The new 2022 Toyota Tundra is a ground up redesign, and it has had a rocky start to its first full-year on the market with turbo issues and a variety of other problems. Now, it seems the seat trim on the driver’s side where the seat controls rest is cracking. And it isn’t a small crack. A viewer emailed us to show his 2022 Toyota Tundra cracked seat after just 5k miles.
How did the 2022 Toyota Tundra cracked seat happen?
This crack is massive and is being caused by the way the owner, Dexter Ennis, is getting in and out of his truck. Basically, Ennis is sliding across the seat and putting body weight on the thin plastic as he drops to the ground. He had the part replaced after a discussion with the dealer. Ennis said the dealer agreed to a one-time replacement and have notified Toyota to keep an eye out for more problems.
You can see the crack from footage Ennis sent to us in the video below.
But, wait. There’s more! A few days later, we got another email from an owner with a similar problem.
Then, in the comments for the video, we read other accounts of different brands experiencing the same problem.
Now, some of the comments suggested Ennis is too heavy and his body weight is causing the problem. This can be said for the second owner as well. Both of these guys are in the 250-pounds range. While this is an interesting discussion, there shouldn’t be a weight limit to drive a new truck.
The other commonality between the owners is they both slide across the seat to get out. Some have suggested you should climb up and into the truck, then sit down thereby saving your seat and side bolstering.
The bottom line
This all leads to so many questions. Is this a user error due to sliding or a design flaw manufacturers need to address? How do you get into your truck? Are these things we should even be discussing when truck prices are soaring? Shouldn’t these new, pricey trucks hold up better than this? Let us know in the comments.
Related posts:
- 2022 Toyota Tundra known problems
- Does the new 2022 Toyota Tundra have turbo problems already?
- Toyota Tundra recall: Nearly 50k trucks recalled for loose axle nuts
43 comments
Bryan
I just had my driver’s side seat side panel replaced for this issue a week ago ( Mid October 2023 ) . There is a new part # now, and it has a metal support behind the plastic, so hopefully this will last. I have a 2022 Tundra, no idea if they have a new part for older Tundras or not ( or maybe it’s even the same part? ). Anyway, just wanted to let anyone reading this thread know that they should confirm they are getting the new part if they have this issue.
Tim Esterdahl
Do you happen to have that part number?
Todd Hughes
I have a 2023 Tundra, and I just had mine replaced today. If it gets bad enough or is broken for a while, it tends to affect the controls. I had to have the seat controls replaced because the seat would not move after the trim piece was replaced. Everything works now, but is this going to happen again? I had a 2020 Tundra and had no problems. I am tall and large, and it sounded like they were telling me that I need to get into the truck differently. This is crap. It is a poor design, and something needs to be done.
Chris Alcala
I agree with this issue. I have had my truck for 1 year, 20k miles today, and I have had to replace my seat cover 3 times already. I was finally told that it is not covered under warranty because of an updated part that fixed the issue. I have a previous piece of plastic that I saved and a new piece of this seat panel saved. SAME PLASTIC AND THICKNESS. Dealership now wants me to pay for my seat cover for a $65k truck that I would not have this issue with any other manufacturer. I had a 2016 Tundra with over 80k miles and not one thing broke off that truck. Toyota needs to step it up or lose a family to their faulty parts.
Keith
This happened to my tundra’s seat as well. The dealer replaced it on time and now it’s happened again. I’ve had a 2015 and 2019 Tundra and never had this issue. Very frustrating. I’ve been more conscious of get in and out of my truck this time around but it still happened
Mike wade
I have the same damn problem I have a 2022 Toyota Kapstone. I have a crack on the panel on the driver side Toyota needs to fix this. It’s a cheap part and that’s ridiculous for $75,000 truck. I am so disappointed if you’re gonna drive a vehicle, you’re gonna have good seats in it I don’t care what the quality of the engine or the transmission or the drivetrain is, what good is it if you can’t drive the damn thing
colin gamblin
Heard back from Toyota after I filed a complaint.Get this. They said they talked to dealer service manager who told them it was me sliding in and out of truck.What a stupid statement.My Capstone 2023 Tundra has auto side steps,I step up into truck.Period.
When I exit truck I HAVE TO SLIDE OUT OF TRUCK ! Steel support bracket in 2021 Tundras,no issue.Toyota redesign truck in 2022,
plastic clips for support. Really? Now what would COMMON SENSE TELL YOU? Toyota needs to design a side cover similar to 2021
covers and send it out to dealers for replacement.
colin gamblin
Tundra seats from 2007 to 2021 side covers are reinforced with a steel brackett,No way for side cover to crack or break off.They redesigned in 2022,Two plastic clips hold cover on.Joke.
I bought a 2023 capstone,5,000 miles cover broke,had it replaced,two weeks later broke again.Dealer says it is my fault.Weight and sliding in and out of truck.I filed a complaint with Toyota.May have to go back to Ford.
scott priebusch
totally a design issue . Press the seat down acouple of inches and your on the plastic , it will brake again and again . 2 replacements in a year !!
John Bennett
Seat cracked around 5000 miles, maybe less, on my 2022 Tundra also. Doesn’t seem like user error to me with as many people as there are with this problem and I’m sure there are lots of people having this problem because my dealer has no ETA on when the replacement part will come in. The service department tried telling me all sorts of cars have this problem but I’ve never experienced this, ever. Very disappointed the dealer/company is trying to attribute this defect to user error.
Anonymous
My 2018 Tundra Limited isn’t cracked but the panel has popped half the way off. I am a big man also. 6′-4″, 350 lbs. However, the real problem isn’t with the fact that people are big. The real problem is that they don’t have a handle on the driver side. There is a handle on every other door except for the driver door. I love Toyota but this is a very cheap way to make people spend more money to buy a handle. If you have a handle you can support your weight going in and out of the truck
Les Hiscock
I have the same problem with cracked plastic on drivers seat and gas gauge issues. GM quality for sure.
Tom
Same problem, 1 year old 2022 tundra and the seat trim is cracked straight off the frame.
Charlene
Out whole panel broke within a year and they offered a 1 time replacement. It has since broken again. Not sure why I should have to delicately get out of a Tundra. I’m only 5’4 and can’t reach the running board without sliding over the seat a bit. I have never had this problem when any other cars or SUVs.
Winston Ebarb
I have re[placed 4 and still have the issue. I have tried everyway to avoid. There is something hanging up in the power seat causing the issue
Anonymous
I have a 2022 tundra and the plastic side panel on the seat has now broken twice
the first time was only a month after I got it the dealer replaced it at that time
the new panel lasted about as long as the first one
now I am being told by the dealer that no one else is having this problem
I had two other tundra’s in the past and never had a problem with the seat panel ( it is not the way I get in or out of the truck)
it looks like Toyota is side stepping the problem hopping it goes away
Ismael Pena
I bought my 2022 Tundra in December, it has exactly 5,000 miles and I have the same problem,
Harry Hyslop
My replacement plastic seat trim for the driver’s side was replaced 2/28/23 under warranty on my 2022 Tundra which was purchased in Jan. 2022. It was ordered in September of 2022. The dealer said that it was probably the same quality of the original. So I expect this one to crack also. During the time that the new part was ordered it continued to crack several more places and finally pulled away almost completely from the seat. Previously I owned 2 Ford F-150s; a 16 and an 18 and never had a problem with cracked seat trim. Obviously it is a quality problem and definitely not Toyota quality. I call Toyota corporate and complained. The CR rep indicated to me that unless people call in and complain that Toyota may not even look into it. So I urge everyone to do so!!
Lucas Vest
Who do you call?
Oliver
Mine broke as well – no crack but the front plastic eyelet socket broke . It slides over the metal seat rail, and captures the front of the trim. The lower center clamp.was broken as well – it hooks across a small metal bar. The lower center clamp broke very early on. Leaving a piece of round plastic in the floor. I took the whole assembly off & popped two holes into the remaining flange / clamp and zip tied them to the existing mounting bar and rail. I figured no use in getting another one as everything for these Tundras is 2-3 months from Toyota. Don’t get me started on the windshield. Two broken on two separate 2022 tundras both with less than 10k on the odometers. First was a demo which busted after a tiny rock hit it and the second was my personal truck. Glass company and Toyota are saying 2-3 months. Unbelievable.
Joseph
Mine broke at 21 k miles on my limited. Dealer said it was due to outside forces and denied claim. Poor engineering, it hasn’t broken yet on my 2012 tundra.. what else is gonna break
Anonymous
Same issue here definitely a design issue
Marwan Essa
I have the same exact problem, only two weeks after I got my Truck. Took it to dealer, their “technician” said it was my fault and not warrantee problems. This was my fifth Toyota from the same dealer, never AGAIN !!!!!