Back seat design flaw - hatch mode damages seats

[2012sel]

Originally Posted by daemoniscinxi

I think you confused me when you said pull up the carpet, but i think i see what you mean now. Just to place the excess under the carpet and push the other end up on top of the metal bracket. This would probably work, i'll give it a try. I'm sure my wife will want those brackets some day, or at least want to want those brackets.

Thanks!

I've see those thin cutting boards at Dollar Stores if that's the material you are going to use.

I may need to do this myself. I rarely lower my seats, but vaguely remember seeing the dents last time I did.

[hotleadsingerguy]

Originally Posted by daemoniscinxi

What are these metal bars for? Could I just completely remove them?

No. It's what the bottom seats snap onto.

[2012sel]

They are brackets for a child seat mounting system called "LATCH".

[Guimpy]

Originally Posted by daemoniscinxi

posi240, it is a june2011 build, hatchback. Is that what your hooks look like or are they different?

I'm a June 2011 build and have experienced the same thing this fall. I had the seats down for maybe two weeks. The indents have not disappeared since. Once the warm weather comes back, I'm hoping that it will "loosen" up. I'll give it a good rub a dub dub in hopes it will go away. Next time I put the seats down, I'll cover those things. It hurt when I saw the indents. My poor car was mistreated :(. Never again :).

[Bolto]

I just went out to my car to test this out and the LATCH mounts do the same thing to my seats, but I've never had them down for a long enough time to for them make much of a mark in my seats.

You could remove them since every baby seat I've ever seen has multiple mounting options, like using the seat belt if LATCH is not available. But then the LATCH system is much more convenient and easy to use.

[Ox-y-GenIII]

To be honest, I had used my seats folded flat for 2 full days of moving in October and no indentations.... I will try to double check why not and get back to you, possibly with pictures if different from yours. I have leather as well. Very strange.

[Superd]

Originally Posted by hotleadsingerguy

No. It's what the bottom seats snap onto.

+1 it is the latch that the lower seats clip into.

First time i flipped up the seats and saw the impressions made by those things i was pissed and feared for my leather seats life but i found a fix that has been working fine.

I use a 6" piece of foam pipe insulation to cover those things when i fold the seats all the way down. Keeps them from making a sharp impression. There is still a small indent created but it in no way looks harmfull to my seats and when not in use the pieces of pipe insulation sit fine under the seat right next to where i will need them.

[jdubhack]

Originally Posted by daemoniscinxi

I could see this being a problem with only the leather seats. While the towel idea would work, I would like a bit more permanent of a solution.

Forgive me...I'm not going to read through 25+ responses. I have not noticed this in my Ti. However, if that were the case with mine, this would be my solution.

I'd buy a swimming noodle. I'd cut 2 sections out of it, and slide it over the metal LATCH system. I'd keep them in the bottom of the hatch by the spare in one of the compartments.

[jdubhack]

Originally Posted by Bolto

I just went out to my car to test this out and the LATCH mounts do the same thing to my seats, but I've never had them down for a long enough time to for them make much of a mark in my seats.

You could remove them since every baby seat I've ever seen has multiple mounting options, like using the seat belt if LATCH is not available. But then the LATCH system is much more convenient and easy to use.

It is not just "convenient" it is a much more efficient and SAFER way of securing the car seat of your child into your car.

If you cut these out and tried to sell your car later down the road I'd walk away the second I noticed.

Those are in your car for a reason. Leave them.

[2012sel]

Originally Posted by Superd

+1 it is the latch that the lower seats clip into.

First time i flipped up the seats and saw the impressions made by those things i was pissed and feared for my leather seats life but i found a fix that has been working fine.

I use a 6" piece of foam pipe insulation to cover those things when i fold the seats all the way down. Keeps them from making a sharp impression. There is still a small indent created but it in no way looks harmfull to my seats and when not in use the pieces of pipe insulation sit fine under the seat right next to where i will need them.

Originally Posted by jdubhack

Forgive me...I'm not going to read through 25+ responses. I have not noticed this in my Ti. However, if that were the case with mine, this would be my solution.

I'd buy a swimming noodle. I'd cut 2 sections out of it, and slide it over the metal LATCH system. I'd keep them in the bottom of the hatch by the spare in one of the compartments.

Great suggestions.

I just tried it with swim noodles and they are a little too big for what I want to do. Which is leave them on there all the time.

I think I've got some pipe insulation which is similar to a swim noodles only smaller diameter. I want to tape a 3 or 4 inch section permanently to the bracket and see how that works.

Won't eliminate the issue but will certainly help.