Drivers seat padding 150 series

[JPM21 Member Find all posts View Profile Close JPM21]

Have done a search and can't find anything. My drivers side seat in my GXL is going 'soft' by that I mean the raised part on the seat itself you sit between seems to have lost its foam support. As you hop in and out this is the area that gets the highest workout. I am sure the passenger side will do the same over time its just the drivers seat is used more. The car is nearly out of waranty ie septemebr so will raise it as a concern at the 60k service next month. Has anyone else experienced this and were you sucessful in getting Toyota to fix or replace the seat? I am about 80kg so not massively heavy but am the second owner of this one but the original owner was about my weight as well. This is my fourth 150 series but I have only had the others for about 20km and two had leather (VX and Kakadu) and maybe the leather might help protect the foam underneath a bit better. Any others with similar seat softening?

[barajak Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barajak]

I had not noticed and just went out to check for you and now that I am looking for it yes it has and it particularly fails the touch test. Just looks a little creased but definitely a lot softer and almost 60,000km on the clock. Pretty obvious it will be very shabby by 100,000km.

[peterpanner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peterpanner]

Just a thought JPM21. If you can afford 4 X 150 series in 4 years, including a new Kakadu or VX every 20,000km, maybe buy new seat and keep your GXL a bit longer.

[cbm8880 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbm8880]

Have you raised it with Toyota? You never know what their response might be...

if you're leasing the vehicle, get the fleet company to push a little harder if you have no joy.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

My 150 is 3 years old, no problem with the driver's seat, however, I swing my arse across so that I don't make too much contact with the side of the seat.

You might need to change your entry and exit technique (into the Prado that is)!

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

The leather on my Kakadu is wearing in that spot. I'm awaiting a response from Toyota but not holding my breath, car is only 3 years old and done < 50,000 KMs.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I think it's just wear and tear dependent on how big you are and how you get in and out of car.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Well if a 10 year old 95 series with velour seats didn't wear through then neither should leather. I've only had the 150 since late last year and only noticed the wear recently.

[prepare Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close prepare]

I had my old Mitshibushi for 15 years and the seats looked as good as the day it was brought. Had the prado for 2 weeks now (its done 18,000km) and I can see the drivers seat wearing already. The raised part is still firm however has slightly lost its colour. I can understand why, I cant get out of the car without sliding over that raised part of the seat as there is just to much of a gap between the seat and outside. Sounds stupid when I type this but thats the case for me anyway.

I am getting seat covers put on shortly and will see if that makes any difference otherwise I have 5 years of warranty to cover a replacement (hopefully)

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I recall a thread in the 120 section a number of years ago now, from memory you could buy the foam sections as a spare part and get an upholsterer to remove the fabric and replace the foam.

Cheers Andrew

[GreenVX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GreenVX]

We had the same problem with our hiaces at work, due to the high seat position and slightly lower roof line our drivers were sliding over the seat cushion bolster to get in and out. Both drivers are around the 5'11'' to 6 foot mark and one is about 55kgs the other 80ish. They were both using the handle on the A pillar as well to try and minimise wear. After 24 months of all day use we had to put canvas seat covers on as the fabric was so threadbare that you could see the colour of the foam underneath and the foam bolsters themselves had been crushed flat.
My personal vehicle is a 97' model 90 series and as yet the bolsters are still in perfect condition despite being a daily driver. The first thing I bought for my prado was a set of vinyl seat covers, which are wearing out now after 18 months of tropical sun. Since having my suspension raised I have noticed a few more splits in the vinyl too, perhaps wear on the seats is relative to the height of the vehicle and the height between the seat and roof in relation to the person driving it??
Just a theory but may be the cause of excess wear and tear.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

The soft edge is most probably caused by exiting the vehicle, as people tend to slide their bum across the seat to get out.

With entering the vehicle, you are more likely to lift your bum up a bit and then drop it onto the seat.

A sheep skin seat cover will protect the edge from wear, also more comfortable than the fabric. Those with leather seats may not want a sheep skin cover, as they sometimes like sitting their bums on squeaky leather!!!

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I have bought a couple of ex work ex tradie's utes and both had the seat bolster stuffed on the drivers side. That is caused by the guy driving up to a work area, kicking open the door and spinning around to talk to the rest of the tradies. Sitting sideways on the seat. Luckily I was able to pick up some replacements with not many ks on them from the wreckers. The latest seats are repairable but the first was knackered.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Well predictably Toyota have knocked back my claim on the seat damage citing "out of warranty" for the reason. Will have a close look at my extended warranty but it's through the dealer and I was told it does not cover upholstery. I bought the Prado as a 2nd-hand vehicle so wasn't offered the factory extended warranty unfortunately.

The service manager offered to get me a quote on repairing the seat and said it was ~$1500 just for the base. After I stopped laughing I told him not to bother, I'm sure I can get a better price through a motor trimmer. I'm not paying Toyota another $1500 for something that was cr@p to begin with! The leather hasn't worn right though, it's just lost colour and has that scuffed appearance like the underside of a tanned hide. I'll just wait till it really wears through and if it looks like I'm going to keep the car for any length of time beyond that I'll look at re-upholstering the lot (maybe not the 3rd-row since it rarely gets used).

Not happy, I think it's pretty poor for a car built in Oct 2009 and has travelled just under 50,000 KMs. Just goes to show how bad the quality of the leather actually is, it's my only real disappointment with the Kakadu so far.

[Ticka Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ticka]

Mine was a bit crushed . 20 minutes and two beers at the auto trimmers( out of his fridge) and good as new. Don't need to buy new foam. Any trimmer worth his weight will fix it quick.

Cheers