Passenger Seat Rattle

I found where it flexes, it's the outer/doorside part that goes into the track. Looks like it is a flimsy latch system, when weight is applied it loses contact with the outer seat rail. See video. Not the best. But can see what I mean. Mine came from the factory this way. https://youtu.be/e7fp7ZAFEPc
This is the play passenger side. Had better angle to show movement. And no one sits in that seat but once a week

 

That looks identical to mine.

Have you figured out anything to fix it? Have you found any adjustment?

 

No haven't dug into it today, it's like 100 degrees out with ill humidity. Like walking through hot Jello. I'm gonna in a day or so now that I know what it is. I'm not sure I can adjust anything in there by looking at the seat diagram, the base and seatback are one unit. Like a cheap couch's reclining mechanism. All stamped steel, flexy stuff. Play just gets worse type of stuff. I have tube aluminum spacers that should fit under that T part that flexes and still let the rail slide.

 

Makes sense. You weather does not sound fun.

What does your gap between the center console and seat look like? I swear my rattle got worse when they tried to adjust the seat away from the console. Tempted to adjust the seat tighter to the console to see what happens.

 

I'll check but they're pretty close, I stick a thin dog towel between the seats and center console. My dog likes to stand on there. Like a dish towel thickness and its snug between the console and the seat. My driver seat is the same. Same movement and everything. You don't feel it as soon as you sit since it preloads it to sit below the rail. But soon as you go forward, backwards, brake or just move, the whole thing rocks as the weight shifts. I'm like 185 so it's not that. And me moving it was with one hand on the back just pushing down. What's that 10-15lbs of force. I'll figure it out.

 

Yeah these rattles are the most annoying thing ever. I need to find time to take it in. My rattle is near the cluster gauges right where the hump is.

https://youtu.be/XmHwMhFxl3I

 

My passenger seat has developed this in the last little while, annoying to say the least. Will try the towel solution's but hopefully a proper fix comes for this issue.

 

My worst "rattle" is not from any of the choices in the poll (although my passenger seat does make quite the ruckus when it's empty). The noise that drives me absolutely crazy is actually my headliner. Near the molded part that flairs out for the crawl control dial on the passenger side it rattles like mad! If I push up on the fabric, you can hear a sticky noise like the glue or adhesive is not holding the liner in place against the roof. No matter how slow or fast I drive this makes a constant ticking noise. I feel like I need to drive around with one hand on the ceiling all the time to keep my sanity!

 

My seats are snug and rub the center console. Don’t think seat position will make a difference since it’s affected by weight and movement making the whole piece flex

 

I worked for a TIER 1 Toyota seat manufacturer. Did not make the seats for the Tacoma but did for most every other North American made Toyota. This issue is caused by the seat manufacturer installing the wrong size slide roller. By design there is to be a specified minimum & maximum slide force that is required to slide the seat. However as the team members on the line are installing these rollers they are looking to make their life easier they will install the smallest roller they can which results in low slide force effort which directly translates to passenger seat slide track rattle or chatter. This was a common warranty claim and a constant challenge to keep the slide force in the sweet range of tight enough to not rattle and not so tight as to require excess effort to slide the seat. Unfortunately I do not know of a permanent fix other than what some have posted as to create interference between the seat and the console to prevent it from the vibration of the natural vehicle harmonics over rough surfaces. If you are still under warranty it should be a covered claim to have the seat replaced.

 

Well I played around with the seat position and proved that there is no way to resolve it by adjusting the seat location. If I move it so the seat does not contact the center console then it clunks when I go over bumps but if it is touching the center console then it squeaks from the leather. I am currently trying to put a towel between the seat back and the cushion to prove if it is truly the play in the rails like we are guessing. If the towel makes no difference then it is the rails but if the towel helps then it is play in the hinge.

If this truly the rails and especially the wheels like @2006Jackpot is stating, then this is even more annoying because it would be a really simple fix. All they would have to do is put a preload on the bearings in the track to eliminate the play.

I will let you guys know the results of the testing. Either way I see a new seat in my trucks near future.

 

I looked at the seat before leaving for work this morning and the only play I have is on the head rest. I have a slight movement on the rail but not enough to make a clunking sound.

Any solutions for the head rest. I'm thinking of putting a few pieces of paper on the male inserts of the headrest.

 

@Lunabird

Search around the forum a bit. I remember seeing some other threads about the headrests making noise. I think some people were able to spread the posts to tighten them up. My headrest is nice and tight though with no issues, so I don't really know for sure what the fix would be for that.

 

Thanks!

 

I had similar issues, was making a clunk sound. I took it in to the dealer, they said the seat pan on the passenger seat was broken/cracked so they replaced it. Now I'm just left with the annoying headrest rattle. I saw your note on that, I'll have to mess with it.
The interior quality control from Toyota is lacking in the newer gens.

 

I swapped my noisy passenger head rest with my driver side head rest to test and it was quiet. I think the fit was just better. Easy to try, anyway. Good luck.

 

I’ll try that tomorrow. Thanks!

 

It's more that just the interior. I'm sure the truck is reliable but it's definitely not a high end fit and finish. Mine has fisheyes in the paint, interior rattles, and the seat noise. I do enjoy the truck and will be happy once the dealer fixes the noises but come on Toyota, you can do better.

 

This worked! thanks for the tip.

 

Awesome!