers starting the first week of August, which my dealer has no knowledge of:

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Just an update to my thread, I contacted my dealer again 3 weeks ago, the salesman got back to me and said that he had service order them and that they said that it takes about a week for them to arrive. After hearing nothing, I called my dealer yesterday and they told me that now GM is doing something different and that they can't be ordered and that they'll send a letter out by VIN# and you'll bring that to the dealer for them to order them. At this point, not being able to get a straight answer from anyone, I'm thinking that the retrofit probably isn't going to happen, which if that's the case, just tell me so.
Hi Folks... New poster to this forum. Just to confirm I too purchased a 2022 Envision Essence in late Sept. '22. Same issue with delivery deficiencies:
1. "Not Equipped w/ Front Heated Seats; Includes later retrofit" and
2. "Not Equipped w/ Front/Rear Park Assist; Includes later retrofit"
In follow-up contact with dealership on these retrofit issues I was informed that these were being handled as GM Recall issues and related communications would be handled directly btw GM and customer (Dealer would have no involvement until such time as the parts were ready and available).
I asked for a GM contact with whom I could speak and was given the GM Customer Service # 800 462-8782. This turns out to be a broken automated service that confirms your phone # as being associated with a recall-related vehicle, but when transferring me to a human the line was dropped (3 times).
No further progress to report but will do so when I hear/get anything noteworthy.
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Good news for us 2022 Envision owners waiting for the heated seat retrofits. I’ve been checking weekly on the Buick Recalls website (Buick Recall Information | Buick Canada Recall Centre | Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, HUMMER and SAAB Recalls), entering my VIN to see if my vehicle was flagged for the retrofit. I entered my information today and the recall notice for front and rear heated seats was listed. I called my dealer to inquire and they checked on their end and confirmed that I could bring the car in next week to get the retrofit. They have to call and order the parts but she said it only takes a couple of days. I bought my Envision in May 2022. Hopefully you all start to get your notices soon, they haven’t forgotten about us!
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Good news for us 2022 Envision owners waiting for the heated seat retrofits. I’ve been checking weekly on the Buick Recalls website (Buick Recall Information | Buick Canada Recall Centre | Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, HUMMER and SAAB Recalls), entering my VIN to see if my vehicle was flagged for the retrofit. I entered my information today and the recall notice for front and rear heated seats was listed. I called my dealer to inquire and they checked on their end and confirmed that I could bring the car in next week to get the retrofit. They have to call and order the parts but she said it only takes a couple of days. I bought my Envision in May 2022. Hopefully you all start to get your notices soon, they haven’t forgotten about us!
Thank you very much for the update... There's hope yet as we enter winter.
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Good news for us 2022 Envision owners waiting for the heated seat retrofits. I’ve been checking weekly on the Buick Recalls website (Buick Recall Information | Buick Canada Recall Centre | Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, HUMMER and SAAB Recalls), entering my VIN to see if my vehicle was flagged for the retrofit. I entered my information today and the recall notice for front and rear heated seats was listed. I called my dealer to inquire and they checked on their end and confirmed that I could bring the car in next week to get the retrofit. They have to call and order the parts but she said it only takes a couple of days. I bought my Envision in May 2022. Hopefully you all start to get your notices soon, they haven’t forgotten about us!
Thanks for the update Twinmom, unfortunately for me, nothing as of yet and I purchased on April 6, 2022. Happy that yours is ready to go.
Thanks for the update Twinmom, unfortunately for me, nothing as of yet and I purchased on April 6, 2022. Happy that yours is ready to go.
To update my previous message, thank you so much for that link Twinmom, I see that on August 25th, a recall was issued for my vehicle and the final status is "Incomplete" meaning that I haven't been in to correct the issue. I am beyond PO'ed as I have been on GM and my dealer since mid August and all they've done is point fingers at each other and neither one knows anything. I'll be on their doorstep tomorrow morning with the printout from the site that you gave the link to. Follow up to my visit will be coming.
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I have a 2022 Envision Avinar, purchased in Sept. I clicked on the link that tubssear so graciously provided and entered my VIN. A recall did show, but not for the heated seat retrofit. It showed a recall for the Daytme Running Lights (DRL). I would rather have the heated seats working, especially since we are approaching winter. My guess is the heated seats will be rectified just in time for the warm months of summer :(
I have a 2022 Envision Avinar, purchased in Sept. I clicked on the link that tubssear so graciously provided and entered my VIN. A recall did show, but not for the heated seat retrofit. It showed a recall for the Daytme Running Lights (DRL). I would rather have the heated seats working, especially since we are approaching winter. My guess is the heated seats will be rectified just in time for the warm months of summer :(
Took my 2022 Buick Envision for a first warranty oil change and they found a factory recall (DRL) daytime running lights that did not deactivate when the headlights are turned on and corrected.
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Took my 2022 Buick Envision for a first warranty oil change and they found a factory recall (DRL) daytime running lights that did not deactivate when the headlights are turned on and corrected.
The DRL recall doesn't have to be brought into the dealer as it's a software update, mine updated last Monday after I accepted the update to download and in checking my recalls, it's no longer listed.
To update my previous message, thank you so much for that link Twinmom, I see that on August 25th, a recall was issued for my vehicle and the final status is "Incomplete" meaning that I haven't been in to correct the issue. I am beyond PO'ed as I have been on GM and my dealer since mid August and all they've done is point fingers at each other and neither one knows anything. I'll be on their doorstep tomorrow morning with the printout from the site that you gave the link to. Follow up to my visit will be coming.
Heated seat update, I visited my dealer a week ago Friday and when presented with my printout from Twinmom's link, they agreed that I was eligible and ordered the parts, they told me that it would be 1 to 2 weeks before the parts were available. Oddly enough, I was at my dealer midday on that Friday and at 7:30 the following Monday morning, I get both an e-mail and a text telling me that my parts have arrived. Less than 72 hours after ordering them and over the course of a weekend, the parts arrived, I'm thinking that they were already in stock, especially as I got the messages before the dealership was even open on that Monday morning. In any event, I have an appointment tomorrow (Tuesday 12/27) to have the module installed. In another odd sequence, when I accepted the software update this past Monday that apparently corrected the DRL recall issue, later that day, I noticed that all of the heated seat switches were active and lit up in the red for heat and blue for cooled, however the seats didn't heat up with them. Those switches were dead with no lights from the day I bought the vehicle back in April.
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Finally I was able to get the parts installed today and my seats are no longer cold. Good luck to those that are still waiting.
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