03/04 4Runners without 3rd row seating

silver4x419

silver4x419

New member
I was at the dealer the other day and I test drove a 4Runner SR5. When I was checking out the rear seat, it seems they do not lock. I could lift the seat up with no resistance and no problems

Is the bottom of the seats suppose to lock into place? I know the loops on the seat are used to fold the seat bottom forward, but I thought they would lock into position.

These seats I could flip up against the drivers/passengers seat with no problem at all.

What I am trying to ask, are all the 4Runner seats like this? From what I thought, they would stay still until you jerked the loop and it came free. These seats moved freely with no resistance, does not seem right to me?

Thanks in advance. :confused:
 
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The only resistance to tipping forward of the bottom seat cushion is any friction between the bottom cushion fabric and the seat back fabric. There's no latch or anything.

It was this way in '96-'02 4Runners, also.

If you're worried about the seat tipping with people sitting in them, they're more than stable with a butt in the seat. And with seat belts on, your passengers aren't going anywhere. I've also not heard any complaints about the seats tipping while people are trying to get in or out of the vehicle.
 
We have had no probelms with our 2nd row seats being "loose"... and we have leather which has even less friction between butt portion and back portion. :D
 
On 3rd gen. 4runners you DID have to pull the loop to get the seat bottom to come up. I always wanted to make sure it was latched when I put a kids' seat in there so I have checked this.

I also noted on my '03 that it no longer latches anymore. My question is what is that piece of metal for under the seat bottom in the center? At first I thought it was the latch until I figured out that these seats don't latch
 
toybox said:
On 3rd gen. 4runners you DID have to pull the loop to get the seat bottom to come up. I always wanted to make sure it was latched when I put a kids' seat in there so I have checked this.

I also noted on my '03 that it no longer latches anymore. My question is what is that piece of metal for under the seat bottom in the center? At first I thought it was the latch until I figured out that these seats don't latch
Click to expand...

That is my concern. I am thinking if I go over a bump or stop quick or am in a car accident, my passengers will fall out of the seat maybe. And with the seat bottom loose, it scares me if or when I have a child and the child seat would be back their. It should lock. :confused:
 
I'm not too worried about it. With the wieght of a person and being buckled in I don't think it is an issue.

BTW on my 3rd gen. the seat bottom became stuck a few times and it was a real pain in the ass to get it unstuck.
 
I am just worried on having the seat move up or such. It does not look like the greatest design to me. Adding a couple locks would not of hurt anything.

See what happens. This might keep me from purchasing the vehicle actually believe it or not. I can see where this is a safety concern. I have not seen any other vehicle with this type of rear seat that did not have a locking mechanism.

I want to purchase a Sport because I want the telescoping steering wheel and the X-Reas Suspension and do not need the 3rd row seating. But what it comes down to, I will have to see.
 
That is my concern. I am thinking if I go over a bump or stop quick or am in a car accident, my passengers will fall out of the seat maybe.
Click to expand...

That's what seat belts are for.

Even if the bottom cushion was permanently mounted to the floor, a person would still fly out of the seat (assuming seat belt not worn) unless they were super-glued down.

As far as child car seats
 
On 3rd gen. 4runners you DID have to pull the loop to get the seat bottom to come up.
Click to expand...

You may have had to pull on the strap to tilt the bottom cushion, but there was no latch or catch (at least there wasn't on my '96).
 
dancojgl said:
That's what seat belts are for.

Even if the bottom cushion was permanently mounted to the floor, a person would still fly out of the seat (assuming seat belt not worn) unless they were super-glued down.

As far as child car seats
Click to expand...
 
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During a roll over accident and having the vehicle sitting on its roof, I am thinking the seat will come loose.

Also, if you hit a big enough bump, that seat will fly up when no one is sitting their. Arent people complaing on rear seat rattles?
Click to expand...

I haven't rolled over yet (knock on wood!), but I have taken my '04 out 4-wheeling on jeep trails in the Sierra Nevada with lots of bumps and rapid manuevers. (Hit the headliner once.)

Rear seats didn't budge at all. Also, haven't noticed any sqeaks or rattles.
 
Well, maybe everything will be ok then. The salesman said the seats should not move that easy and their is some resistance to get the out, he said something was not right.

I will have to take a look again and maybe another test drive on a really bumpy road.

Wonder if I could get some industrial magnets and attatch them to th seat/floor brackets. That would give me some resistance. ??
 
dancojgl

My '97 definetly had a catch. If I tried to pull up the seat on either side of the nylon strap it would not come up. The nylon strap releases it. If you always pulled on the strap to get the seat up then you may not have noticed it had a catch. It was very subtle catch but it was there. Again I tested it to make sure.
 
Re: dancojgl

toybox said:
My '97 definetly had a catch. If I tried to pull up the seat on either side of the nylon strap it would not come up. The nylon strap releases it. If you always pulled on the strap to get the seat up then you may not have noticed it had a catch. It was very subtle catch but it was there. Again I tested it to make sure.
Click to expand...

That is what I am talking about. Something subtle..... I bet some magnets installed in the floor/seat will give me that. :)
 
silver4x419 said:
That is my concern. I am thinking if I go over a bump or stop quick or am in a car accident, my passengers will fall out of the seat maybe. And with the seat bottom loose, it scares me if or when I have a child and the child seat would be back their. It should lock. :confused:
Click to expand...

I have no problem with the child seat even if I go over a bump or stop quickly.

I am using this Britax Romer Max-Way Plus | ▤ Full Specifications child seat in my 4runner and it works well. No problem at all also my friend has the same and never face such issue ever.
 
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