Driver's Side Power Seat Problem

[rockja]

The dealer confirmed there's a bulletin on this issue. They said they need to replace the "seat back recline frame". Parts and labor estimated to be around $1,800 ($1,370 Part+$425 Labor). After looking at some parts sites it seems their approach includes replacing the entire back with the padding, etc. But just the frame can be bought for $295 here

Some good news is the service manager offered to "good will" the part to me and just charge me labor. I am waiting to hear back from the Dealer where I bought my 4Runner (so far they haven't been very responsive).

I may decide to take the seat apart and confirm the recline frame is the culprit. I'll post some pictures if it comes to that. (This may be the opportunity I've been waiting for to install some seat heaters.)

This thread is pretty much lifeless, but at this point, I'm going to keep it updated with my latest. If anything it provides a good idea of the exact problem and who knows I'm sure as time goes by someone else will definitely have this problem occur.

 

[normang]

Rockja,

I have the same problem with my Driver seat. When I try to recline the seat, the left side reclines but the right side seems to be stuck. It wont budge.

Tonight I took out the center console (took me about 15 minutes once I figured out how to do it) to fix the shifter, the plastic covering seemed to be getting stuck and it made shifting difficult at times.

This Saturday I hope to tackle the issue with the driver seat, and I would really appreciate any help or advice that you could extend to me.

I don't want to fork out the money since my 2010 trail is not under warranty anymore.

Thanks for your help.

 

[joneseyyy]

Well, looks like the right side of my drivers seat is frozen and only the left side will recline...time to cash in possibly the last time on my 100k mile platinum warranty at 95k miles.

 

[joneseyyy]

Well, looks like the right side of my drivers seat is frozen and only the left side will recline...time to cash in possibly the last time on my 100k mile platinum warranty at 95k miles.

Covered under warranty - $1400 seat frame...

 

[skillet]

Seat issue solved!

Hey, figured out this one-sided recline issue! The drive shaft that rotates the seat back and forth popped out on one side. They use these cheap-shit clips to keep it in place and one was missing or never put on to begin with. Took off the plastic housing on the sides and saw that the shaft was pulled all the way to the door side of the passenger seat. Only thing keeping it from shooting out of the car was the housing! Pushed the shaft back in and used an aftermarket circlip in place of the missing one. Voila!

 

[rolandjrivera]

Skillet, right in. Had to take it apart to figure it out on my 2010 Toyota 4runner limited. Here is a pic... The rod that reclines the left and right parts of the seat is slides around.

 

[docstovall]

Nice, thanks for the pic. Just had this happen to mine yesterday. Assume pulling the seat out is fairly straight forward?

 

[Dougster63]

Has anyone documented the procedure for this fix? This would be awesome information....my dealership quoted $2400 to repair my passenger seat. Is it as straight forward as it sounds?
Thanks!

 

[docstovall]

Forgot to come back to this. Mine was easy but not really fixed. Pop off the plastic shroud that covers the hinge point where your seat reclines. Most likely a metal rod will be sticking out or there will be a hole where a rod should be. Mine was the former. I had to play with the seat a bit to get the rod lined up with the other end then I tapped in back in place with a mallet. It will keep working its way out so you do it again every now and then. Have not tried to figure out how to keep it in place permanently because that will require removing the seat. Good YouTube vid on the seat removal I just have not had time.