03 4Runner seat rattle

[ky4runner]

Here we go!

I finally broke down and decided to go to the dealer about my seat. The mechanics said they didn't know how I could stand it. They are replacing the seat bottom assembly because something just isn't right. They ordered it and it is on backorder, that's probably because so many people are having this problem worked on. I don't have much faith in this procedure, but I feel it's the first step that must be taken. The only people I've heard of that got this fixed had the entire seat replaced. That may be the next step if the seat bottom assembly doesn't work. I keep you posted.

 

[pbm317]

WOOHOO my seat is fixed. I think they replaced the whole frame assembly or something.. they sent it out to a different place to install the new parts. Now it's perfect. no rocking and no squeaking.

 

[ky4runner]

Redesign?

Congrats! I'm glad they fixed it for ya. I wonder if it is a redesigned seat assembly, because I have one on the way too, but is still on back order.

 

[ky4runner]

New seat today!

I just had my new seat installed today. It seems much more solid than the old and hasn't clunked in any turns. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[DevineT4R]

Well guess what everyone, I just bought a brand new 05' T4R SE. Ive only had it for like less than 2 month with 1600 miles on it now and my frickin drivers bottom seat starts to shift forward and back everytime I either come to a stop or go. This is getting me very frustrated because paying a little over $30 grand for a new car and within less than half a year Im having problems already. Ive talked to the servie department and all they can say is that, theyve only could duplicate it on one other T4R. They did say however that theyll talk to the rep. to see what they can do and call me back but its been like a little over a week and NO calls back. What should I do? and also everytime I drive a little hard I can smell the Sulfer from my exhaust, too. Anyone else with an 2005 having problems.

 

[Kanab]

Had the samething with mine. Just crank it down as low as it will go, no more problem. Just act like you bought a vehicle that did not have a seat bottom that was adjustable, or you can screw with the dealer/toyota (they don't have a fix) and just get piss off. I know what I'm saying won't make you happy but no one has had Toyota fix this seat.

 

[rabeet]

That doesn't solve the problem for me. I still have knocking and shifting with the seat at the very bottom.

I guess we just have to enjoy being just outside the boundary of what Toyota's wonderful customer service will bother to deal with.

Shame they won't even notice those of us that never buy another vehicle from them.

Still a great truck otherwise. Sigh.

 

[Kanab]

That doesn't solve the problem for me. I still have knocking and shifting with the seat at the very bottom.

I guess we just have to enjoy being just outside the boundary of what Toyota's wonderful customer service will bother to deal with.

Shame they won't even notice those of us that never buy another vehicle from them.

Still a great truck otherwise. Sigh.

I also always have the rear seat folded forward so it is up agains't the front seat. This combined with the seat lowered all the away down makes my seat solid as a rock and I am happy with the driving position. So I won't let Toyota touch it. I also feel safer with the back seat up agains't the front, if your in a accident it will keep it from falling backward.

 

[rabeet]

There's an idea. Trouble is I have a child seat mounted behind me, so that is not an option.

I just try to ignore it, and every time I take it in for service (every 5K miles) I will bring it up again and again and again.

It was funny when they called after the last service, where they replaced my sun roof. They did an excellent job on that.

The service rep asked if I was satisfied and I said no and he KNEW I was going to say the seat still knocked, so he ended up just saying well, have a good day. What else are they going to do? Why in hell do they bother you with the call if they won't accept anything other than your praise?

 

[Kanab]

Fold the seat forward that is behind you and put the kid in the backseat on the passenger side. That way you can see the kid easier and you can have your seat snugged in place. I know it sounds stupid to have to go through all this crap so your seat doesn't move around.

 

[JungleJim]

I also always have the rear seat folded forward so it is up agains't the front seat. This combined with the seat lowered all the away down makes my seat solid as a rock and I am happy with the driving position. So I won't let Toyota touch it. I also feel safer with the back seat up agains't the front, if your in a accident it will keep it from falling backward.

That's just unbelievable!! Some of you have to always have the back seat up against the driver's seat?

I would begin a class action lawsuit against Toyota if I owned one with the problem. Toyota has had a couple of years to fix the problem, but they are still putting out the same seat in the 2005. Sometimes a huge company like Toyota needs a kick in the arss to move on an issue.

Beware to those who go to purchase a used 03-05 4Runner with the back seat shoved up against the driver's seat :

 

[rabeet]

I have two kids.

Fold the seat forward that is behind you and put the kid in the backseat on the passenger side. That way you can see the kid easier and you can have your seat snugged in place. I know it sounds stupid to have to go through all this crap so your seat doesn't move around.

 

[Kanab]

I have two kids.

Trade for the Lexus LX470

 

[realyfishy]

Oh crap, now my seat bottom is clunking, when I brake! Dealer said to leave it for a day they will give it a look. The svc mgr said it was not normal.

 

[biglatka]

Oh crap, now my seat bottom is clunking, when I brake! Dealer said to leave it for a day they will give it a look. The svc mgr said it was not normal.

Guess what, the front driver's seat on my new 05 SE, with only 1100 miles on the clock, rattles when I turn, accelerate and brake hard. I guess I join this illustrious group of rattling 4Runner owners. Judging from this thread I don't believe I'll get much satisfaction from the dealer or Toyota. I'll tell them about it when I'm due for my 5000 mile oil change. But I'm thinking I may just live with it, as I don't want the dealer to touch the seat and most likely make it worse or ruin something else in the process. It's too bad; this truck is otherwise the best I've ever owned.

 

[rabeet]

Guess what, the front driver's seat on my new 05 SE, with only 1100 miles on the clock, rattles when I turn, accelerate and brake hard. I guess I join this illustrious group of rattling 4Runner owners. Judging from this thread I don't believe I'll get much satisfaction from the dealer or Toyota. I'll tell them about it when I'm due for my 5000 mile oil change. But I'm thinking I may just live with it, as I don't want the dealer to touch the seat and most likely make it worse or ruin something else in the process. It's too bad; this truck is otherwise the best I've ever owned.

This feature of my 4Runner drove me nuts for a while. But here I am well into the second year of driving my 04 SE, and I have to say I rarely notice it anymore.

I mention it whenever I take it in, but it isn't worth fussing over. The rest of the truck is great.

In the end I decided to not take having a solid, reliable truck for granted. I should be so lucky as to have so few problems with the other vehicles I buy.

If it is any consolation it has not gotten any worse. And I am rather hard on the seat, being big in pretty much every dimension.

 

[biglatka]

This feature of my 4Runner drove me nuts for a while. But here I am well into the second year of driving my 04 SE, and I have to say I rarely notice it anymore.

I mention it whenever I take it in, but it isn't worth fussing over. The rest of the truck is great.

In the end I decided to not take having a solid, reliable truck for granted. I should be so lucky as to have so few problems with the other vehicles I buy.

If it is any consolation it has not gotten any worse. And I am rather hard on the seat, being big in pretty much every dimension.

Well, that's good to hear that it hasn't gotten worse over time. I had an 04 SR5 V6, that I traded for my SE V8, and it had the same exact problem. I never even mentioned it to the dealer for fear of what they might do to an otherwise trouble free vehicle. There is probably a "jury rig" way of fixing it myself with a damper or similar device but I wouldn't attempt it because I might break something in the process. When I was younger I'd probably had the seat out already and the fix done, but my priorities have change since then

 

[swooopeno]

Dealership response to seat rattle in an '04 sr5... same thing as everyone else... toyota knows there is a problem, but they don't have a fix. He advised me to call the 800 # and complain to them... the rep at toyota told me I need to speak to the customer relations manager at the dealership.


Can anyone chime in on if the driver's side power seat harness is in the '04 sr5 or not? I am trying to get this rattling seat issue fixed.

 

[swooopeno]

One more thing... I went to the lot and checked the '05's and '06's. Everyone I checked rattled. When I first got my truck... it didn't rattle at all... not till about 10k.

The limiteds w/ power seats also hade some give... but it was just the bottom cusion lifting up a little (it wasn't metal to metal)... very minor issue compared to the seat track rattle.

 

[swooopeno]

bump


anyone know if the power seat harness is actually there on an sr5???

thanks!