I have a black interior in my 07 TL. I noticed bunch of scraches/minor dents on the driver's side seat belt cover panel. Whenever I un-buckle and let go of the seat belt, it slides in and hits against the plastic panel and makes very visible marks. Anyone else notices this? Any way to prevent this?

 

I have the same thing going on...

 

Same problem. Then I switched to unbuckling with my right hand and it doesn't scratch anymore. I think the scratch happens when the buckle is facing the wrong way and the metal contacts the panel.

 

do it gently nex time ..lol

 

yeah.. that's what I have been doing. I hold the buckle until the belt goes all the way in

 

Same here- use right hand or open the door first.

 

having the same issue, like everyone's been saying let it go slowly is the only thing you can do to prevent this, just wait a couple of years when it's all worn down and it won't retract and you wont have this problem anymore,

 

They should have installed a belt guide on the upper corner of the seat. That forces the buckle to bottom against the guide before it gets close to the side panel. It also makes reaching for the belt easier. My $21,000 1999 Camaro had one.

I just cut a small, custom-shaped, very think piece of black rubber material and stuck it on the side trim panel using extremely thin, double sided mounted tape. (Arts and crafts stores sell that; it is MUCH thinner than the 3M wall mount tape we're used to seeing.)

One could argue that it "doesn't look good," but neither do the scratches.

I've had maybe 2 dozen cars in my life and this is the first car that's had a belt that causes trim damage during normal use.

 

I have the exact same problem. I don't think there is much you can do about it except try to be careful when taking off your seat belt.

 

Thing is, virtually no-one is going to be careful enough EVERY time they remove the seatbelt and exit the car.

I just picked up a nice piece of quality black vinyl and cut a 4" X 4" section that I shaped to fit that spot. It looks much nicer than the rubber section I'd tried earlier.

The seat SHOULD have an integral belt guide near the headrest, just as many cars have had for many years.

Then again, the brakes SHOULDN'T groan, the engine SHOULDN'T "ping" and the car SHOULD really have a 6 speed automatic and the Acura RL's larger brakes.

 

I've got a Honda Pilot that is really banged up from the seatbelt buckle.

People on the pilot forums were selling custom cut clear protection film to prevent this from happening. It was the same stuff that's put on the front end to protect it.

Wasn't the belt guide on the seat mainly for 2 door models so that the belt moved out of the way when you tilted the seat forward for access to the back seat? It's been a while since I've owned a 2 door vehicle so I could be wrong.