Dear Aftermarket Companies and/or Fabricators....

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that I would pay good money for a heavy-duty outer seat panel that doesn't crack easily.

Ideally, something metal and potentially with molle mounting capabilities, but anything better than stock would do.

I have no idea how to solve for the potential interference with the side airbags (assuming they're in the seat). Maybe a design that mounts to the floorpan and hinges outward in case of airbag deployment? At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if a cracked seat panel (mine's pretty bad) might actually be a little dangerous in the event of airbag deployment. I can picture small shards of already mostly snapped plastic flying around because of the damaged plastic panel.

I just wish there was another option than to either:
1) Replace with terrible design
2) Live with a cracked seat panel.

I know this has been discussed at length, but I wanted to create a thread that was specifically addressed to aftermarket companies and/or fabricators out there. If anyone is listening...this is 100% an opportunity to help create a product that solves a problem.



Side note: Yes, I have steps. Yes, I try to lift my a$$ up rather than sliding out. Even with changing my behavior...I feel like it still gets worse simply from the side bolster pushing into the plastic panel while I sit in the seat. That pressure keeps stressing the plastic.


Note: Not my pic. This is from @Carolinahrguy but mine looks the same, if not a little worse now that my truck is ~18 months old.

 

I have been trying to exit my truck without sliding off the seat. I wonder if the seat panel with the power controls is different?

Is there a fastener right behind the ripped part? Maybe a simple sheet metal plate that grabs the outer panel and has a tab to fit on the fastener. Just thinking out load about a simple fix.

 

That's a lot of liability (to interfere with airbag). As a sane aftermarket vendor I'd stay away from anything safety-related as far away as I can.

Can't you replace your MY22 panel with MY23? I've read Toyota made them sturdier.

 

There's an airbag in that side panel? That would certainly make it harder to modify.

 

yeah no aftermarket is going to touch that, the liability and lawyers will be drooling if they see that.

 

I agree on the airbag front, but I have to assume the same liability exists for front bumpers and roof racks and many other products.

I doubt many (or any) aftermarket company does crash testing to verify that their products don’t interfere with airbag deployment or damage the airbag. Take the roof rack example: Drilling into the roof runs the possibility of puncturing the airbag, we all know that. However, has anyone tested that the bolt protruding through the roof (even if it didn’t puncture the airbag during install) won’t rip/damage the airbag during deployment? There is now a jagged bolt hanging down above the airbag where none existed before. It’s not like CBI is going to crash a $60k truck to find out.

Even a product like Seatjackers run a legal risk. Who’s to say that rising a seat by 2” or 3” won’t cause an issue with deployment since it would definitely change the angle of the seat.

I’m not saying any of these situations/products actually negatively impact safety. What I am saying is there are tons of scenarios that already exist where aftermarket companies run a certain amount of legal liability , if you think about it.

Note: Not trying to get this thread off topic with a discussion of what is an “acceptable amount of legal risk” is with aftermarket companies. Bigger companies accept more. That’s pretty much it. Haha

 

The panel with the power seat is either much stiffer or the seat does not put much stress on it. I am 6'1" and ~255 lbs. No stress on the side panel when I get out and I do not worry about lifting my ass.

 

I think it’s because you have a 2023. There’s a thought they redesigned the panel for the 23’s. On the 22’s, it’s doesn’t matter if you have the power seat switches or the manual seat panel (like I do). It impacts both. Plenty of powered seat panels have cracked too.

 

I’m happy you’ve haven’t had any issues within the first day.

 

That may be it. Wonder if the part numbers are the same. Also, I think there are 3 or 4 different seats options. Wonder if any share the same side panel. Here is mine.

 

You took the word out of my mouth with the seat jackers. That has also been discussed in the 2.5 gen forum. There is always some liability, even the manuf. have liability when they make a product.