2023 4Runner TRD Pro Seatbelt Issue

I bought my 4Runner on 09/23/2022 and I barely found out on 2/21/23 that I have a problem with my backseat seatbelts!

My parents were attempting to put on their seatbelts in the back seat but they were meeting resistance. I thought it was because the seatbelt retractor was just jammed up. Then, I attempted to try it out and with less than 25% force I was able to pull it out. When it came out, the seatbelt was ripped apart! I was shocked because I rarely have any backseat passengers. My parents were the second people to sit in my backseat and put the seatbelt on. The first time I had passengers was at the beginning of December and there was no problem at that time. This has to be a manufacturer issue! I contacted a Service Consultant at my local dealership, who said this is not covered under warranty because it is an "outside influence". This consultant also told me that inside the seatbelt compartment, there is only a roller that helps retract the seatbelt and nothing sharp. I never have anyone sit in my backseat! These seatbelts are thick and probably need scissors to cut them with. I don't know why they would consider this as an outside influence. Has anyone had any issues with this?

 

Some pics?

 

That... does not look normal. Had mine for several years without issue. Have a little one in the back who switches sides on occasion so they get a lot of use - never seen anything like that. Any chance they were damaged by cargo in the past? If not, I'd try another dealership

 

I have the images attached.

 

I'm so confused how this happened! What kind of cargo are you referring to?

 

Certainly looks like rodent damage to me. That is not covered under warranty. You might want to pull the covers off those panels and see if any critters have been behind there.

Can you upload the photos again? I cannot see them without having to download them to my device, which I prefer not to do.

 

Yeah, I mean both sides look like they were cut/damaged from center of the vehicle towards the outside edges (near windows). By cargo I mean that could have been done by sheets of wood or other "cargo" that was rubbing up against both belts.

 

I definitely have not loaded my car up with any type of cargo like that since I bought my car. I feel like my car is going through something similar to this prior safety recall on a Toyota Sienna. (Link below)

https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota...y-recall-involving-certain-toyota-vehicles-6/

 

Give Toyota customer service a call. We had an issue with the seatbelt in our 2012 Sienna. Long story short, they warrantied it as part of a similar campaign as listed above.