Update: Katzkin = best quality, best customer service

Update Jan 25: HUGE PLOT TWIST
1. These are not Katzkin seats
2. Katzkin has unbelievable customer service
See post 79 on page 4 for the mind blowing update
And post 135 on page 7 showing REAL Katzkin leather


Edits below in blue
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I need to put this out there for anyone considering aftermarket leather seats: my $2500 Katzkin setup [not Katzkin ... turns out it's another brand] was initially great but is failing quickly.



^ This is my [not Katzkin] drivers seat bolster after 2.5 years and just over 20k miles. I’m gentle on it and have taken care of it exactly according to Katzkin’s instructions.

On top of the issue with the poor leather quality, the Katzkin Degreez fans stopped working in both seats. The heaters do still work. [Fans work again now]

I understand that every company has quality glitches, but to cap it all off the Katzkin company isn’t standing behind the product — which was installed by my local Toyota dealer — so I’m left to deal with it on my own. [It wasn't their product, but they still helped me out]

Hopefully this will help prevent one of my Tacoma brothers from wasting a ton of money on a disappointing product. [and show them why to buy Katzkin instead]

 

wow, always heard great things about Katskins, good to hear the other side of the coin for once

 

I’d only heard good things too. Almost seemed too good to be true...

 

mines been perfect so far.

 

$2500 for fucking leather seats?

Thanks for the heads up man. Sorry to see this happening to you. Hopefully they don't deteriorate further. But wow, that's amazing. For $2500 these things better massage my nutsack.

 

I got the "more leather" version, installed for less than $1700. They're holding up great after 6 months. I have no complaints. If I get excessive wear in the lower seat, I'll call Katzkin for that replacement piece. Do they not sell just the section you need?

 

That really sucks to hear. I always thought they seemed overly expensive but to hear of poor customer service for a product that “premium” is a major bummer. If anyone out there wants to go leather/pleather, I would highly suggest Clazzios. About 1/5 the price and after one year and 10,000 miles they look as good as the day I put ‘em in (and I have a 3-year-old!). Not to rub salt in the wound but in case anyone wants an alternative.

 

The “Degreez” heated and cooled option adds a lot to the cost, but on a hot day the cooling is much better than a massage.

 

I would definitely consider that. Clazzio and even the Wet Okoles have great feedback. [Katzkin leather quality is absolutely superior. You definitely get what you pay for.]

 

Sorry to see that and hear they won't back their product.

Is that price correct for leather seat covers? I paid a lot less than that for Sparco touring seats for my STI with brackets, holy shit.

 

I have had clazzios on my f-150, for 50k miles only had slight wear, and that's where my knife was hitting the seat, once I moved my knife it stopped. My wife has a 4runner with Katzkins w/ heated seats. 30k miles with them and not a single issue. They look perfect and work like the day they were installed. I also think Clazzio has a lifetime warranty replacement for tears, at least when I bought them a few years ago they did.

So, my point here is, do you carry anything in the back pocket that might be scraping at your seat? If not, you would think they'd stand behind the product because I know a lot of people who have put Katzkins in and never had an issue, which makes me think you got a bad batch or something.

I showed my wife this picture and she says "that doesn't look right at all, something went wrong". I agree with her, the leather literally looks like its 20 years old and seen 200k miles, nothing like the leather we have on ours.

 

That leather looks horribly dehydrated. Are you using a leather conditioner on the seats every 3-6 months? Have you used any harmful/cheap products on the leather surface? Armor all is known to damage leather.

A lot of factors determine how much care leather requires. If its neglected then it will harden and crack like you are seeing. Heated/ventilated seats will dry leather out faster. Ventilation really will age the leather.

I think it is shitty though they won’t warranty the fans. It does seem horribly worn for 2.5 years.

 

We had katzkin leather seats in my wife's Rav4 for 6 years, they were fantastic. Sorry to see you're having issues.

 

Thanks, I agree with your assessment. I don’t carry anything outside my pockets, just my jeans or slacks touching the seat there. Looks like a bad batch to me too.

 

Definitely no Armor All, I gave up on that stuff a couple decades ago. I learned with my old ‘06 Accord that leather car seats these days are treated so that the surface layer basically isn’t even leather, so conditioners apparently don’t help. I just use a damp rag to clean the leather then dry it with a clean rag — which follows what Katzkin’s website suggests:

 

Is the damage above the control knob for the lumbar support? My 2005 had a badly worn spot in the same location, when I got the 2011 I took the knob off right away and the fabric hasn't worn.

 

Katzkin is the OE supplier for FCA. My Jeep leather saw some serious shit and never looked like this. This looks worse than my F150 did after 60k HARD Miles’s minus the tear.

 

They’re pricey. It’s less for just leather, closer to $2k for leather + heat, and around $2500 (including install and tax) when they add the fans, perforated leather inserts, and the special foam for the seat coolers. But it’s supposed to be a great company that should stand behind their products so it’s “worth it” ... right?

 

I have an access cab with no extra options and mine were at 1,000.00. The installation left the seats with many unsightly wrinkles initially but they disappeared after a few weeks of use, I spent a few five minute sessions of manipulating and massaging the wrinkles and it helped. I like the feel and look of them, so far no problems.

 

Theres a 3year 36K warranty. When you say Katzkin isn't standing behind their product what exactly has been communicated with them? Katzkin doesn't sell direct, so I assume the dealer supplied interior. Did the dealer say katzkin declined it?

Im curious what the communication has been. It's a little one sided to simple put them on blast without any supporting information. Plenty of people have their products and they are holding up exceptionally well. Sean Jennings put his interior to more use/abuse than most and his still looks exceptional.

Just playing devils advocate here.