[ShadowST]

Hey all! Got myself into a 2016 ST3 around January and pretty damn happy for the most part. That said, anyone here see this sort of damage on their Recaro seats?

It's happening on the exact spot of the bolster where the seatbelt rubs when I've got it on. I'm concerned because I've only owned the car for ~8 months and ~4,000 miles. My old car had a similar problem with (much, much) older leather seats and the leather eventually gave way altogether, making the bolster rub off and ruining the seat.

I had my first oil change recently and the dealership took pictures. They're going to replace the seat cover. That's great, but I'm guessing unless I start driving around without my seatbelt on this is going to happen again in a year or so... Ford supposedly had nothing to say beyond approving the repair.

Anybody see this in their car? Any ideas on what I could do to keep it from happening, within reason?

 

[sullyman86]

I have wear that looks similar but on the inside of the bolster. I caught it early enough and started using 303 aerospace Protestant on the seats. It seems to have stopped the wear.

I don't know how the belt contacts the seat if you have the belt on properly. Do you drive with it under your arm instead of over your shoulder?

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[ShadowST]

I have wear that looks similar but on the inside of the bolster. I caught it early enough and started using 303 aerospace Protestant on the seats. It seems to have stopped the wear.

I don't know how the belt contacts the seat if you have the belt on properly. Do you drive with it under your arm instead of over your shoulder?

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Not at all. I wear it normally, over the shoulder. I'm a short guy so the seat is pretty far forward (back is about in line with the belt mount) which I guess is part of it. The top tip of the belt edge rubs against that area of the bolster, so I'm not sure if a sealant would work, though I guess it should help.

 

[pintobean11]

Dealer can warranty it. I'm actually taking mine in tomorrow to have the cover replaced.

edit-just read that dealer is covering it for you.

 

[cababah]

That sucks that the leather is worn like that after only a year of use. I was hoping the quality would be a tad better than that.

 

[jamie1073]

Did you lower the belt height slider? Also I would personally have them replace it once it wears enough then again. Then again if need be. Right up until the end of the warranty.

 

[Speedy12139]

if they are going to replace it, no harm no foul....

btw, it might be due to how you enter/exit the car too...

 

[Blackula]

What about trying one of those seatbelt shoulder pads that Velcro wrap?

 

[hmc2261]

It looks like the main point of contact when where you brush the seat getting in and out of the car.
303 protectant may help, it will help keep the leather from fading, but our leather is coated so we cant really condition it

do you wear a belt or have anything one your belt that could be abrasive?

 

[ShadowST]

That sucks that the leather is worn like that after only a year of use. I was hoping the quality would be a tad better than that.

Yeah, that's how I feel... I was already pretty mad about paint chipping after only a few months. This is kind of pouring salt in the wound :'(

I'm happy that Ford is replacing it no questions asked, but unless I start doing something different I can't imagine I won't be back here in a year.

Did you lower the belt height slider? Also I would personally have them replace it once it wears enough then again. Then again if need be. Right up until the end of the warranty.

That's a good thought! I believe it's only at about mid height. I'll have to check when I get back in the car tomorrow.

It looks like the main point of contact when where you brush the seat getting in and out of the car.
303 protectant may help, it will help keep the leather from fading, but our leather is coated so we cant really condition it

do you wear a belt or have anything one your belt that could be abrasive?

Sorry for the noobishness, but what do you mean by "coated"? I do wear a leather belt usually but I rarely tuck my shirts in so I don't think that would be rubbing...

As far as how I get in and out of the car.... I never really thought about it?? I'll have to pay attention but I don't really think I do anything odd. It is a bit harder to get into the Recaros than most other car seats I've been in just because they're so bolstered but once I got used to it, it felt pretty natural.

 

[hmc2261]

From an article I was reading, in order for a product to be able to claim it is genuine leather it has to be a minimum of 80% leather, as far as the other 20% idk
But the coating is some kind of chemical that apparently makes the surface not as porous to help avoid the leather drying out as easily or dis coloring due to sunlight

Tbh I'm not sure if my definition is 100% or not but if you read through the detailing section, there's a lot out there a out our leather and how to clean and treat it
All you really need to do is get a good cleaner for the leather and a nice horse or boar hair bristle brush, and then some form of UV protectant. I try to clean every 3 weeks or so and do the uv protectant every 2 months or so

 

[hmc2261]

And for 4K miles it looks like as you're getting in the seat your hips are hitting the bolstering often enough and with decent force, I'm assuming when you get out you do what I do as well, swing your leg out rotate your body (crushing the bolstering a bit) give the wheel tug to lift you out and then you're done
Obviously this is all speculation but I'm going off the crease lines I see in the leather, obviously it beds often enough in the same spot, maybe something is rubbing on the one spot? It could just be your clothes rubbing on it tbh
The wear is right on the seam and that point sticks out the furthest so it could just be wear
If they are getting you new seats then perfect but it may not solve the issue
Just my 2 cents

 

[lug]

It seems to me that far too many here are blaming Ford or Recaro and giving the original cow a free pass. For all we know, the cow was a coke or meth head and developed brittle skin.

 

[Earthbound]

Depending on seat position, might be that the seatbelt is dragging across that point when being fastened or retracted. That kind of repeated localized friction will wear the surface quickly.

 

[mackguy]

This wear pattern is very common, if a little unusual. I've got about 9k on mine (ST2) and no visible wear of this sort.

That said, I can't count how many used cars I've looked at where the outside seat and back bolsters are completely shot...

Even my dad's Bentley (40-50k miles) has pretty visible wear in this area.

Maybe your seat just had a defective finish though.

 

[jamie1073]

It seems to me that far too many here are blaming Ford or Recaro and giving the original cow a free pass. For all we know, the cow was a coke or meth head and developed brittle skin.

Hopefully the replacement if from a Thicker Skinned Cow!

 

[wheelhopper]

Just checked mine out today after seeing this thread earlier. My car is just over a year old and I have about 6K miles. Seats still look like new. You must have gotten a lemon cover

 

[Warrior 3000]

Hey all! Got myself into a 2016 ST3 around January and pretty damn happy for the most part. That said, anyone here see this sort of damage on their Recaro seats?

View attachment 160450
View attachment 160458

It's happening on the exact spot of the bolster where the seatbelt rubs when I've got it on. I'm concerned because I've only owned the car for ~8 months and ~4,000 miles. My old car had a similar problem with (much, much) older leather seats and the leather eventually gave way altogether, making the bolster rub off and ruining the seat.

I had my first oil change recently and the dealership took pictures. They're going to replace the seat cover. That's great, but I'm guessing unless I start driving around without my seatbelt on this is going to happen again in a year or so... Ford supposedly had nothing to say beyond approving the repair.

Anybody see this in their car? Any ideas on what I could do to keep it from happening, within reason?

I have the same wear in the same spot. It is mainly from my Jeans! My jeans for most of them have a like button on the back butt pockets that everytime i get in and out of my car they scrape that same spot and the wear looks grosss. =/

 

[SlimJim8804]

Had my lower cushion cover replaced under warranty for the same reason. It's just starting to show up on the upper portion of the seat as well.

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