Problem with Driver's Seat

[Falls]

mdp, you have 3 things listed and you think problems are piling up ? Man when I took my Tahoe in for repairs under warranty I had to make lists each time because I couldn't remember all the stuff.

Im feel for you and would also be pissed ! It does seem to me that Toyota does not stand behind a lot of peoples problems. That is a concern to me as well. I've noticed that with others too.

 

[coolpop]

Yep, same problem here. I bought a brand new 06 in July. The power driver's seat started clicking and popping within 2 months. The dealership replaced the seat frame assembly in October and all was great. Now the problem is back, same as before.

Completely aggravating and frustrating. Dealer tells me I am the only one who has complained about this but I find that incredibly difficult to believe.

I will post an update when I get further info, but damn this is annoying.

 

[sharp4runr]

I took mine to the dealership this morning to fix the manual seat. Hopefully it fixes it. According to them, I have 12months/12000miles warranty on the work they're doing so if it resurfaces they'll have to fix it again.

 

[Kmvreter]

The TSB number is NV011-06... My vehicle has manual seats although the seat replacement has a power feature included...

kmorello,
Can you elaborate on what the included power feature is? How is it different than the original? Any pics?

 

[coolpop]

I took mine to the dealership this morning to fix the manual seat. Hopefully it fixes it. According to them, I have 12months/12000miles warranty on the work they're doing so if it resurfaces they'll have to fix it again.

Make sure that is accurate. I was just told that Toyota will NOT keep fixing the problem, that they will do it once, maybe twice, and then will decide whether it is a safety issue or a mere annoyance.

I am not giving up on this. Toyota will not attempt one fix, tell me that's all they can do, and send me on my way. If they think that will happen, they are greatly mistaken.

 

[Joe's BlakRunna]

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been on the forum, but I've been following up on some topics/issues that I've also been experiencing w/ my 4runner. In late August 06, I traded in my 2001 SR5 for a 2006 Limited. I love this truck, but like everyone here, I've also experienced this problem w/ the front seats.

I took it to the dealership in December, for 2 reasons. The first, was that annoying clicking, popping sound from the front seats. The second, is that every time I accelerate, and the Runner hits 30-45, the speakers/radio starts popping, clicking, and when I go to brake. Weird thing is it's only when it's on FM. I have the JBL 8 speaker Navigation System.

Now, I got this truck because 1, I love Toyota, and 2, I love that their cars are reliable, but when I took it to the dealership, I was there for 5 hours, and guess what??? for nothing. I even went to them w/ the TSB's and told them that the front seats kept clicking, and it's annoying. They told me that they couldn't fix that. They told me to put some white grease in the rails, because the 4 covers on the seat-rails is what causes that clicking, as they rub. Secondly, they claimed that they couldn't hear the popping sound coming from the radio. So, all in all, I wasted my time, took off work for nothing, and was seriously pissed at the fact that I felt I got the brushoff. Now, the sounds are still there, but I've learned to live w/ the seats, but the radio system has gotten worse, but again, does it sometimes, sometimes no.

I don't remember the TSB numbers, but I'm going to try to find them. They do have them for all Toyota 4Runners, whether manual or powered. Seems the problem is for 2003-up 4runners. I got the #: off this site:

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/local_links/links/13

I beleive the TSB# is NV005-06 FRONT SEAT TRACK SQUEAK.

If you guys go on this site, the only thing is you have to pay to see the Adobe link open up. I had a one-month membership w/ them, just to print it out, but the dealership kept the copies as they didn't do anything w/ them.

Well, I hope something happens soon, or they do a recall, because like I said, I love Toyota, and like I told the dealership, I went w/ Toyota because I didn't want problems, yet, although minor issues, this is all I'm experiencing now.

 

[sharp4runr]

Make sure that is accurate. I was just told that Toyota will NOT keep fixing the problem, that they will do it once, maybe twice, and then will decide whether it is a safety issue or a mere annoyance.

I am not giving up on this. Toyota will not attempt one fix, tell me that's all they can do, and send me on my way. If they think that will happen, they are greatly mistaken.

They gave me the invoice and right on top of it is printed the warranty. On top of that I have the extended 7yr/100K warranty so it's going to get fixed one way or another.

BTW, the seat is fixed for now. I have no sensation of movement and no popping noises from the seat.

Only advice I can give if your dealership is giving you problems is to take it to another dealership.

 

[Kmvreter]

kmorello,
Can you elaborate on what the included power feature is? How is it different than the original? Any pics?

sharp4runr, kmorello or other,
Can you elaborate on what is different about the seat frame. Is it something you can take a pic of? I'm out of warranty so I'm weighing my options: Do I just buy the fix at the stealer, is it something we can retrofit or mod ourselves, or just forget it and stick with my wood shims?
Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[sharp4runr]

sharp4runr, kmorello or other,
Can you elaborate on what is different about the seat frame. Is it something you can take a pic of? I'm out of warranty so I'm weighing my options: Do I just buy the fix at the stealer, is it something we can retrofit or mod ourselves, or just forget it and stick with my wood shims?
Enquiring minds want to know!

I'll look at my invoice when I get home. It has a part number of what was replaced. They had the truck the entire day as they had to do some work at the dealership, and then send the truck out to an upholstery place to move my seat cover onto the new part. This is standard operating procedure it seems and I'm familiar with the place they sent it out to as I had my sunroof (93 Celica) replaced there a few years ago.

 

[toybox]

I beleive the TSB# is NV005-06 FRONT SEAT TRACK SQUEAK.

If you guys go on this site, the only thing is you have to pay to see the Adobe link open up. I had a one-month membership w/ them, just to print it out, but the dealership kept the copies as they didn't do anything w/ them.

Well, I hope something happens soon, or they do a recall, because like I said, I love Toyota, and like I told the dealership, I went w/ Toyota because I didn't want problems, yet, although minor issues, this is all I'm experiencing now.

I don't know if this was posted but here is at least one TSB pertaining to driver's seat noise

 

[Joe's BlakRunna]

Hey guys, I found the TSB. It applies to all 4Runners, whether manual or power. This is the same one I took to the dealership and was told that they couldn't do it because they couldn't hear any clicking, popping sound. Was also told that these TSB's don't apply to everyone. They are made because one person complained, so the company puts this out to cover themselves. I wanted to jump over the desk and ckoke the guy out for feeding me BULLS%*T. I was pissed.

Anyway, I hope this helps others with better luck.


http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Toyota/1150441200000_1152255600000_NV005-06/51.html


This one may also help:

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Toyota/1148367600000_1149490800000_NV004-06/41.html

 

[Kmvreter]

I don't know if this was posted but here is at least one TSB pertaining to driver's seat noise

TSB NV011-06 is the correct one and was posted earlier in this thread by kmorello. It is the new TSB that authorizes stealers to "Replace seat assembly with NEW service part." What I want to know is how is this NEW seat assembly (part # 71120-35151) different from the old (# 71120-35031) that it corrects the noise/movement issue? For those of us out of warranty, we can't get the work done for free but maybe it is something we can mod or retrofit ourselves.

 

[coolpop]

OK...Monday 1/29 I am bringing my truck in for Round 2 of "can they fix the seat this time?"

About four months ago, the driver's seat developed an incredibly annoying popping/clicking sound, along with the wonderful seat movement / play. Dealer was great about it, ordered a new seat frame assembly and seat rails. I pick it up a few days later, problem solved. I am a happy camper again.

Well, mid-December, the problem is slowly coming back. I bring it back in, they document my complaint and ask me to bring it back. Yes, it has taken me this long but it's going back in on Monday.

Dealer tells me that Toyota will NOT repeat a fix if it doesn't solve the problem (the rep I'm dealing with is very very cool about it, badmouthing Toyota HQ, all of it). I show him the invoice where it states unlimited warranty, he agrees and says they will attempt another fix with another seat frame assembly. So, hopefully this will do it...but if it doesn't (and I don't want to borrow trouble here) and they refuse a third fix, nobody on this forum should expect me to roll over and go away.

I will keep you all informed.

 

[Kmvreter]

OK...Monday 1/29 I am bringing my truck in for Round 2 of "can they fix the seat this time?"

About four months ago, the driver's seat developed an incredibly annoying popping/clicking sound...

Well, mid-December, the problem is slowly coming back...

Looks from the timing that your first fix was with the original seat parts. The TSB came out around the same time (late October) to use a new part number. Look up the TSB and check your old invoice part numbers. Take the TSB with you to make sure they have the right (new) parts before they tear into it again.
Can you get the service guys at the stealership to show you what the difference between the 2 frames are?
Good luck with it and let us know.

 

[coolpop]

Looks from the timing that your first fix was with the original seat parts. The TSB came out around the same time (late October) to use a new part number. Look up the TSB and check your old invoice part numbers. Take the TSB with you to make sure they have the right (new) parts before they tear into it again.
Can you get the service guys at the stealership to show you what the difference between the 2 frames are?
Good luck with it and let us know.

OK, here is the update. I showed the service advisor the new TSB, he ordered the seat frame assembly with no questions asked, they installed it yesterday (3/21)....AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. The seat shifts slightly and makes a popping/clicking noise mainly on left turns. It also feels like the whole seat is a bit loose, like it comes off the seat rail just a bit.

I called him up and told him. Nice guy, very understanding, but told me that since they have performed the work twice under warranty that I now need to make a claim with Toyota. He gave me the 800 number, I called and filed a claim, and someone is supposed to get back with me Monday.

Incredibly frustrating. I mean, WTF is going on here???

I will keep everybody posted.

 

[Bluto]

My seat has the click and movement. I'm waiting till I'm near the end of my warranty before I take it in. Hopefully Toyota will have a fix that works by then.

 

[sharp4runr]

My seat has the click and movement. I'm waiting till I'm near the end of my warranty before I take it in. Hopefully Toyota will have a fix that works by then.

They fixed mine with the TSB a few months ago and the problem hasn't resurfaced. I've got 12k/12 month warranty on the repair they did so hopefully if it comes back, it comes back within that time frame because I'm now out of standard warranty. Hopefully the extended warranty I have covers this, but I'll have to check the fine print...

 

[mit_peid]

I experienced the same problem on my '05 Sport. I adjusted the seat by pulling one of the levers that raised the height of the seat an inch or two. Now I no longer experience the problem. When the lever is in its lowest position, I get that annoying clicking sensation when I push back on the seat as well. Is this what everyone is experiencing?

 

[sharp4runr]

Mine had the movement regardless of position, it pretty much sucked!!!

 

[coolpop]

Mine had the movement regardless of position, it pretty much sucked!!!

Ditto.