Hi everyone. I'm just curious if anyone has had experience with wrinkled/defective leather in their 2019-2021 ES? I bought a 2020 ES Luxury with Chateau interior in June and when I test drove the car, I loved it but noticed an indent on the back seat and a strange wrinkle on the front seat. I wasn't super concerned about the front seat wrinkle, moreso the obvious indent on the back seat, but the dealer promised to make both seats right since it's a brand new car. Due to COVID and limited inventory, this was the only Luxury trim in my preferred color (Nebula Gray) and the dealer was able to get warranty approval.

Fast forward some time, and they replaced the back seat and tried to replace the front seat cover (I guess something with the airbag prevented them from swapping the seat out). The back seat looked good (a few wrinkles but at least no more indent). The front seat ended up looking worse. They put 65 warranty hours into the job, involved an upholstery shop, etc. I finally got a call from corporate that they custom built an entire seat assembly for me. I just got it installed last week. Now I feel a slight rough patch on the edge, but I'm wondering if I should just let it go because it doesn't look defective, it just feels rough to the touch - and they've certainly done a lot of work trying to rectify the situation. I don't want to be the annoying customer.

Now, I am realizing that the back seat has some really strange wrinkles. I think I'm going to mention this at my 5k service (currently at 3k miles). What do you all think about this back seat situation, and the front seat having a rough patch (rough to the touch, but you can't see anything out of the norm). I don't have any photos of the new seat but it looks perfectly fine.

Photos below in four categories:

1. Original back seat with indent and rough leather
2. Original front seat, slight wrinkle
3. New front seat cover, worse than original (note the weird creases on the back of seat)
4. New back seat with strange wrinkles (more concerned about the ones on seat bottom, but the ones near the armrest/back aren't great either)

Original back seat with indent




Original front seat, slight wrinkle



New front seat cover, worse than original (note the weird creases on the back of seat)






New back seat with strange wrinkles (more concerned about the ones on seat bottom, but the ones near the armrest/back aren't great either)






What do you all think? Should I push them more on the back seat wrinkles? I understand this isn't NuLuxe, and leather will naturally wrinkle, but these seem like weird wrinkles for a brand new car. Prior to getting the ES, I drove a 2018 RX 450h F Sport with Rioja red leather. It had wrinkles on the bolster from wear and tear, but nothing like these.

 

Definitely looks unusual for a brand new vehicle.

 

I don't know if you should push more or not. Sometimes, it can just make matters worse. However, that being said, I would not be happy with those results, however with a seatcover that isn't made in a controlled factory environment, you may not get any better than that. I wish I had something more constructive to offer. I am very OCD and I would probably push back on it. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

I looked at mine and the seats look different than your pictrure. I think the f-sport is an upgrade. Anyway didn't see and wrinkles or rough spots. Its stretched very tight.
good luck with the dealer myself i would be raising hell.

 

Your FSport has synthetic leather - Nuluxe. Cant compare.

 

Should have just waited or bought another spec IMO

 

When I took possession of 2020 es300h the upper driver side had wrinkles on them, salesman service would take care of it. On my 1600km service, the service advisor took pictures of the defect and sent them to Lexus Canada for replacement.​​​​​​ Got a call from service last week and the approval from Lexus Canada for a replacement.