Rear Seat Driver Side Clank

Am I alone or does anyone have a rattle inside the locking mechanism of the rear seat back behind the driver seat when someone sits in it and moves around or if you simply wiggle the seat back? I’ve found that it isn’t the latch on the seat back but rather on the mechanism attached to the body of the 4Runner. Pretty loud. Asking before I add it to the list for the dealer.

 

Mine does it on the passenger side when unoccupied. I’ve found that if I unlatch the seat back then reengage, it goes away for awhile.

 

A lot of posts about sqeaks (remedied with a little tape on the latches), but first time reading about rattling.

 

If you grab the “U” bolt part attached to body of 4 runner and wiggle it makes a loud clank when seat not attached so I knows it not the connection between the seat latch and the “U.”

 

I have had the sound once in a while, and yup, i think its the u latch. IRC that u-latch slides for tge reclining feature. Now that I think about it, it hasn't rattled in a while, probably because I have stuff in the cargo area that is up against the seat back. That probably keeps things from rattling.

I bet it’s the slack in the channel the u latch slides in. Not sure if there is easy fix ,unless you got creative. I’m gonna take a look, now im curious

edit: nope, no low hanging fruit for an easy fix. Not sure if there is a way to shim the back of the sliding mechanism to take the slack out. To really explore carefully would require removing the plastic cover, which covers the whole lower quarter of the car.

not sure if there is a way to zip open the upholstery, but some strategically foam to make the seat have a bit more friction on the side somewhere might help damp vibration when the seat is empty

 

I took it to the dealer today and let them look at it. I got a text saying my vehicle is ready to pick up without any details of what was done or not done. Through experience I’m willing to bet they shot some grease in it and stated “characteristics of the vehicle.”

It’s why I was asking if it’s all 4Runners in this forum. It can clank very loudly.

thanks for the reply.


Edit: dealer said rattle normal and was found in other 4Runners on lot.

 

Actually, the grease thing might not be a bad idea, just for the cushioning effect.

Sucks though that they not going to anything.

I, myself, will be submitting….myself…to the whims of the service dept. on Friday. Gonna see if they can catch the needle bearing acting up. Hopefully I dont end up with a diagnostic fee.