A method for monitoring thermal overload of an electric load element in a motor vehicle containing other electric consumers, which can be switched into a stand-by phase is disclosed. The load element is monitored by a control device using a calculated load temperature parameter. During a first operational phase, a power loss of the load element or a quantity that is essentially proportional thereto is evaluated for calculating the load temperature parameter. During one or more stand-by phases, the control device is switched with essentially no current between the first operational phase and a second operational phase. After the control device is switched on in the second operational phase, at least one quantity, which is characteristic for the moment of switching on, is evaluated for calculating the existing load temperature parameter.