Passenger Seat Back Not locking in Place

Hey all!

I've got a 2004 Tacoma Xtracab. I've also got a 4 year old who I cart around with me all the time!
Her car seat is behind the passenger seat. And for awhile that's been fine. But she is growing and her legs no longer can squeeze in behind the passenger seat, even when the seat is pulled all the way up, and close to the glove compartment.

I discovered that she fits just fine if I release the back of the seat so that it angles forward and then pull the base of the seat all the way up. But the major problem is that the seat will not lock in place when the back of the seat is forward and angled.

I want to be able to pull that seat up all the way, angle the back forward, and have all of the parts lock in place. But they will not do it!

Does anyone know how I can either fix this or what kind of seat I could put in the truck that will do what I want it to do? It seems crazy that I would have to buy a new truck simply because of a seat that isn't cooperating.

Thanks so much!

 

Your Xtra cab has an airbag OFF switch in it so that children can ride in the passenger seat up front. Even has car seat anchors in the front seat. Regular cabs and Xtra cabs have this feature (double cabs do not).

There's no way I know of to lock the front seat in the folding position, at least no way I'd consider "safe" in the event of a wreck.

I put my daughter's infant car seat and toddler seat up front for the first few years until I got my 4runner.