Passenger Seat Installed Too Close…

Brought my Tacoma in to the dealer yesterday for a CarPlay issue and center console issue.

Carplay issue was resolved, however the center console issue was not.

The issue is in colder temperatures my center console squeaks and creaks like a mother fucker. Can hear it with the stereo turned up over 30. They found the issue, the passenger seat sits in 1” more than the driver seat and the seat (side bolsters) is resting on the center console. The rails for the seat were installed 3/4” off of where they were supposed to be. Has anyone had this issue? I’ll post a pic when I pick up the vehicle.

 

Interesting…
How is that even possible that they could be installed that way? I think A number of us have a seat rattle caused by the passenger seat bolster contact with the center console. Did the dealer indicate it could be easily corrected?

 

They measured the rails and compared to another. It sits in a strong 3/4” farther than the drive seat and another Tacoma on their lot. The squeak is coming from the center console lid as the passenger seat is causing the lid to move while driving. There’s a 1/2” gap between bolster and center console on driver side. I’ll post a pic when I pick the car up.

 

That's some BS from the dealer. The mounting holes for the seat rails and the cab are only in one location. It's impossible to mount the seat in a different location in manufacturing. I'm not saying the seat is not contacting the console, but it's not because the seat is installed 3/4" off.

 

I’ll post a pic when I get in the truck. I don’t think they’re lying to me, the advisor and I have been friends for several years and he’s never bullshitted me.

 

I don’t see how that is possible. The floor is stamped by a press. They will all be identical. Is there a possibility the console is wonky?

 

I’ll get in line with the that’s not likely possible crowd. That would mean the entire assembly line producing the floor panels was wrong. The interior assembly process just aligns the seat and fastens it down so it can’t really be done wrong there.

 

More than the assembly line being wrong, it is just not possible with the way automobiles are made. There is only one crash tested / approved set of mounting points for seats. The threaded holes for mounting the seats to the body are specially reinforced. The locations are determined by the stamping dies that form the floor panels. There is no possible way the mounting points can be wrong.

 

First pic is the driver side. There’s a 1/4” gap. Driver side is second pic. Resting into console hard. When I move the booster back from the lid sound goes away.

 

im going to go with the center console isn’t on perfectly or the seat itself is tweaked.

 

I think it's more probable that the center console is installed improperly.

What did the dealership say they are going to do to fix it?

 

they’re are bringing in a Toyota field tech to make a decision. I’ll know more tomorrow or Tuesday. More concerned about the seat rubbing and causing wear over time on the bolster and it failing.

 

Any updates? I'm thinking the seat itself is the problem.

 

Leave it. Don't have to worry about dropping french fries in there.

 

I have the same issue with mine, and come to think of it had it in my 2017 as well. Makes noise when travelling on rough surfaces? Hmm now I’m going to have to go out and measure.

 

I'm going to take a wild shot and say seat foam/upholstery misalignment. No way the seat frame is off. I have doubts about tweaked console too. You'd see it where it meets the dash.

Slap some black moleskin on it to stop the rub-squeak.

 

Throw some Astro Lube in there while you wait for a fix.

 

The dealer got back to me today. A Toyota corporate field technician wants to see the truck. The dealer took pictures of my seat and presented it to him and they want to look into it to see if it’s a design flaw and the field tech wants to get my truck for a few days.

They are also going to look into any other complaints. It may be beneficial for you to go into your dealer and have them document it as well along with anyone else reading this.

 

That's hilarious. I was losing my mind the other day because I'm dealing with the same thing. I put a touch rubber washer in-between the seat and center console, right below the lid, for temporary sanity.