The "Cracked Seat Panel" MEGA Thread

everyone has...nothing new

 

I think a better question is who HASN'T had this problem. Mine just cracked this week.

I thought I read that Toyota had changed the design to make them more durable, but apparently not.

 

I have not. The wife broke the clip on passenger side

I am a big boy but I cheek lift on exit

 

Yep I have definitely changed the way I exit now.

 

I have not had that problem yet....but I do use the grab handle to hoist myself out onto the step. Seeing how my wife exits the passenger side I'm beginning to wonder......she likes to slide out....

 

My 2nd one was installed last week. The passenger side has a crack line so watching and waiting.

 

I haven’t had this issue either. I usually am sliding out of the truck too as I don’t have any steps. Wonder when I’ll join the club!

 

If I'm reading this right Texian is driving a 2nd gen tundra. That being said, with this being a common problem with the 3rd gen Tundra I use the grab handle also to pull myself up out of the seat standing on the running board to get out and use the handle getting in to avoid sliding and putting pressure on the edge of the seat. Only time will tell if this avoids cracking the seat panel. Should you have to do this? Absolutely not! While many here use our trucks more as family vehicles rather then a burly Truck it doesn't lessen the fact that it's supposed to be a "TRUCK" and by any definition should be built with durability in all its' components as a core concept. But, alas, it is what it is. Guess I will just have to call my way of getting in and out of my truck "The old Toyota Tundra two step"

 

So Observer is right, 2.5 gen. Must be less seat cushion on the 3rd Gens compared to previous models than…..

 

I'm a big guy (6'4" and 260 pounds). I don't have any running boards either. My legs are long enough that I can step in and out of my truck without putting much weight on the side of the seat, so I was hoping to avoid this problem. Nope. The crack initially looked like 2 separate scratches. Then the scratches grew together into one long crack exactly like the pic in the OP.

So, I'd say it's just a matter of time until you join the club.

When I have mine replaced, I plan to ask to keep the old cracked one, so I can try to figure out how to reinforce it. There's got to be some way to prevent this from happening.

 

Mine just cracked again after having it replaced earlier this year. But as I was looking at it I was sort of thinking of trying something.

It seems like the issue might be that there really isn’t anything behind the part that cracks. There’s this void behind it, and perhaps it’s flexing too much because there isn’t anything behind it to stop it from flexing inward. So I was thinking of maybe adding something behind to fill the void, a piece of foam or something. Just need to find something dense enough

 

Cheek lift? Bro what

 

I wish someone would make a metal aftermarket version

 

My thoughts exactly. I am on my 4th one I think it is and it’s cracked also. I kinda quit caring about it so much but I probably will try to get the dealer to replace another just ‘cause………

 

Took 13 months, but mine finally cracked. Part is on order at dealership.

 

I was thinking about smearing a layer of a structural epoxy product called G/flex 650 on the inside of the panel in the area that usually cracks. I've used the stuff on several plastic repairs with great success. It sticks to anything, and when it cures, it's tough as nails without being brittle. I'm almost positive that a fairly thick layer of it would prevent the panel from ever cracking.

 

Made me laugh!

 

Interesting. I might look into that. My first attempt at “stuffing the void” didn’t go so well. lol

 

When is there going to be an aluminum or carbon fiber aftermarket part made?

 

If it's a smooth surface on the inside where the cracks usually occur, the epoxy should do the trick. At the very least, it will strengthen that area by at least double, probably more.

Just let it cure until it gets stiff enough not to run before applying it. Then smear it on in a thick layer over the entire area. Then let it cure completely before installing.

If you attempt it, please post your efforts, if you have time. Thanks!

 

Well after 11 months and 10K miles, I too have joined the cracked driver seat panel club.
No hurry to get it fixed in hopes Toyota comes up with a fix that lasts.
I figure I got 2 years to (literally) sit on it.

Btw, this is my only problem with the truck to date.
Now that I say that I probably just jinxed myself into a seized engine.

 

I bought a '23 with 13k miles on it. Stopped by the dealer and they ordered the part and replaced it under warranty.

 

Mine started out looking like that. At first I thought I scratched it. Eventually it grew longer and deeper to the point where I could press on it and see that it was separated plastic.

 

Got mine fixed with the "Upgraded part". Took about a month to get the part in. Was told that it was on a national backorder of like 2000 units when they ordered. It's funny how much the sag was fixed with a working part. It feels like there's more support now that I took for granted. I'm a largeun, so this one will probably break eventually too, but for now, it's great!

 

I just called to schedule a service appointment to get my cracked seat panel replaced. The service rep who answered my call indicated this was a problem she'd never heard of before, which I find hard to believe. I explained that it was a very common warranty problem, so much so that the part is likely on back order. So she transferred me to the parts department.

Sure enough the part is on national back order, and the parts guy couldn't tell me when it might arrive. He said he'd call me when it came in.

I hope I'm wrong, but I got the vibe that they are going to fight me over covering this under warranty. I assume my first move should be to talk to the service manager. I plan to show him this thread. Is there any other advice you guys can give me to insure it will be covered under warranty? I have an inherent distrust for dealership service departments.

TIA

 

Call a different dealer... Mine was super honest and acknowledged the problem. It was on back order at that time too but called me about 2-3 weeks later and they replaced it in about 20 minutes. They did not fight me at all.

 

Thanks, I actually started a thread here to ask what dealerships in my area that people had good service experiences with. I called the one that was recommended.

I might be worrying about nothing. The lady who answered in the service department was just a scheduler, so that might be why she wasn't familiar with the problem. I hope an actual service tech, or the manager, will know this is a common warranty issue, and they will do the right thing.

 

As others have said, I didn't have a problem. They actually had a Toyota rep coming in when I took my truck for a scheduled oil change and they asked me to bring it in the day that rep would be there to take a look at it. After the visit they told me they'd fix it for free but it was on national back order. A month later, after a 20 minute appointment it was all fixed and I owed nothing. I wish I had a bulletin number or something for you, but I've seen a LOT of people in this thread getting it fixed for free.

 

Thanks. I can't imagine them fighting me when there is so much evidence of other dealerships covering it under warranty.

What was odd was the service scheduler I talked to seemed to check some sort of database to confirm it was a common warranty problem. Then she indicated she wasn't seeing it.

The parts guy seemed even more clueless. I had to explain exactly what part it was 3 times before he seemed to understand.