Active optical cable assemblies and methods for thermally testing active optical cable assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of thermally testing an active optical cable assembly includes providing electrical signals to an optical transmission module within a first connector that converts the electrical signals into optical signals for transmission over one or more optical fibers of the active optical cable assembly, and applying heat to the first connector as the electrical signals are provided to the optical transmission module. The method further includes detecting electrical signals at a second connector of the active optical cable assembly. The detected electrical signals are converted from the optical signals by an optical receiver module within the second connector. The method further includes determining if the optical transmission module satisfies a benchmark at a threshold temperature of the optical transmission module based on the electrical signals detected at the second connector.