Thoughts on what to do next

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andyp

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I’ll start by saying that I am new to the forum.
I just purchased my first 2019 Land Cruiser with about 24,000 miles on it 2 1/2 weeks ago. Today when I went to use the backseat for the first time after purchase, I noticed that the leather on the driver side second row leaves flakes of brown on your hands or clothes if you touch it. No leather repairs were disclosed to me by the dealer prior to sale, and everything looked perfect prior to purchase. In just 2 1/2 weeks with no backseat passengers it is starting to fall apart.

The lines on the middle seat or from my fingers dragging over the leather/bonded leather. Dealer (Toyota dealer) is basically giving me the runaround. Any advice? Thanks for any help or ideas.
 
Odd. My first thought is simply dirt. Get some cleaner and conditioner and see what you can do. (I use Lexol, but there are recent threads with other products mentioned too.) It's possible it's from something spilled on the seat and/or from something that was a seat cover. The back of some aftermarket seat covers can deteriorate over time and shed stuff. The pattern and location looks like it might be from a kids car seat and that brown is a collection of what ended up on the seat from kids? Try the cleaner in a small inconspicuous spot first and see what it does.
 
That is not normal, I'd take it back and hold the dealer accountable for making it right. I'm sure you paid a pretty penny for that new of a vehicle from a dealer, and they should rectify this.
 
CharlieS said:
That is not normal, I'd take it back and hold the dealer accountable for making it right. I'm sure you paid a pretty penny for that new of a vehicle from a dealer, and they should rectify this.
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Yeah. I took it to another local Toyota dealer for a second opinion, and they feel like whoever detailed the car prior to sale used a caustic cleaner on the seat cushions that ruined them. No way the dealer is going to admit to this. They already said “it’s used. Could have been the prior owner.”
 
andyp said:
Yeah. I took it to another local Toyota dealer for a second opinion, and they feel like whoever detailed the car prior to sale used a caustic cleaner on the seat cushions that ruined them. No way the dealer is going to admit to this. They already said “it’s used. Could have been the prior owner.”
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If that’s the case, who is the “they” at the selling dealer? Is management involved? “They” need to know the detailer is ruining expensive seats and repair/replace yours. Document and open a case with Toyota If necessary. Getting Toyota involved likely won’t get you anything now, but if things really fall apart in the future it may be helpful to have a record of the problem.
 
Sandroad said:
If that’s the case, who is the “they” at the selling dealer? Is management involved? “They” need to know the detailer is ruining expensive seats and repair/replace yours. Document and open a case with Toyota If necessary. Getting Toyota involved likely won’t get you anything now, but if things really fall apart in the future it may be helpful to have a record of the problem.
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Sorry for being vague “they” includes the service manager and techs at the selling dealer. All they did was take photos and send them to Toyota while denying doing anything wrong. Those guys didn’t want to hear any of it and even suggested that I could have ruined them in two weeks.

I’ve opened up a case with Toyota already (yesterday) with hopes that it may push the dealer to actually address the problem.

Any idea what the cost is for replacement seat cushions for the second row? I’ve got a feeling nothing good is going to come of this for me.
 
Dealer just called back and said nothing they’re going to do about it. This is awesome.
 
Assuming whatever is flaking off isn't actually exposing the material under the leather I'd see if a local detailer can clean it. Like @Sandroad I suspect the flaking is some other residue - maybe from another leather cleaner or from some overspray from some other cleaner used in the vehicle.

I dunno if you have kids, but having 3 I can say they will cause far more grunge in the truck than this ;-)
 
linuxgod said:
Assuming whatever is flaking off isn't actually exposing the material under the leather I'd see if a local detailer can clean it. Like @Sandroad I suspect the flaking is some other residue - maybe from another leather cleaner or from some overspray from some other cleaner used in the vehicle.

I dunno if you have kids, but having 3 I can say they will cause far more grunge in the truck than this ;)
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I do, and I know. It irritates me that they are offering 0 help with regards to the seats. I’ll ultimately end up living with it - if trying to clean them myself doesn’t work. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Escalate this up to Toyota directly. Sorry i dont have the number. Years ago we had a set of rims on a car that showed discoloration after a year. Dealer wouldn't replace, but we pushed and pushed to get a Toyota rep involved. The ultimately replaced them. Had a similar issue as you with a honda years ago. The dealer called Honda corporate for us and ultimately replaced the bottom seat cushion leather. Dont accept no would be my only advice.
 
andyp said:
Sorry for being vague “they” includes the service manager and techs at the selling dealer. All they did was take photos and send them to Toyota while denying doing anything wrong. Those guys didn’t want to hear any of it and even suggested that I could have ruined them in two weeks.

I’ve opened up a case with Toyota already (yesterday) with hopes that it may push the dealer to actually address the problem.

Any idea what the cost is for replacement seat cushions for the second row? I’ve got a feeling nothing good is going to come of this for me.
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On Toyotapartsdeal it looks like the rear seat cushion covers are about $500 each.
 
Yea I wouldn't allow this to go quietly into the night. These days businesses live and die by their social media and PR image. Light them up on Yelp, Google, ,FB, IG, etc.
 
Posting photos will help you get better input here.
Close-ups, carefully focussed, etc
 
So, s***ty dealers will spray dye over dirty seats instead of cleaning them. Seriously, they are that lazy. The seats in my 2013, that I bought used, are clearly dyed with a tan that doesn't match the surrounding tan. Id try different sorts of cleaner to remove that dye, which is probably just on top of good leather. This is just my drive-by assessment, more pics would help.

Does it come up with a warm, wet wash cloth?
 
studawg said:
So, s***ty dealers will spray dye over dirty seats instead of cleaning them. Seriously, they are that lazy. The seats in my 2013, that I bought used, are clearly dyed with a tan that doesn't match the surrounding tan. Id try different sorts of cleaner to remove that dye, which is probably just on top of good leather. This is just my drive-by assessment, more pics would help.

Does it come up with a warm, wet wash cloth?
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It doesn’t come off like a dye would. It flakes off with anything from your hand to a piece of jeans.
 
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