Weak seat heaters?

[2003Can4runner]

Anybody else find the seat heaters to be really weak? Its starting to get pretty cold around here so I've been using the heated seats and barely notice anything. I noticed this when my Dad had an '03 Limited back in 2003. When I was 18 I had a Corrado VR6 with heated Recaros and I sometimes had to turn them down. Same thing with my Moms old Altima Coupe. They were both cloth seats though, would that make a difference?

What's everyones take on the heated leather in these trucks?

 

[4Robber]

I've noticed that the 5th Gen. seat warmers are pretty week.

In every other car I've had they got at least twice as hot.

 

[Axis]

I have on 06 with leather and find it gets too hot on high. My old volvo was either "ass burning" on or off so I like the multi-settings on the 4R and have used it every morning for the last couple of weeks.

 

[Poog]

I've got an '08 with leather seats, and anything higher than 2 is too high. Full-on will burn your buns.

 

[eskimochaos]

Its all relative, as with most resistance based heat - they fade overtime.

 

[JayKumar]

Wow! I cant believe yalls seats get so hot it burns you! to the OP im in the same boat. I got an 06 Limited with leather and it takes FOREVER to heat up, and i can barely feel it...its like i just sat down after a fat person farted in the chair, maybe less hot. hahah but seriously it is really week.

 

[MikesToy]

Mine works just as fine but it takes between 5-10 minutes to heat up pending how cold the leather seats are.

 

[THEROK]

some arses are bigger or more well insulated than others

 

[Ridger]

Mine also take a fair amount of time to warm up... but when they do, they really warm the butt. I have only been running them on half setting because full setting gets way to hot for me.... my wife on the other hand always turns them on full.

I've never had them before, but love that they have the variable setting. I have family/friends that have vehicles that are just on or off and most don't like them because they are always having to turn them off and on constantly as the which from too hot too to cold.

 

[Justinlhc]

I've had 2 other vehicles with heated leather seats and they were both Chrysler products which you could cook a hotdog on. The 4Runner is not equipped with heaters, but it seems like I'd be let down by the Toyota heaters anyways.

 

[Uneek]

Mine warm up pretty fast. Last week with high 30s, I have to turn it off in about 5 minutes if it's set to max. The bottom gets much hotter and I don't feel it in the seatback. I can't confirm if the seatback even heats up.

 

[tahqeq]

New owner of a '19 - same question on weak heated seats

I know this is an old post, but was wondering if anyone with a 5th Gen Limited (Ventilated Seats) has same opinion that the heated seats are kind of weak.

I just got a Limited and I live in Boston area (wicked cold). My last vehicle had after-market heated seats that by the time I got to work in the morning my behind was burning hot and I had to shut them off. The seats on this brand new '19 Limited get warm but never really get hot. Is that the norm?

Thanks!

 

[SummitRunner]

2004 limited, seat heaters are very effective, no complaints here

 

[BlackCloud]

It's a Toyota, not a Mercedes.

Yea, they're pretty weak. They fade too quickly.

 

[BR06run]

5th Generation can't even tell they are on sometimes.

 

[adkfinn]

2007 here - seat heaters suck. they come on (kind of) but aren't quick or hot. seat backs have elements down low, but they don't seem to get warm. I am planning on installing aftermarket units that are much larger and will hopefully be a lot warmer. My plan is to re-use the factory switch but replace everything else.

 

[BendRunner]

It's a Toyota, not a Mercedes.

Yea, they're pretty weak. They fade too quickly.

Still a $30k+ vehicle...

 

[MantanaB6]

2007 here - seat heaters suck. they come on (kind of) but aren't quick or hot. seat backs have elements down low, but they don't seem to get warm. I am planning on installing aftermarket units that are much larger and will hopefully be a lot warmer. My plan is to re-use the factory switch but replace everything else.

I have an '08 and the bottoms get plenty warm, but I don't feel any heat in the seatback. I am also contemplating replacing the elements, or at least the seatback element (if it actually exists). I don't miss the reliability of my old Audi, or VW before that, but those seat heaters were phenomenal.

 

[tahqeq]

Thanks for the feedback. Was curious if I had a defective unit or if they were just wimpy.

 

[BR06run]

Still a $30k+ vehicle...

Whether a $15k or a $75k vehicle heating a seat with electrical wires shouldn't be that difficult.