Broken driver's seat frame

[Raven]

I brought my Vibe in for the second time with the driver's seat squeaking badly. The first time was a year ago. I thought it would be covered by the warranty since it is a recurring issue. Wrong, this time the actual seat frame is broken. If you push back on the seat back, the seat twists and lifts up on the right side. A new seat frame (just the frame) is $575.00. A used one is $150.00. There is an hour of labour costs to do it also. I'm going to take the seat out and see if I can weld it. If it can't be welded, I'll get a seat at a junkyard. In the two months since the warranty expired, the rear passenger window fell off it's track, half the radio screen burned out and the seat broke. What's next?

[ramenboy...]

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=27823i don't know if this will help, but blumatrix is selling a 'New Sparco/Wedge Engineering (2) 500 Universal Seat Base' maybe that's what you're looking for...good luck

[vibecho]

I have had the same problem with my 2006 Vibe. The seat was clunky from day one and the GM dealer has never been able to fix it. They tell me it's because I'm such a big guy at 210 lbs. This seat is driving me bonkers. Every time I turn a hard left it lifts and clunks under me. Argghhhh! This is apparently common with Toyota built seats like my wife's car a 2005 Echo which has a loose seat and she only weighs 120 lbs. If you can get it fixed somehow let me know. Bryan W.

[Raven]

I weigh 200 lbs. also. I took the seat apart and welded it as it was out of warranty. Total cost $0.00.

[Baltovibe]

Makes you wonder if 200 lb guys can break this seat under normal use, what will happen when the Vibe is involved in an accident? Doesn't seem there would be a lot of seat support once the seat belts/air bags do their job.

[Raven]

This is beginning to look a lot like safety recall material.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Baltovibe »Makes you wonder if 200 lb guys can break this seat under normal use, what will happen when the Vibe is involved in an accident? Doesn't seem there would be a lot of seat support once the seat belts/air bags do their job.Recently the IIHS released results for rear crashes which is mainly from my understanding a measurement of how well the seat is designed and performs when you're hit from behind... Stuff like the structure of the seat, head restraints, geometry, etc. are taken into account. The Corolla did pretty crappy ("poor" overall rating) so the Vibe probably would have too depending on how much of the seats are shared between the two (they didn't have results for it.) Only a few cars tested actually did good to their expectations, most small/smallish cars didn't do so hot, my current ride included. Methinks that they have to reduce weight every way they can, so just like everything else, the seat frames are made of thinner (and weaker) metal than they probably should be... In hindsight, I wonder if that snapping/popping/rocking back and forth that my Vibe's driver's seat would do was a result of the frame itself being broken? Probably, but of course the dealer said "oh, that's normal." Bungholes.

[lordvic]

I have too noticed this! I'm 200lbs as well, and i find that the seat has a very slight twist to the right rear corner when leaning that way that it doesn't do any other direction.I was thinking it might just be a lose nut or something, but i havnt' really looked too indepth into the problem. I just blame my little brother