Lets see if we can get something done about this eyesore:

You know we complain alot on this site about issues pertaining to the 04, but we never seem to unite under one voice..........

I challenge each and everyone of you to call Acura Client Services to complain. Make sure you request a written response! 800-382-2238.

I know you would not mind getting those seats replaced, especially after they addressed the issue in the 05.

CALL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Calling as I type. =)

 

im calling as well, but my dealer said i can swap my seats once every 50k miles. but its not the 05s, theyre gunna replace it with the 04s

 

I will call later, can someone start a petition?

 

Just called. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.....

 

come on some one.... i'm not a writter

 

Petition won't do any good. Requesting a written response is more practical.

 

Sorry, but I gotta pick my fights, and the seats are comfortable. Just for fun while buying parts the other day, I asked some of the 3G owners waiting to have their oil changed how they felt about the slight stretching of the seat areas - of the 5 I queried, not one of them said they had even noticed. I also asked the GM, who is a friend, and she said "we maybe had one guy fuss about it".

Maybe the whole "butt print" thing is getting a bit anal?

But if you have a lot of passion about this, more power to you - but please share the form letters you will receive back. I'm thinkijng that AHM's "noise-omtere" is not registering more than .1 on the Rectum, I mean Richter, scale.

 

I guess if I can have it replaced one time in 50K miles, I'd rather have it done at about 49,500, to maximize the life of the replacement leather.

 

I just can't see the fuss about this (compared to the tires, seat memory module, creaking sunroof/headliner, and scratched tint). My dealer will replace prematurely worn leather, and that's good enough for me...

 

When I condition the leather the butt prints disappear. Does this not happen for anyone else?

 

I have approx. 1800 miles on my '04 TL. I haven't noticed any "butt prints" and I am 6'3" and weigh 255lbs.

 

ahahahahaha

the genius doesnt cease

 

office is currently closed

 

Thangya - thangya very mudge (Elvis style). Personally, I thought the Rectum Scale was a bit more creative, and is of course useful for real problems, like being downstream of a bean burrito 2 hours after lunchtime.

 

I personally wouldn't mind if I had my replaced with the '05 seat. IMO that's what they should do.

 

Even if they replace your front seats with the ones from the 05, what about the seats in the rear? They'll still stretch if someone sits on those too cause they only have the single stitch.

 

I don't know about that. I seriously wonder how comfortable the 05 seats are compared to the 04. I'd gladly take the butt prints over the extra stitch if it meant more comfort. I might try conditioning the leather to see if it alleviates the print, otherwise, I may have them replace them around 45k miles if it is excessively worn.

 

I seem to never have a problem with my rear seats???

 

Conditioning is key. It is a must in this car.

 

I think occasional conditioning is good for the leather, but doubt it can prevent or correct the stretching that causes the butt prints. I more and more believe the stretching is just a nuisance, and repairing it is a cosmetic remedy only - driving up the cost of the cars over time. Imagine if Medicare paid for liposuction, nose jobs, and tummy tucks - wouldn't we workers be paying out the wazoo in additional taxes, for unnecessary procedures? I see the same thing here.

Plus, someone posted the other day a pic of the 2005 seat, and it too had stretch marks - that proved to me that the combo of perforations and soft glove leather makes for some stretching, so I will live with whatever result that incurs. One could go to any auto leather/upholstery shop and have a stiffer slab of foam installed, bvut I for one would not sacrifice the comfort for "the look".

 

RR, I'm not sure if you or someone else posted a similar post before but that is what conditioning is for. To help prevent stretching. It keeps the leather moist instead of dry which with time leads to stretching. I ride a lot of people in my car and I would love to compare my leather with someone who doesn't condition. You'll notice not only a small difference, you're going to be able to point it out from a mile away.

 

I completely agree with RR. This issue is not an issue. Check out the leather on a new LS430, which has what has been called the finest interior available by the automotive press, and you will see the same exact stretching of leather. You even pay more for this on a Porsche, it is called the soft leather look option.

 

I could see the argument being made that over-conditioning would macerate the leather beyond its design parameters, leading to more stretching. Point is, conditioning is not the answer to this question - it is an answer to another question, as in "how do i keep my leather from drying out prematurely?". They are related, but altogtehr different in my view.

Do not for a moment think that i am discouraging leather cleaning and conditioning - I do it 3-4 times a year, but I have seen leather damaged, especially aniline leather which has a vinyl/rubber surface coat, but too much oil by peeps who condition weekly.

 

A few searches revealed this:
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/L...430/Index2.htm
or perhaps you prefer black?:
http://www.autoweb.com/content/resea...s_id_int/38670
or perhaps "doing it in the rear rocks your world:
http://www.autoweb.com/content/resea...s_id_int/38670

Do my aging eyes deceive me, or does "God's gift to automobile humanity" have what appears to be the dreaded butt print affliction?

Can we declare victory now, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat?

I am reminded of the Salem Witch Trials - a few pubescent females misdirect their burgeoning sexulality with the Devil's work, everyone jumps on the bandwagon, and a lot of good people swing. That is of course, Salem's lot (sorry, I love good puns). But there is also a lot of butt print mania on the dealer's lot, as well.

Perhaps agents of the BMW 3-series have invented the whole butt print hysteria, to cover their disappointment and lower resale values.

Stop the insanity - pass out the Paxil - do whatever it takes. Me? I am learning to macrame my chest hair.

 

dammit. i was reading this thread like 2 days ago and now. this morning i saw my leather and, driver left rear wing.. if u understand what i am saying.. you know when you sit. you have the part where your ass goes, then your back and then you got left and right parts. like to hug you.. well the bottom part of the left one has a stretch which i didnt care but now i see that its like wearing out.. feels rough, like scrapped.. i will take a pic so u can see. shit i dont know what it is.. i dont even know how i might of done it when i take care of my car and all. and i do condition my seats. i have even taken my car to dealer for detail work inside..


now did someone say that they will replace it one time? i am leasin for 48 months.. but i dont want to be blammed for this at end of lease so.... what is next step.. is there an actual law or policy that states its under warranty or that they acknowledge(SP) this problem?

 

It's the seat bolster. I had my seats replaced last week. The dealer did not mention anything about replacing it only once during the warranty period.

 

Lore...my dealer offered to replace both my driver and passenger seat leather due to the infamous "butprints," but I'm paranoid about how it's going to look afterwards, and also knowing butprints are going to come right back anyway due to the design. How does yours look after the dealer swap? Do they send it to an upholstery shop, or do the mechanics try and become upholsterers and replace it themselves. I don't see how replacing the leather is going to fix the problem..since it's the basic design that's defective and not the soft leather..that's going to stretch anyway..and that's why the 05 design has 3 seams. Any feedback or pictures would be appreciated before I take them up on the offer. Thanks!

 

Jet: They replaced my driver side seat cover. It was not so much about the butt print-rather pealing rubber coating on the bolster. They sent my car out to uphostery shop-came back with numerous scratches around the seat. Now, I have the BUTT PRINTS! If it doesn't look so bad, just keep it as it is.

 

My drivers seat has developed the "buttprints" and some crinkling of the bolsters, which isn't unusual for leather to do by the way - it's happened on other cars I've owned too.

I've kept the leather clean and condition it on a regular basis. The seat is comfortable and, frankly, the buttprints don't bother me.

Better to have the "prints" than having additional damage done to the car by removal and disassembly of the seats to replace the leather panel knowing it will just happen again. And the hassles that would go with getting any additional damage done fixed by the dealer. Just not worth it in my view.

 

It's leather which, by definition, stretches . The only reason you are noticing it is because Acura does not design their seat covers to be loose fitting (unless you speak of a non S Type). If they will replace them once before 50,000 miles then feel grateful because these leather seat covers are expensive and most companies wouldn't bother to spend the money. I put some saddle soap on my seats and they look fine.