Premature Driver Seat Wear?

[eddiebx]

Exactly. I was trying to ascertain why the SR5 I traded in with 66K miles had basically the same fabric marks in the side of the seat as my TE with 11K miles, and that a brand new 4Runner has on the Toyota website lol. Apparently, the side fabric must be easy to discolor by slight abrasion because during actual driving the side fabric is not compressed at all. It is also not "wrinkled" or distended in any way.

Interesting theory! So you're saying that most of these crease looking wrinkles are just a discolored white-ish line and the fabric has not really stretched/folded in any way? I wonder if anyone with the tan fabric interior has this problem

I took a closer look at my passenger side with this in mind, but I think it's just not showing enough wear for me to clearly tell what's going on...

 

[1engineer]

Interesting theory! So you're saying that most of these crease looking wrinkles are just a discolored white-ish line and the fabric has not really stretched/folded in any way? I wonder if anyone with the tan fabric interior has this problem

I took a closer look at my passenger side with this in mind, but I think it's just not showing enough wear for me to clearly tell what's going on...

Yeah, it's a theory. In my old SR5, even though it had 66K miles and the fabric creases were there just like on the new TE I really don't see any appreciable wear. Just discoloration that I am currently theorizing is caused by abrasion during ingress into the vehicle.

 

[eddiebx]

Yeah, it's a theory. In my old SR5, even though it had 66K miles and the fabric creases were there just like on the new TE I really don't see any appreciable wear. Just discoloration that I am currently theorizing is caused by abrasion during ingress into the vehicle.

Yeah, I am with you on this one in that I am almost positive it's caused during exiting (and not just compression from sitting); and mainly if you scoot your tush across the side bolster as oppose to stepping up and over it to exit. I forgot if I mentioned this previously, but that's exactly what my wife did since day one, and I think that's why her seat is the only one with the crease lines.

I guess we should be glad that a potentially fault seat fabric is one of the main "issues" with this vehicle and not something actually worth loosing sleep over right?

 

[harper7]

Having owned a few German sports cars with sports seats that are known for bolster wear it's become a habit to avoid the bolster when getting in and out.

Pretty simple fact that dragging your arse/thigh across it is were the wear comes from. It's not moving or rubbing against anything once your in the truck but will get the crease from being seated. I changed out my factory front black leather covers at around 10k miles because they were too hot in the summer and they are still like brand new with the exception of the crease and are boxed up in my closet. I bought a full set of brand new factory SR5 take off covers on ebay for $100 and have had them on for almost 50k miles and the crease is there but no cloth wear to speak of.

 

[NJshadow93]

Pretty surprised to see this actually. My mom had a similar problem with her 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe and the dealer replaced the seat cover. They said they did it out of good will since they did not have to. You guys might cry when I show you the pics of mine I just took 5 minutes ago.

2006 SR5 119k miles:

All factory.

 

[TOY2G]

UPDATE!

I took my 2013 into the dealer for my 10k service and pointed out the seats to them. The shop foreman came to get me and talk about it. He has been with Toyota for 26 years and he said toyota is simply using cheaper materials, not just Toyota but everyone.

He said he is going to replace the entire seat for me, one time and he hope it wears better, but he thinks i will be in the same spot 5k from now.

so seat order, and as always Toyota of Dallas did what they could to take care of me.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

UPDATE!

I took my 2013 into the dealer for my 10k service and pointed out the seats to them. The shop foreman came to get me and talk about it. He has been with Toyota for 26 years and he said toyota is simply using cheaper materials, not just Toyota but everyone.

He said he is going to replace the entire seat for me, one time and he hope it wears better, but he thinks i will be in the same spot 5k from now.

so seat order, and as always Toyota of Dallas did what they could to take care of me.

PUT SOME SEAT COVERS ON RIGHT AFTER YOU GET THE NEW SEAT! It won't stop the wrinkles but it should stop the wear.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Pretty surprised to see this actually. My mom had a similar problem with her 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe and the dealer replaced the seat cover. They said they did it out of good will since they did not have to. You guys might cry when I show you the pics of mine I just took 5 minutes ago.

2006 SR5 119k miles:

All factory.

My seats look the same (I guess, I've had the covers on for more than a year) but I am jelly of your power seats.

 

[hube01]

I've got a 2012 Trail with 17K and the driver seat is wearing on the side - very much like the images shown. However, I also noticed excess wear at the bottom of the back portion and the back of the actual seat. I will try to get some images and post them within the next day or two.

I went down to the dealership (Lynch Toyota, Manchester, CT) a few weeks ago and without any issue, they took pictures and ordered new parts. I'm not quite sure exactly what the parts are, but I will be dropping my 4R off Tuesday and they are going to replace it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything matches and looks factory new..

Jay

 

[Jayhawk5G]

I'm waiting till my first oil change to talk to the dealer about this, I just want it documented so that if it continues to get worse we can address it before my bumper to bumper is up.

 

[hube01]

JayHawk,

Once I get my 4R back, I will make sure I post what they did and any documents they give. Not sure, but it may help others here when they head to the dealership..??

 

[Nolarola]

I'm having the same issue, except mine is isolated to one, bad crease. Anyone know what southeast Toyota dealers are doing?

 

[hube01]

UPDATE...

Once again, the same thing is happening to my driver's seat. I went back to Lynch Toyota in Manchester CT. They took some pictures, and had me come back when the regional Toyota rep was going to be there. I showed him the seat, he took some pictures and told me that they are going to order me new covers, and foam (top and bottom)! No questions asked - they were great!

The first time was at 17K and now at 26K.....

If anyone needs pictures from my seat, let me know!

Jay

Connecticut

 

[Racervx%$]

My 2013 sr5 with 8500 miles is showing the same wear others are talking about. First oil change is a month away I will ask and point this out.

 

[Jeff614]

I noticed the side bolster "sag" in a number of used T4R's I looked out. Only a bit over 1k miles on mine now so obviously I haven't seen any creases on mine yet but as others have said I try to never slide out of the seat, especially in jeans.

Sort of expected this though, I had to get the entire leather bolster on a 06 GX470 re-covered, and while in there the foam replaced. Whole thing was a little over $200, which considering the labor involved due to the amount of stitching in that area, thought was a good price.

GX was way out of warranty but nice to know some Toyota dealers are covering this. Thinking strongly of some wet okoles or possibly katzskin's in the near future anyways.


- Jeff

 

[2014 Warthog]

When I got my Taco with cloth seats, I immediately put on seat covers. Cloth seats just wear and stain so fast :/

 

[ReneeF]

2018 Toyota 4 Runner

My 2018 Toyota 4 Runner doesn't even have 5,000 miles on it yet and the driver seat cloth is already showing extreme wear. I am 5 ft 2 women who works in an office. My clothing is normal and don't have anything unusual on me that would cause such wear. When I asked about the warranty (Toyota) I was told it was my fault, I used something abrasive on it.
I am attaching a picture.

 

[4R1998]

Swap?

We addressed this issue on my son’s 3rd gen by swapping the front seat bottoms. This moved the warn spot to the inside of the passenger seat and “refreshed” the driver’s seat. Does anyone know if this maneuver is possible on 5th gens?

 

[STX4Runner]

We addressed this issue on my son’s 3rd gen by swapping the front seat bottoms. This moved the warn spot to the inside of the passenger seat and “refreshed” the driver’s seat. Does anyone know if this maneuver is possible on 5th gens?

The seat controls would be on the wrong sides.

 

[4R1998]

No. On the 3rd gen, it was just the cushions we swapped. The controls stayed put.