03 4Runner seat rattle

[c44me]

Hmm, no seat problems with my SR-5, but I always have the knob all the way flat/down. I can't say it's a comfortable seat, but at least it seems to stay put. Just as a side note, there have been fatalities and lawsuits arising from seats sliding back in small Cessna airplanes.

But vin, getting back to the brakes, I experience that same issue with the vehicle seeming to accelerate while braking. I've almost rear-ended a couple of vehicles myself when I checked my rear-view mirror for rear-enders, and looked back to find myself way closer to the vehicle in front than I expected. And that's on top of the lunges the vehicle makes at every stop as the 5-speed downshifts. Also, the pedal will go to the floor if you keep pressure on it, and it makes occasional popping sounds. The dealer looked at the brakes and said they're normal.

 

[vin]

*UPDATE*

After sending the lemon law papers I was contacted by South East Toyota (SET) and they instructed me to take the truck to the dealer for a final attempt to fix the seat problem. They gave us a '04 4Runner to use from a local rental agency. The seat in the rental hardly had play in it and it had 11k miles on it. That same afternoon I got a phone call from the dealer stating that the factory rep says there is nothing wrong with the seat :cursin: . I contacted the person I spoke to at SET. I told her that the rentals seat did not move, she didnt care. She told me to go to step 2 in the lemon law which is arbitration, so thats next. Has anyone had their seat successfully fixed by the dealer ? Please let me know, I need as much ammo as I can get :50cal:

Thanks

 

[Jim]

I have the same problem with my 4Runner. At the time, the 4Runner was about a month old with 3000 miles. The dealer ordered the seat frame to attempt to fix the seat, but one of the service weanies gave it to another customer the day I showed for my appointment! I complained to the GM and they sent a tech to my house with a brand new 4Runner and swapped seats. This seat moves too.

The service manager did some research and discovered that, according to the factory, they used to have a seat movement problem, but it was "fixed". Both of the seats in question were made after the fix was in production. The dealer offered to replace the seat frame, but given the factory's claim, that does not seem likely to solve the problem.

Good luck with arbitration, let us know how it works out.

 

[gknapper]

Well I just started with the same problem........ I have 4700 miles on my '04 sport edition. It is very annoying that when I hit the brakes or excelorate the seat makes a clicking sound. THis is my 4th Toyota and NEVER had an issue with the seats. I am about to take it in for my oil change and wanted to see if I should bother with telling them to fix this problem or just wait? I don't see that anyone has had any luck getting this fixed.


Greg

 

[Jim]

I did a search for complaints on the 2003 4Runer at the NHTSA site and found 136 total, 9 of which have to do with seat movement. The seat complaint numbers are:

10013548
10030886
10036794
10036829
10045413
10050531
10051461
10054619
10054903

Search page for complaints can be found at:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsearch.cfm

No seat complaints have been filed for the 2004 models yet - couldn't hurt if we all did that.

 

[Sad4RunnerOwner]

When it rains . . . .

Funny, we attempted to trade our 4Runner in on an all wheel drive VW Passat 4Motion wagon. The deal went south when we found out that they were adding close to $11,500 in loss to the deal. I laughed SO hard. There was no way that I would pay $41,088.00 for a VW .... Plus, pay $11,500 to get out of my 4Runner. Granted, I hate it, but not that much.

I opted to bring it to a self sell - lot. Naturally, they were not set up yet. I looked to my right, and found a Toyota dealer that had not seen our 4Runner yet. So, Over I went. They looked at the way the seats were curling & agreed that it should not be happening. The last four dealers have stated that it's "Normal." So, I scheduled to go back to have it fixed. Oh, the lumbar support bag is beginning to pop too.

Long one short, when I walked out after scheduling my appointment, the right front bumper/fender were scratched, around the side from above the fog light to the front of the wheel. This great Marin County person who was parked in front of me, didn't notice my car, and backed right into it.

$417.00 to fix it. The bumper was actually cheap. $109.00. I must say that I'm pretty impressed.

This morning, I dropped the car off, and again, all the service people agreed that the seat cover should not be doing what it's doing. They also said that the saw the Marin County lady hit my car . . .

Five hours into the repair, they called me to advise that there are "Several TSB's" on these seats. Referring to the air bag popping. I advised that the seats have already been switched. He was not really happy to hear that . . .. Oops. Apparently they have spent quite a bit of time n that . . . Now, they are working on the seat covers.

If I were any of you having this rocking problem, I'd check the TSB's to see if they have changed and are now including your seats!

I have also written to the West Coast Customer Service Center B_tching about this product! Jump on the band wagon and let them know what you are all dealing with! Use the Irvine Service address!

"Oh what a feeling . . . . "

:50cal:

 

[Sad4RunnerOwner]

Up-date - WOW

So, Toyota stepped up to bat, and has agreed to order me a new seat cover. Not only that, but they even washed my 4Runner and had it looking pretty cool. Go figure. I suppose that the fourth time is now the charm?

I should hear back by the end of the week for the next appointment.

 

[rando]

I had a problem with an 02 Ford Exploder last year. It's tranny went south after only 1200 miles. The second tranny failed immediately (literally drove it only 10 feet). I worked with the people at http://www.californialemonlawattorneys.com. If you cantact them they will do a free conslutation and let you know if they will take your case. If they do take the case, they get paid by Toyota, not you.

I had my money back in 45 days. Despite the arbitration requirements to use the Lemon Law in CA, they were able to 'negotiate' the Lemon buy-back. It all comes down to money. Once Toyata sees that their expense will skyrocket to defend a case they will ultimately lose, they will be willing to settle.

For me, I'm hoping/preying that my seats don't develop this flaw. I don't think I could handle the idea of having back to back lemons. Maybe I better hold off on the Leather upgrades. I don't want to give Toyota any reason to blame a future failure on me.

 

[Livo]

Just to check back, has anyone had any success with getting their loose/rattling driver seat repaired. I am scheduled to go in for my service in a couple of weeks for my '03 4runner sport, and when I called to make my appointment, I told the service guy about my driver seat, and he said that there has been no issues with the seats, and this is the first time he has heard about it. I already know that they are going to tell me that nothing is wrong, and I just wanted to see if any one knew anything more about this issue. My seat is really starting to annoy me. I am guessing that I should get this problem documented to proceed with lemon law if that is possible. Any information would be a big help. Thanks

 

[dcampen]

Fixed in 2004?

So are any people who have bought recently built 2004s experiencing the seat movement problem? I have not noticed anything but I am tall so I keep my seat adjusted most of the way down.

 

[rabeet]

I have an 04 SE V6 with the cloth interior. I haven't noticed anything at all. I believe it was built in 09/03.

I also have the seat all the way down and all the way back.

What seats is this happening to? The powered ones?

I have never owned a new vehicle that didn't have at least one minor defect that needed fixing. This 4Runner has had zero. Nada. Kind of strange.

 

[leftyrb]

I had the drivers seat assembly replaced on my 2004 SR5 model a few days ago. My seat would rattle. Toyota Canada suggested seat assembly replacement. Dealer had vehicle entire day as they had to remove the upholstery from old seat and install on new seat. Seems ok now.

 

[Sad4RunnerOwner]

OK, I'm going to try the lemon law too!

Hey all.

I give up. I'm sick of D-cking around with all this.

1) This is why I used to drive Toyota's.
2) This is why I bought brand new Toyota's.
3) Thanks Vin... I'll call today!

Craig-

 

[Kanab]

My 04 does it, I think I will try cranking the front of the seat down and live with it. Sounds like they can't fix this problem

 

[sammy]

Dropped the 4Runner off last week for the 4th time for "Multiple Rattles"! Guess F%$$# what?
Still there!!
Spoke to the service manager and he's contacting the Toyota Rep and i'll have to drop the truck off again for him to check it out.
I know of 2 people with the same problem who got their money back on the "Lemon Law".
Its too bad because other than the "Haunted House" sounds..i really love the truck!
To Be Cont.......;- (

 

[ssmumich00]

i've dropped it off twice to have it looked at, and they replaced the entire frame and the seat backing. The end result: if I DO NOT put the seat at the flattest or highest setting, just somewhere in the middle, it won't rattle. The play is in the raising and lowering mechanism of the truck. It's really weird.

But to return the truck because of it, I doubt the TX lemon law would work in my favor. . .it's gone for now, but it'll come back with a vengance for sure. . .I only have 13k miles in 2 years of owning it.

Suneil

 

[Kanab]

I cranked the front of mine down and it is solid now. I also alway ride with the rear seat behind the drivers seat folded forward so that the drivers seat back, can't go back, and is supported by the folded rear seat. To me this is a safety factor.

 

[Derek]

Wow, I'm fairly new to this forum and was surprised to see that I'm not the only person that's having this problem. I've looked at the mechanism and like everybody has said, it has to do with that stupid knob that raises and lowers the front of the seat. I'll be sure to mention it to Toyota when I take it in for its next oil change even though I'm sure they'll say that it's normal. This is my first Toyota, and I'd like to believe that they aren't all like this when it comes to flaws. I've already had two rattles fixed and it sounds like a third one is getting louder as time goes on so I guess I'll go back to get that fixed too.

 

[Sad4RunnerOwner]

It's really a drag ...

Hello!

Yeah, now that I have the new seat structure in the 4Runner, it's doing different things from what it did before these new seats.

Mine had about 5k on it when the first seat went bad. It was a lunging forward when I was breaking. It was one of the feelings of putting your left foot down to try and prevent the seat from going forward. Then when you'd take off, it went back too.

Also, in twisty roads, it went with the twists. Of course like I have stated, the first two shop techs that sat in it, stated normal. You honestly have to RIDE the dealers and even tell them to keep the vehicle until it does it again FOR THEM. Just make sure you have all of it in writing on your invoice.

I am saddened by the over all poor outcome of MY 4Runner. As a loyal Toyota owner, I feel that I'm getting worked. But, as the California Dispute Center Rep told me, RIDE THEM until every last thing is fixed. Or dump it.

However, in the last statment, from what I have seen at the auto autions, these 4Runners are not really holding a resale of the 4Runners of the 3rd generation.

Good luck, and keep riding Toyota. Also write to the Feds and make a report about it. These seats are not "Normal."

Craig-

 

[Kanab]

Looks like we have a couple of issues with the seats. In 03 they had some frame rail problems that have been addressed by Toyota. I counted 4 members that posted about having this problem. That is from a membership of over 1000 members. The other problem is a design problem with the seat that if you crank up the front of the seat the mechanism gets loose and then creaks and I would image if you leave it loose it will get worse and creak more. It also sinks over time when you jack it up for more height. Several members have noted this problem. I just cranked mine back flat and left it at the lowest setting and now don't have any problem. I know that this is not a correction and I also feel that Toyota should fix the seats. I think the reason we don't have more members complaining is that if you don't crank your seat up in the front it won't make the noise and many might not adjust the front of their seat. Also the height adjustment sinking happens over time and is hard to notice. At this point since Toyota does not have a fix I hate to complain to my dealer since I don't want them making things worse. Now if it starts to move around like the 03's then that is a safety issue and I will be all over them.