Seat Swap From VW MK7 to Tacoma

I’ve had back pain for awhile from my 2006 Tacoma front seats and I’ve looked everywhere for good quality seats that aren’t too expensive and will fit.

Here were my priorities:
-Must have lower mileage than my car
-Must be 2015 or newer
-Power seat or recliner
-New or like new seat foam
-Fits seat area
-Seat heater

I scoured Facebook marketplace for a while, looking for something to fit my needs. I finally came upon some VW Jetta and MK7 seats.

They’re practically the same with a slight variation on the seat fabric. I paid $150 and got practically a new pair of seats and then only took a couple hours (5) of retrofitting cutting grinding, welding and wiring and I had a new pair of seats for my truck.

I warn anyone against doing this, unless you have some time behind a welder and the proper tools.

This project required me to completely scrap, my old seat frame, and modify the new seat frame and wiring.

 

Overall, the seat fit very well almost like it had been made for the Tacoma. While the framed did not in required modification.


Doing this meant I no longer have my airbag sensor unless I choose to hook it back up with the new seats wiring. I’m wary of doing this due to the fact, the new seats have airbags in the sides.

The difference in the seat quality is night and day the car I got them off of had 130,000 miles on it and you wouldn’t be able to tell from the seat.

The cushion actually holds you in and sits much lower than the Tacoma‘s original seat, frame, freeing up legroom and allowing me to drive with work boots. On some thing I never thought possible in a Tacoma.

 

I thought about doing this

what makes me nervous is the wiring more than frame fitment

I mean it’s too late know. But there’s a guy on here who sells seat spacer pucks that are supposed to go in the back. It makes the stock seat feel way better. That’s what I did.

but besides that if picking a seat from another car there’s a lot of options.
Speaking of which my side foam is falling apart from getting in and out which I hear is a common issue.

 

Yeah, the wiring for the seat heater is going to be tough. It would be nice to have a thermal camera.

I put spacers on my front just some nylon bushings. I got from the hardware store to act as seat Jackers.

I didn’t really love the feel, didn’t think about putting them in the back though.
I found my original seat. Had me put forward a little far, the butt was worn out and so was my seat side.

 

honestly its meant for the rear. Don’t know why folks do it even all 4 or front only, best of luck to them. Don’t think it gets the same result.

but yeah a nice seat is a nice seat.

real nice would be perforated and vented cooled. That uses a little fan underneath.

there’s also cars with seats that massage you (Audi)
Benz AMG seats that the bolster actively kicks on to grab and hug your opposite body side during cornering lol

or, as you may have seen, the new TRD Pro seat with what looks like air shocks
Semi truck seats might use air too

I wonder what would happen if a seat was welded to use linear springs and Fox shocks lol

 

So the one thing I will add to doing this type of modification is wiring up your airbag module after swapping seat.

I’m having trouble getting my airbag light off even though I have hide the new module back up and put tension on each of the seat sensor stream gauges from the old passenger seat.

I’m still be bugging how to get the light off. I’ll let you know if I solve anything.