2017 ES350 leather tear
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
2017 ES350 leather tear
My 2017 ES350 has a tear in the passenger seat. Dealer won't fix it. Is this fixable? Thanks in advance for any advice.
I think it is a material defect. Dealer said Lexus won't fix.
I think it is a material defect. Dealer said Lexus won't fix.
#2
I've had luck in the past with a leather tear repair but it was not on the perforated section which is where your tear is. Where I live in South Florida, there are mobile interior repair technicians - you may have them as well in your state/city. If so, just choose carefully.
Alternately, you may also be able to replace the entire leather seat cover from Lexus which could be expensive. An interior shop would need to perform that work.
Good luck!
Alternately, you may also be able to replace the entire leather seat cover from Lexus which could be expensive. An interior shop would need to perform that work.
Good luck!
The following users liked this post:
ut2sua (03-18-18)
#3
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
Three options:
Spot repair: typically does NOT come with any warranty and will NEVER look 100%. They'll smear some leather bondo and dye on that section and if you're lucky it holds up over time, but I've never had the greatest luck with these types of repairs.
Completely replacement of that section of the seat: Most upholstery shops will charge an arm and a leg for it as their way of saying "this job is too small for us". I used to have some 97 Supra TT seats in my car several years back and the lower most piece on the driver side bolster needed replacing. The piece was like 3"X3" and a local reputable repair shop quoted me over $300 to replace that little piece. Needless to say I didn't go this route as that's almost the same as the seat was worth on the used market. Ended up having the upholstery guy at my dad's work do it on the side for $20 but had to wait a few weeks. It was a close match, but not 100% but it did not matter as it was the lower most piece of the side bolster that is barely seen at all. On your seat, it's right in the center so anything but a perfect match may be an eye sore if the shop can't source the same leather material and color and get the stitching done right. The need to remove the seat cover to do this repair.
Complete replacement of entire seat cover: Self explanatory and will cost the most but look 100%.
Personally, I'd just live with it. It seems like a tiny rip even in the close up photo.
Spot repair: typically does NOT come with any warranty and will NEVER look 100%. They'll smear some leather bondo and dye on that section and if you're lucky it holds up over time, but I've never had the greatest luck with these types of repairs.
Completely replacement of that section of the seat: Most upholstery shops will charge an arm and a leg for it as their way of saying "this job is too small for us". I used to have some 97 Supra TT seats in my car several years back and the lower most piece on the driver side bolster needed replacing. The piece was like 3"X3" and a local reputable repair shop quoted me over $300 to replace that little piece. Needless to say I didn't go this route as that's almost the same as the seat was worth on the used market. Ended up having the upholstery guy at my dad's work do it on the side for $20 but had to wait a few weeks. It was a close match, but not 100% but it did not matter as it was the lower most piece of the side bolster that is barely seen at all. On your seat, it's right in the center so anything but a perfect match may be an eye sore if the shop can't source the same leather material and color and get the stitching done right. The need to remove the seat cover to do this repair.
Complete replacement of entire seat cover: Self explanatory and will cost the most but look 100%.
Personally, I'd just live with it. It seems like a tiny rip even in the close up photo.
The following users liked this post:
ut2sua (03-18-18)
#4
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I've had luck in the past with a leather tear repair but it was not on the perforated section which is where your tear is. Where I live in South Florida, there are mobile interior repair technicians - you may have them as well in your state/city. If so, just choose carefully.
Alternately, you may also be able to replace the entire leather seat cover from Lexus which could be expensive. An interior shop would need to perform that work.
Good luck!
Alternately, you may also be able to replace the entire leather seat cover from Lexus which could be expensive. An interior shop would need to perform that work.
Good luck!
#5
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
It's not. Most new leathers are perforated because most modern cars come with heated and cooled seats.
The issue is something in your pants or shorts caught the leather and ripped it. That is the issue.
All of my cars are Lexus and at least 10 years old with plenty of miles and none of them are ripped. You need to be more careful.
The issue is something in your pants or shorts caught the leather and ripped it. That is the issue.
All of my cars are Lexus and at least 10 years old with plenty of miles and none of them are ripped. You need to be more careful.
#6
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Three options:
Spot repair: typically does NOT come with any warranty and will NEVER look 100%. They'll smear some leather bondo and dye on that section and if you're lucky it holds up over time, but I've never had the greatest luck with these types of repairs.
Completely replacement of that section of the seat: Most upholstery shops will charge an arm and a leg for it as their way of saying "this job is too small for us". I used to have some 97 Supra TT seats in my car several years back and the lower most piece on the driver side bolster needed replacing. The piece was like 3"X3" and a local reputable repair shop quoted me over $300 to replace that little piece. Needless to say I didn't go this route as that's almost the same as the seat was worth on the used market. Ended up having the upholstery guy at my dad's work do it on the side for $20 but had to wait a few weeks. It was a close match, but not 100% but it did not matter as it was the lower most piece of the side bolster that is barely seen at all. On your seat, it's right in the center so anything but a perfect match may be an eye sore if the shop can't source the same leather material and color and get the stitching done right. The need to remove the seat cover to do this repair.
Complete replacement of entire seat cover: Self explanatory and will cost the most but look 100%.
Personally, I'd just live with it. It seems like a tiny rip even in the close up photo.
Spot repair: typically does NOT come with any warranty and will NEVER look 100%. They'll smear some leather bondo and dye on that section and if you're lucky it holds up over time, but I've never had the greatest luck with these types of repairs.
Completely replacement of that section of the seat: Most upholstery shops will charge an arm and a leg for it as their way of saying "this job is too small for us". I used to have some 97 Supra TT seats in my car several years back and the lower most piece on the driver side bolster needed replacing. The piece was like 3"X3" and a local reputable repair shop quoted me over $300 to replace that little piece. Needless to say I didn't go this route as that's almost the same as the seat was worth on the used market. Ended up having the upholstery guy at my dad's work do it on the side for $20 but had to wait a few weeks. It was a close match, but not 100% but it did not matter as it was the lower most piece of the side bolster that is barely seen at all. On your seat, it's right in the center so anything but a perfect match may be an eye sore if the shop can't source the same leather material and color and get the stitching done right. The need to remove the seat cover to do this repair.
Complete replacement of entire seat cover: Self explanatory and will cost the most but look 100%.
Personally, I'd just live with it. It seems like a tiny rip even in the close up photo.
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#8
Pole Position
Thread Starter
It's not. Most new leathers are perforated because most modern cars come with heated and cooled seats.
The issue is something in your pants or shorts caught the leather and ripped it. That is the issue.
All of my cars are Lexus and at least 10 years old with plenty of miles and none of them are ripped. You need to be more careful.
The issue is something in your pants or shorts caught the leather and ripped it. That is the issue.
All of my cars are Lexus and at least 10 years old with plenty of miles and none of them are ripped. You need to be more careful.
#9
Driver School Candidate
I had this happen to me a few years on an RSX (perforated seats); my key poked a hole in the leather. I went to a local leather/upholstery (mom & pop) place in our city and he was able to match up the seat portion exactly. He replaced the torn section with a new piece of leather. You can tell it's different when you look at it because one piece is newer than the rest, but it is not obvious. It wasn't cheap (about $320 if I remember right), but much cheaper than fooling with an entire seat.
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ut2sua (03-18-18)
#10
I have repaired something like this before. If you don't want to replace the leather, then you need to get the seat cover off, so that you can apply a patch on the back to reinforce the area. Glue patch with a contact cement. If you just fill the tear yourself or have a company do it and then dye it, over time it will split again if not reinforced from the back first.
The following users liked this post:
ut2sua (03-18-18)
#11
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I have repaired something like this before. If you don't want to replace the leather, then you need to get the seat cover off, so that you can apply a patch on the back to reinforce the area. Glue patch with a contact cement. If you just fill the tear yourself or have a company do it and then dye it, over time it will split again if not reinforced from the back first.
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