NOT NORMAL, THERE IS A FIX!
I contacted 15 So.Cal dealer Service Departments and 2 have confirmed that the cable controlling the up/down mechanism needs replacement. Both dealers: Crown Lexus-Ontario and San Diego Lexus have replaced once vehicle is inspected. Once inspected, request is determined to be covered under warranty, part is ordered, appointment scheduled, and it takes 2 days to complete. Seats come out, split apart……….
Both dealerships have replaced and got covered under warranty.

Read: 3rd Row Seats Thread……...

 

Good news....and we'd be grateful if you can provide the part numbers once completed! ...as we replace our TX part by part!

 

Is there a service bulletin or part number for the cable you can share? My dealership said the sound was not an issue and did not seem aware there was a fix available.

 

Our new 550h+ has the same popping. Sales guy told me it's normal. When I got the car home and tested it, it looks like something on the bottom gets jammed when raising the seats. But when I put the seats back down, I was able to push it back into place. Little annoying, but not a deal breaker. We rarely will use the 3rd row. More of a "buy now, think later" thing LOL

 

Did you actually get this repaired or is this just something you've been told?

I looked at 3-4 YouTube videos of the seat folding being demonstrated and all of them made the same popping sound. This is NOT the sound of the headrests folding. If you've had it done and the popping is gone, then it's clearly something that can be fixed. If you haven't had it looked at yet, I'll be interested to see if they really do resolve it.

The popping itself doesn't bother me. But of course if something needs to be correct it's best to do that sooner rather than later to possibly avoid damaging something else.

 

No Service Bulletin as Lexus has not accepted ownership and not enough people complain. Contact Crown Lexus Ontario and or San Diego Lexus and locate the part number. I personally have spoke with 3 Service advisors and all 3 said a cable replacement fixes the “pop”! We’re waiting for a break in school recess to get ours fixed.
All 3 have stated that after the initial inspection, (1 day) the part replacement and labor is covered under warranty, which takes 2 days.

 

No Service Bulletin as Lexus has not accepted ownership and not enough people complain. Contact Crown Lexus Ontario and or San Diego Lexus and locate the part number. I personally have spoke with 3 Service advisors and all 3 said a cable replacement fixes the “pop”! We’re waiting for a break in school recess to get ours fixed.
All 3 have stated that after the initial inspection, (1 day) the part replacement and labor is covered under warranty, which takes 2 days.

 

I think you may have an additional problem. I had something similar and had parts on both seats replaced. It will get worse. See thread below:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/tx-...row-seats.html

 

Great details on this. Ours just started this popping as well around 10K. Left third row loud pops when raising. It starts around 75% to the fully raised position. I could feel that plastic you're referring to when it would fail to raise fully. I've reported it and will make an appointment in the coming weeks. Thanks for the pictures.

 

The dealer finally got the part in he wanted, which was the back of the seat with the plastic attached to it. So I took it down there and installed a whole new back on the seat and when I got home I raised up the seat because both were laying flat and it popped again. So then I raised the left seat up. It got halfway up and it jammed. It wouldn't go up any further. Then I lowered it down and raised up a couple times and finally it raised up but popping numerous times all the way to the raised position.

The seats do have a normal click sound when you raise and lower them. It happens about half way which is the latching mechanism for the seats. Some techs get confused about this with the popping sound.

Anyways, going back to the dealer again, it's just unbelievable. I will try and attach the video I took of it.

 

Read my first post on this dated: Sept 1, 2025 and the next 2 about dealer updates!!
It’s the cable

 

Yes, I have that issue. It’s on my list of things to show the service dept the next time I bring it in

 

I have a 2025 Lexus TX 500h and I also have that issue where the third row makes a popping noise when almost down or up due to the plastic bar and I first mentioned the issue at the 5000 mile service and by the 10000 mile service i noticed that it was getting worse and I had to guide the plastic part manually. The Lexus service and brand advocate told me that it would not be covered by warranty because its not completely broken and they claimed that it was caused by excess weight on the cargo area and the tool tray toward the seat area wall was bulging a little and interferes with the plastic bar which I explained that i have only put a normal amount of weight on the cargo area and they told me to put the load evenly which for a 80k luxury SUV you would think that wouldn't be an issue. I explained to them that since i was in the engineering field that the issue is a design flaw which the bar is not secured and functions in a poorly designed way. The tray wall is also flimsy so that any weight will cause it to bulge and interfere with the bar. So I advise all TX owners before warranty expires to check if the third row makes a popping noise to report to the dealer and document that it is doing that before it fully breaks or comes apart like above with the other member. To replace tray is $1000 and i don't know how much it will cost to replace the plastic bar and back seat liner.

 

I had the same issue and mine fixed, they replaced some broken trays

Other issues

Sticky Fuel Gas tank Cover. They added felt pads and resolved the issue.

Noise from headliner. First replaced sun visor, that didnt fix and they replaced the whole headliner.

 

Yeah, my gas cover takes a half dozen button presses before it opens. Can't stand it.