2003 Rear Seat Locks

[Big Stew]

According to the owner's manual, I actually read some of it, the 2003 4Runner rear seats bottoms should lock. The strap you pull to lift should unlock them. There is no locking mechanism on mine. Can someone check their '03 to see if there is actually a locking mechanism?

Thanks in advance...

[co_4runner]

No locking device on mine either. I have a 2003 Limited. The strap is actually bolted to the seat and can not move. There is a bracket on the bottom of the seat, and one on the floor boards. My only guess is that the seat would shift forward in an event of a crash and the bracket would catch if enough force went forward. My old 4Runner had a working latch.

[Big Stew]

Thanks co_4runner. It repeats in several places throughout the manual how the seat bottoms lock. Like you said, the strap is just screwed in. hmmm...

Stew

[4x4Wheeler]

I just got mine today, I'm curious now I'll have to check that tommorow, I folded the seat down alteast 20 times, but i can't remeber if it had a feal like a latch or not, interesting

[impulsebrklyn]

no locks here

Chris

[4x4Wheeler]

Yea after checking mine, it's just a pull lever, But if you look on the 60% seat there is a little loop in the middle that loks like it partially holds it down, must just be enough to keep it from bouncing up

[4Runner2003]

I brought my 2003 4Runner Limited to the dealer for this problem and they said none of them lock and there is nothing they can do. But we can. In your owners manual on page 348 under "Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners" you will find the number to the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. If they receive similar complaints, it may open an investigation and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. Please make the call as I did so that we can take care of this before it cost someone dearly. I also recommend notifying
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc at 1-800-331-4331 to inform them as well.