Seat material on edge of seat is starting to show 'cracks'. A 2025...

[rclark]

Have a Premium 2025 Forester. My wife brought to my attention, the driver side door edge of seat has cracks in it, ie. where you slide your bottom over into the seat. Now I'd expect this after 10 years of use, but not 1 year (acquired Nov '24). Yes we get cold up here which may contribute -- getting in when under 30F during winter, but still not expected this early in car ownership...

Anyone else notice this?

 

[rclark]

Looks like I can't edit my post or title... Anyway, brain freeze. It's a 2024 model and acquired in November of 2023.

 

[Dick Foster]

Looks like I can't edit my post or title... Anyway, brain freeze. It's a 2024 model and acquired in November of 2023.

The first thing I typically do is buy good, well made seat covers for the car when it's new. It adds to comfort and makes clean up easier while keeping the car looking like new.

Cover King, real deal, neoprene and not the cheap stuff.
It's never too late.

 

[rclark]

Thing is ... I think of seat covers for seats that have been well used. Why not use the seats as given as I've paid big bucks for them instead of let the next owner enjoy 'new' seats when time to sell . Different way of thinking I suppose!
I'll keep the Cover King in mind. Thank you.

I just didn't think I'd be seeing cracks this early! I would have thought seat material would be much higher quality now. Seems we are going backwards a bit in car parts...

 

[Dick Foster]

Thing is ... I think of seat covers for seats that have been well used. Why not use the seats as given as I've paid big bucks for them instead of let the next owner enjoy 'new' seats when time to sell . Different way of thinking I suppose!
I'll keep the Cover King in mind. Thank you.

I just didn't think I'd be seeing cracks this early! I would have thought seat material would be much higher quality now. Seems we are going backwards a bit in car parts...

They're probably real leather and real leather needs a lot of care. You can probably improve things a lot by applying a good leather care product. I think the stuff I use is Lexol.
I'm not a big fan of leather. It's sweats and isn't easy to take care of. I prefer maintenance free and comfy.

 

[rclark]

Not a fan of Leather either. Don't believe it is leather(maybe leather like? Could be wrong though), and is a very thin material at any rate. The seats are cloth.

 

[Dick Foster]

I think mine is supposed to be leather. Like automotive glass which has been reported to me to be trash across the industry today as it's all coming from Mexico, I chalk it up to the MBA effect with their well known 90 day vision. To hell with quality, reputation or what's gonna happen down the road as long as they get their big, fat, oversized pay check. If not that then gubberment interference with industry and their ignorance of everything except for how to screw things up so they can keep their backsides planted in those seats.

 

[bmart]

The edges are rarely leather. The leather that they use these days is really crappy and thin anyway. The man made stuff usually outperforms it by miles.

 

[Hjulbyhavn]

You are looking at cheap dry leather that is stretched to hard. Bad design & bad material - complain. There should always be a deep seam so the leather can stretch and distribute the load and no cheap sanded water buffalo skin should not be called leather.
Now I miss my Peugeot 505, it had nicer leather by far compared to the Rolls Royce sitting next to it. My OBW has plastic seats.

 

[bmart]

I'm trying to find an inexpensive upholstery guy also...

 

[Subaru Ro!]

Have a Premium 2025 Forester. My wife brought to my attention, the driver side door edge of seat has cracks in it, ie. where you slide your bottom over into the seat. Now I'd expect this after 10 years of use, but not 1 year (acquired Nov '24). Yes we get cold up here which may contribute -- getting in when under 30F during winter, but still not expected this early in car ownership...

Anyone else notice this?

yes I have a 2021 cross track sport with 45,000 miles. I called Subaru of America they gave me $1000 towards the repair. It’s more common I think so I’ll be paying $200 out-of-pocket according to the dealership.

 

[Subaru Ro!]

yes I have a 2021 cross track sport with 45,000 miles. I called Subaru of America they gave me $1000 towards the repair. It’s more common I think so I’ll be paying $200 out-of-pocket according to the dealership.