Background:
Vin# 21xxx
Purchased Jan 17th, 2004
Total miles 6890
Get on and off the car about 4 times a day.

I weigh about 140bls.

I am sort of a neat freak. I've noticed that the leather on the driver's side bolster is peeling off. I am not sure how well you can see it on this picture. Is it reasonable for me to ask my dealer to replace the leather skin?

rets: Don't worry. I never "Mr. Clean Magic Eased" on this particular area.

 

Ok, thanks for mentioning my name.

My chair has no issue like this so far, and I always apply the leather conditioner twice per month.

I'll check mine later.



Edit:

Vin# 4xxx
Purchase Oct
Total Mileage 17k
Get on and off the car about 4~6 times a day

Frequent drivers' weight 140~165 lbs

 

You're welcome, rets!

Seriously, I condition my leather regularly. It really sucks. Remember what I said a long time ago? When an Acura rep called me for the survey filled out, he voluntarily said that TLs used leather with a poor quality.

 

Are u talking about the wrinkle line things? That happens to any leather i see in cars after some time.

 

It is difficult to see what's going on at least on the picture. I see many spotty pattern of the most outer layer of skin is peeling off. I am not talking about the wrinke here.

 

My dealer offered to replace my wrinkled-at-the-time leather and actually still has a bolster piece waiting for me. Your dealer should cover this under warranty.

 

I would recommend taking it straight to the dealer to check out. G'luck.

 

I dont clean or do anything to my leather and its perfect.

 

I just went out to clean the affected area. Yes, it is literally peeling (had this suspicion a month after I got my car). I can actually see much darker brownish skin under the parchment layer on the surface. So, I gather that there is a thin skin on the top of some cheap material and Acura calls this genuine leather.

 

Wife's RSX-S had the same thing happen after 13 months. Dealer replaced it under warranty.

'02 RSX-S
22,000 miles

 

bnandreu:

Did they replace just the skin or the entire seat?

Thanks.

 

I dont see anything peeled off

 

I will add another picture tomorrow. I am a scared to go outside right now as we are under tornado warning.

 

My seat is wrinkled after almost a year, and almost 18k miles, but not peeling (thank goodness). I agree another picture is necessary because I can't see the peeling at all.

 

Ok. I hate to let neuronbob down. So, here is another shot. This is going to be really bad. Remember, I take a real good care of my car.

Oh, well, I have to take my car to the dealer to search for a missing seat belt buckle in the back seat (they forgot to bring it to the right place when they removed the back seat). I will ask them to replace the seat.

 

I see discoloration - is that what you meant by peeling?

 

I had a little problem with my leather last week, it seemed that the leather on the steering wheel was cracking and there was a rip on the lower part of the seat..
43000 miles..
Warrentied, no questions asked

 

Lore:

No, I actually saw stuff coming off my seat.

 

Right, but was the stuff that came off your seat the reason for the discoloration I see in the photo?

 

Correct.

 

Sounds like they painted the seat a certain color and that's what's coming off. I thought leather was typically dyed?

 

Arrrg. Painted? All the rattles+the leather problem make me sad.

 

I heard that when the dealer "replaces your seat" they merely upholster it so your driver seat has a different feel than the rest of the car. I don't know if it's true so it would be interesting to find out how they exactly remedy the situation...my car is pretty new (appraoching 750 miles) and the wear in the seats are really bad. However, not like replacing the seats will do me any good if the same thing is just going to happen again.

 

Good point, DK. I don't know what they will do about this. I will ask them to replace the entire bottom seat. They are good about doing what I ask them to do. I think all those service (office) people are good-techs are the ones who treat cars like trash.

 

They replaced the leather "cover". The RSX has a zipper type deal around the back and they just pulled the only one off and put the new one on.

 

I am wondering how abrasive wear would be a warranty issue, but Acura usually covers anything people throw at them within the 1st 12months/12k.

 

Seems like all the leather problems are with those who have light colored leather... am I right?

Do people with Ebony leather having problems with their leather cracking/peeling/wrinkling too?

 

What you are seeing is the "dye" they use to color the leather rubbing off. This happens to some extent with all colored leathers, but your car seems to be a little worse than normal. I'd try and have it replaced, then be carefull getting in and especially out of the car. That's when the "abrasion" happens and damages the surface of the leather. There seem to be a lot of unhappy people on this forum concerning the leather. Personally, I've got some wrinkles which are normal for leather, but don't have any issues with the color dye rubbing off. The leather in our cars isn't the best quality available, but it's not junk either.....it's just leather....and being a natural product, it's going to have some variables between hides....some are just better than others...just like the cows it comes from.

 

all the chairs seem to do this :\ even in my 04 accord ex v6

 

Here is another shot. Thanks for all your comments. But, seriously, I cannot be more careful getting in and out of my car unless I can fly without touching the seat. I certainly hope that "all the chairs" do this!!

 

Man thats BS.. Is this covered under warranty? Or is this on the "not covered list". Maybe there is an aftermarket conditioner that could help. I'd be pissed too. What did the dealer say?

 

They replaced the leather when may seats did that, not the wrinkling but the wear part. It was under warranty at the time so they covered it.

 

I agree - this coating can be replaced by a reputable shop for far less than replacement cost, and if the guy did some legwork for the dealer, they would likely pick up the cost. I am not a leather expert, but my pal is, and said that the hide quality and the surface coating are two different animals. Stiff leather like on mour Outback wears well, but feels like vinyl - softer leather (Like TL) is more comfortable. Plus, holes compromise the strutural integrity of any surface. Even swiss cheese - that is why it is cut thicker.

www.townsendleather.com can usually refer you to a local leather expert.

 

On mine they replaced the entire lower section of the seat

 

those pics are nothing comparing to mine, i'll post pics later

 

Is the material covering the side bolsters real leather, or is it some synthetic material? Cars in the TL's price range usually have leather in the "seating surfaces" of the seat back and bottom - meaning the perforated center portion between the bolsters - and matching synthetic material elsewhere on the seats. Which is not to say that Honda didn't go whole hog, er, cow, with the TL's upholstery. The Acura web site is ambigous; it speaks of "leather trimmed" seats, or something like that.

 

That bolster doesn't look like leather. Does anyone know? Anyway, this should not happen to a car that is less than one year old, esp. low mileage car.

 

maybe camel interior is hiding under there


j/k, take it to the dealer and get it replaced

 

My seats have nothing like that (or even butt-prints) even after 250 hours of my 200 lb. rear end.

Mike

 

Leather has either a waxed finish, or in the case of most automobile leather and home sofa leather, a finished leather. The finish keeps the leather from absorbing anything and is also colored. Quality leather should not have a problem with the finish so quickly and Acura should replace it under warranty if it fails. There are many grades of leather, and if you have ever priced leather furniture for your home, know that it can vary greatly in price. My 2000 has very good leather seats and only after 4 years has minor cracking of the finish and not much either. At 190 # and 6' 1" I may not be an average customer, but it has been terrific. I will purchase a 05 TL in the next few months and I am somewhat concerned about the leather and rattles. It took 5 visits to get my 00 tl somewhat free from rattles and this troubles me. I don't think it will stop me though, even though I have shopped the Lexus ES300 for 05, and Mercedes c240. The TL still seems a better value for the $$$. And as long as Acura is committed so strongly to their customer service, they should take care of most every concern. I would bring it to their attention immediately and request they replace the seat. I am following this, as it is a concern