Bumps In 2005 Es330 Front Seats

[abswan]

We are experiencing severe discomfort with a new ES330. Both front seats have several bumps at the back of the seat (the part you sit on, just where the base of the spine hits the seat). The dealer says the seats are to spec and they cannot add cushioning for safety reasons (airbags in sides of seat). We are at a loss as to what to do as dealer (Rallye of Glen Cove) will not take car back and we have a 4 year lease. All other ES330s at the dealer have the same problem. No other Lexus model has lumps in the seats. In fact this car is probably unique in this problem.

A friend of ours now tells us that his wife was forced to sit in the back seats of a 2004 Lexus ES330 for the same reason.

It would be most helpful to us if we could show the dealer that we are not alone in experiencing discomfort. Please advise. Thanks.

[91L3xus]

Could it be the lumbar support all the way out?

[Toysrme]

Ditto, probably the lumbar support is pumped all the way out. Never experianced, nor heard of that problem in any ES, or the rest of the Camry platform.

If it were a problem, Toyota wouldn't be on their record setting sales spree this year.

[SW03ES]

I've driven probably 30 02+ ES cars, 2002s, 2003s, 2004s, and 2005s. They did make the seats firmer in 04 and I think mine are more comfortable but I see no difference between the seats on the 04 (no ventillation) and the seats on the 05 (with ventillation). Never had any seat discomfort even on long trips.

[Unlisted]

my wife loves her seats. She does alot of driving each dayand prefers the ES over our more expensive second car. And she had a surgery on her back in the last 14 months. Have you tried adding any padding yourself?

[lexus411]

If anything sounds like it could be airbag sensor switches. I ve driven the ES loaners a bunch of times and have not experienced anything different from the seats in my LS. How do you like everythng else about the car?

[abswan]

If you run your hand over the rear of the seat, not the back of the seat, the horizontal part, you will locate two hard bumps. For those already well-padded there is clearly no problem. For those with slim backsides, there is significant discomfort. Try it and let me know if you find what we have found on every ES330 2005 on our dealer's lot.

Thanks.

[abswan]

When we suggested to the dealer that he add padding to make the seats tolerable, he responded that Lexus could not do this as it would open them to liability if the airbags failed in a crash. So should we take that risk ourselves?

[abswan]

If it were a problem that was amenable to adjustment the dealer would have proposed it. As it is the engineers looked at it, confirmed that the lumps exist and tell us it is "to spec". This problem only is evident on the 2004 and 2005 ES330.

It is possible that folks who are less skinny than my wife do not feel the bumps (no insult intended, please!). If you run your hand over the rear of the horizontal part of the seat the bumps are quite evident. If this does not happen in your car please let me know, as this means that our car is not to spec after all.

Many thanks.

[abswan]

Do me a favor. Go to a 2005 ES330. Run your hand over the top of the horizontal part of the seat (the part you sit on) right towards the rear. In our car there are on both the driver and front passenger seats two bumps near the center of each seat. These cause my wife acute discomfort.

If they are not present on your 2005 ES330 then our car is not to spec and we can press the dealer to fix it.

Many thanks,

Anthony

[abswan]

Nice idea, but it's in the part of the seat that you sit on, not the back that you rest against. If the dealer who felt the bumps could have fixed it he would have done so.

On our 2005 ES330, if you run your hand over the rear portion of either front seat (the horizontal part) at the rear edge you will feel on each seat two bumps located near the center. If you do not find these please let me know as it may be that my car is not to spec.

Thanks,

Anthony

[Unlisted]

There definitely there. But they appear to be almost in the fold of the seat. If you just tilt the seat forward or lower part slightly or even put out the lumbar support it seems like you can prevent yourself from coming in contact with it. How about rolled up towel that blocks off that last inch of seat? If I press down hard enough you can feel the piece but sitting down in the seat I couldn't recreate it . And it appears to be left of center where it would be hitting a fleshy part if it where hitting. Sorry I couldnt be of help. I tried and Im 200+ pounds..

[SW03ES]

I'm skinny framed and I don't notice the spots, driven 330s many times as loaners. Doesn't mean they're not there though...

You might want to sit in a 2002-2003 model and see if you find the seats more comfortable. You'd loose the ventillated seats but the 02-03 seats will bolt right into your 05 and you could buy them new to match your interior. I personally find the 02-03 seats more comfortable than the 04-05 seats which are firmer.

Shouldn't effect the airbags either and it would be easier than adding padding.

[Toysrme]

Ditto I'm 140.

Four 12mm, or four 14mm bolts. Grab a wratchet, unplug any electrical goodies (electrical seat / heater) and take the !Removed! out.

And damn dude, how many posts in a row!? LoL!