Seat Noises won't stop!

[rockwall]

I've written threads about this before, but it's starting to drive me really crazy. I have leather power seats and the driver's seat makes popping and cracking noises when I stop, turn or hit the throttle.

It is way more pronounced when it is hot out. (above 80)

I've tried greasing the seat bolts with lithium grease, but this didn't do anything. Other owners say that the fix is in the seat frame and I'm ready to try anything because the noises are almost constant. Is everyone sure it is not the seat itself?

I have the TSB, but it refers to manual seats, not power.

What do you all think?

 

[Euphor501]

Toyota just ordered me a new seat frame. I'm having them install it Friday. I'll let you know how it turns out. Fingers crossed.

 

[brncos7]

I had the same problem with my 2008 almost immediately after purchasing it. It took a couple of trips to the service department, but they ended up completely replacing the seat to fix the problem.

 

[pickerdd]

I've written threads about this before, but it's starting to drive me really crazy. I have leather power seats and the driver's seat makes popping and cracking noises when I stop, turn or hit the throttle.

It is way more pronounced when it is hot out. (above 80)

I've tried greasing the seat bolts with lithium grease, but this didn't do anything. Other owners say that the fix is in the seat frame and I'm ready to try anything because the noises are almost constant. Is everyone sure it is not the seat itself?

I have the TSB, but it refers to manual seats, not power.

What do you all think?

Rockwall,

The seat noise issue affects both manual and power seats. As you've seen by searching the forum there are a bunch of threads on this issue going back several years. The issue is usually resolved by the dealer replacing the seat frame or the entire seat. I've had two 4Runners with this issue (2006 and 2008). Both had power leather seats. The 2006 had the seat frame replaced and the 2008 had the entire seat replaced.

Have you had your local dealer perform the tsb's for seat noise? Hopefully your truck is still under warranty.

It would be interesting to find out how far back these issues go. What's the oldest 4Runner with this issue and if possible find out when the owner started experiencing the issue. It seems this issue has affected a lot of folks.

If your truck is no longer under warranty it will be interesting to find out what path you take with the issue. If you take the seat apart and try to fix it yourself I hope you take photos and share the results with us because at some point I'm willing to bet we're going to have to deal with this issue while we're not under warranty.

 

[pickerdd]

Re: Re: Seat Noises won't stop!

 

[pickerdd]

Re: Re: Re: Seat Noises won't stop!

oops - sorry for the messed up post.

 

[coolpop]

Personally I have had it with these crappy seats. I went through hell for 13 months with my 06 Runner that culminated in me suing Toyota under the Lemon Law.

I figured, hey, it's 2008, Toyota must have solved the problem by now...so I traded my 06 for an 08 Urban. I was looking at the CX-9, Acadia, Tahoe, and I just couldn't pass up the deal I was offered. It blew the others away by far.

What a mistake. Same damn problem in my 08 after one damn month. After I showed the service manager my inch-thick file from my 06, he replaced the entire seat, no questions asked.

Problem is back - again. These seats suck, Toyota's quality is way down and I will never again buy another one.

I've been a Toyota fan for half my life, I've had a celica and 4 4Runners...but that's it. I'm done.