Utterly disappointed in toyota
 

-begin rant- My drivers seat is looking pretty sad in many of the areas where my body makes contact with it. Kind of faded and the nap of the fabric is worn looking. Kinda looking sad. I'm 5'7" and a little overweight at 47 years old, but I do not "stress" the seat. Anyway, I took it to the dealer I purchased it from, and the service writer agreed it looked pretty worn for a car with 31000 miles on it. It will be three years old on August 3rd, so I want to take advantage of the 3/36 warranty for the month I have left. Service writer says the service manager will need to look at it. He was hesitant at that point. So I ask if he can get the service manager to look. He agrees and walks away. He comes back with an awkward look on his face and says, "she says Toyota doesn't cover wear and tear." She didn't even look at it and made the determination. WTH? He tells me that I should call Toyota about it. Toyota tells me Toyota doesn't cover wear and tear, and that I will have to have the service manager make a determination on the seat. During my dealer visit The service writer told me they got burned a little while back on a $1700 interior upholstery claim, so she (service mgr) is considering that in her determination. I am not hard on my seat, I'm not sweaty or smelly, I keep my interior immaculate, and I don't go in for every rattle or other little stuff. It isn't like I am beating on toyota's warranty door every chance I get. Also, we all knew the interior was cheap, but damn!
I remember having the discussion with the sales person at purchase time about how the seats look like they will wear fast. She told me not to worry- "we will take care of you!" She was very knowledgeable about the car, and still sells there three years later. I figured she was pretty solid. Her response when I told her what was happening was, "time for leather!" I'm pissed! I would at least like the courtesy of the lazy service manager to get off her effing ass and look at my damned car before saying no. We are literally getting ready to buy my wife a car. We were considering a small list of smaller SUVs, including Toyota, but now I don't think so. Gonna probably buy a Mercedes GLA or GLC. Toyota can keep their highlander!!! -end rant-

So to be clear, your disappointed in your toyota dealer, not toyota vehicles. Also, seat wear is almost always going to be considered regular wear and tear unless there was some total failure like it won't lean forward anymore or another type of total breakage. Not saying that you expedited the said "wear and tear", but shit gets old and eventually shows it. They can't tell if you wear studded jeans or sweat like a pig, and they aren't going to accuse you of it. Im not surprised they aren't going to hold your hand on something like that either...

Seat covers or reupholstery are in your future?

Hi there, twag4 .......:)

That's a shame your seat is not wearing well.

Maybe if you could post a picture or two so we could compare the wear with our seats to see if it is unusual.

Meanwhile, you may consider making an appointment with the General Manager or owner of the dealership to see if they would make a good will exception.

As a backup plan, you might stop by an auto upholstery shop to get a repair estimate (then see if it bugs you that much).

I hope a frayed seat doesn't distract from your summer driving pleasure.


humfrz

The first two replies to OP are like a poster for douchey vs helpful responses


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

14 hours a week. Almost 50k miles a year. Going on two years. In and out about 10 times a day. Covered in snow in winter and sweat in summer. Smoke, eat and drink in the car. Seat looks pristine and I haven't even considered cleaning it.

Cataracts?

They "snuck up" on me too. :)

And how many farts?

That is probably it. I over cared for it! :D

Okay, Twag.

Picture time! :thumbup:

Well, OK, but what about your back seat ........ ??..... :D


humfrz

Yes I am disappointed in Toyota! They actually told me to have the useless service manager, who I had just explained wouldn't even come see for herself. I literally wasted a half hour to be told no by someone who did not even look at the seat. The dealer is just a reflection of corporate policy in this case. They got burned once before, and now she cannot be bothered to even come take a look. And then Toyota's customer service wants me to go back to her to have her make a determination? Are you for real considering that a dealer problem? Even if I drug my ass in and out covered in sweat, that would be dirty, not worn the eff out. Even the service writer said it was unusual wear. And 2years and 11 months with 31000 miles is hardly old. I drive 20 miles round trip per day to work. I haven't gotten in and out enough times for this kind of wear. I had a 1996 Nissan pickup that I drove for 17 years straight, that had cloth seats that looks brand new the day I sold it. You have exceptionally low expectations for your money, huh? And also, I remember a Toyota in the 80s and 90s who backed their products unquestionably. They are suffering from General Motors disease. They believe they are too big to fail. They have a humongous facility they built in Mississippi that sits useless because of that attitude. Even General Motors will replace carpet and upholstery if it wears too quickly. Yes, to be clear, Toyota is disappointing. I will not be considering a Toyota product for my wife's new vehicle. She by the way drives a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder that has 195500 miles and the seats look really good. My less than 12000 miles a year little car has an ugly drivers seat due to wear (and stupid red wings). They covered it with a black t shirt. Yup, Toyota is disappointing. I will upgrade to leather in my future, but sooner rather than later. Wasn't planning on having to do it before the worthless warranty ran out though. If it wasn't this car (rear wheel drive lightweight fun mobile), I wouldn't even have considered the thing in the first place. Stupid scion didn't even offer us a better upholstery option. Now they are dead. Toyota really did their homework on that great idea huh? Toyota is disappointing!!!

The pictures I have tried to take just are not showing the fade as well as I had hoped. More than anything I just wanted to vent to a sympathetic audience, but apparently I'm a dumbass for thinking it strange that seat upholstery is worn out after less than three years and 31000 miles because I sit in it. I over estimated the good will of ft86club I guess. Thank you for your thoughtful post though humfrz, I always enjoy your and Tcoat's input. You guys are the real deal!

Uncountable

My what?

Luckily every month 2-3 people [oh and craigslist] sell their seats. X<$300 for both.

I'm not stressing about wear and tear. BTW, tried talking to manager? May help. If not, id continue to bug Toyota. Sometimes they do change their mind. Sometimes...

OP, bolsters on mine are getting kinda threadbare after only a couple years but like Pack said, people are selling theirs all the time. I daily mine like Tcoat but I'm 6'5" and proportionally wide so my back rides against the bolsters more than normal.

My feelings? Meh. I'll reupholster with the factory stuff on my own dime or buy someone's seat. Tons of wrecked ones out there too.

Not what you wanted to hear but it's just my take. Hopefully @humfrz' approach gets you a win. :thumbsup:

Well, yes, if you turn around in your car and dig down through the pizza boxes, big gulp cups, candy wrappers, fast food bags ..... and the like ....... you will find two seat belts ..... in between them you will feel two shallow depressions ...... those are the back seats ........:D


humfrz

OH you mean the laptop and briefcase holder.

All trash is removed weekly.

...for short people without legs. :popcorn:

I'm a little surprised someone would go back to the dealer and complain that their seats are wearing to fast... Pictures?

I don't really know how to approach this. You mentioned your weight like it was the reason why your seats are wearing, and it seems like you're trying to get them to cover it under warranty. Is Toyota's warranty different than Subaru's? Because as far as I know, seats aren't including in the wear warranty, and it also doesn't qualify as a defective part. If the seats were like that when you got the car, then they probably would've covered the upholstery job. I don't want to doubt you, but you're making it seem like the seats were fine before, and something you did made them start to wear and fade.

Try what @humfrz suggested but you'll most likely have to spend money either repairing it or swapping the seats altogether.

Hang on, now. You must admit the upholstery is as thin as it gets. It's a bare-bones little car. I fully expected it to wear out, just not so quickly. -___-

I can't speak for the FR-S because I'm in a BRZ limited which has leather bolsters, but still, trying to have worn out seats covered under warranty is a bit weird and frankly wrong. I'm not saying the guy's an idiot or anything, and it sucks if the Scion has poorly made seat upholstery but it's something you'd just have to deal with. Who knows though, maybe Toyota will cover it if he prods them some more.

Wow......... what.

If the OP didnt spin like a crocodile whose tail is in a noose on a regular basis on the seats I'd first vacuum, apply upholstury foam, scrub lightly, vacuum. Did that help? If not it could justify investigation IMHO. Now, that's not to say they wont politely reject his claim.

Its irrelevant if OP just dislikes Toyota for a future purchase. Ranting is counterproductive. Yes the fabric is basic, but there is a point where durability for whatever reason could be unacceptable. I have considered buying seats on Kijiji for spare and or maybe make a very supportive lounge chair for the basement rec room. Wife objected to it, and havent jumped yet

Off topic-. There should be a way to make a base so it sits on the floor and wont fall back if reclined. The challenge would be esthetics.

Well, leather or toilet paper, I'm curious to see how it works out.

Oh, do try to keep up.

I like how you started off on-topic, but ended up going on a tangent about your furniture plans. :lol:

Personally my car is approaching 40K miles & both interior & exterior still look as new, then again I do look after it. As for Toyota I only have high praise for them as they usually always come to the party if I ever have a whinge, ie: previous car had seat cushions replaced on more than one occasion for minor imperfection under warranty when there was none left. Add to the fact Toyotas are considered bombproof by most & amongst the most reliable cars on the planet, I really can't complain too much.

Nothing is perfect.

Yeah it was late and I was in 420 mode. The point is there are cheap replacement seats out there if there if no resolution with is possible with Toyota. And most likely they will call it normal wear but if it isnt really normal they should aknowledge and remedy.

Both of my Supras had the same 'problem' in that the driver's side seat bolsters wore out before anything else on the car and they were both leather.


My BRZ shows zero abnormal wear on the seat and I am over 40k miles.


And to even think that the dealer would hear of such a thing as addressing seat wear under warranty is a bit foolish.
Let me guess it is only the OUTER bolster that is worn?
So maybe the OP should stop sliding into the seat.
Whats next: "my floor mats are too dirty"?

I have had several new Acuras and a new Honda where the outer bolster wore excessively. Some companies use stronger leather than others like Porsche. Also, its worth trying to be slightly carefull with ingress and egress to avoid this. Never had cloth seats wear thru though.
Toyota vinyl, like in my wife's RAV4, that stuff never wears out.

Leather isnt the answer unless maybe only with certain brands. Also, I am same height and also not mh ideal weight presently, so OP and I might be similar.

Weird. Pics would be nice OP.

I'm 5'10 220 or 230 with a substantial beer gut. Track my car hard enough to make my buttocks sore holding myself in the seat. I do feel the cushioning is very thin for my fat as I feel the metal frame of the seat. But I don't feel the seat is suffering any abnormal wear. I have about 42,000 miles and a couple dozen track days I lost count.

But yea without visual hard to say about yours OP

this

Is your only job on this forum to be a Deuch by attempting to point out who else may be? 3 pages of posts support my initial thoughts and opinions, but they are just that and nothing more. I didn't accuse the OP of anything, and I didn't call him out on BS, although unfortunately I did miss that he attempted to work with Toyota corporate... but he clarified through a subsequent rant.

If he put up pictures instead of 100000 word posts maybe we could be a bit more help. However, there are people with blown ecu's and axles that aren't getting help from warranty by subaru OR toyota.

On one side, I feel for a guy who's not getting respect he deserves regardless of the issue. On the other side... It's a fucking 3 year old seat with some evidence it's been sat on. Gtfo

My Frs got paint chips from hitting rocks on freeway.
I am going to buy Porsche or bmw next car, I am done with toyotas.

tl;dr Crappy fabrics killed Scion.

32K and my seats still look like new. But I plan to do this anyway.

Here's what my BRZ driver's side bolster looks like at almost 45k miles, with lots of track use and otherwise general neglect.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142936...7668615058581/

I mentioned my weight so you guys didn't come after me for being 7' tall and 350 lbs. I'm not a huge guy, and I don't over stress the seats. That is all

Wow! I am foolish I guess for expecting a car company to provide a little durability in their installed equipment. Thanks to those of you with legitimate replies. If they won't cover the wear then fine. But, to not even look at it before they say no? This is ok with all you nay Sayers? I've been around a little while, and have owned multiple new cars with no such wear. You nay Sayers sure don't expect much for your money. I guess consumer low expectations are why the car makers don't stand behind their workmanship any more. I will, unlike those of you who find me foolish for having somewhat high expectations, vote with my wallet in the future. That is all I am trying to say. If this wouldn't bother you, it doesn't make me wrong for it bothering me. You young guys have just never experienced true customer service I guess. Thanks to widespread attitudes like this, the manufacturers don't have to provide higher quality and standards. You are the foolish and wrong ones in my opinion. It can be better than this. I have experienced better than this. Once again I find myself sorry for posting on this forum