Cracking vinyl seat already?

[GlennB]

I have a 2018 Lonestar which is used as my passenger vehicle - not for work. The truck is less than 3 years from its in-service date and the left thigh bolster on the driver's side has started to crack. The seats are cloth in the center and vinyl on the thigh/back bolsters.

The truck is not in an extreme climate (Phoenix AZ or Buffalo NY) and I barely tip the scale at 185lbs these days - so I can't see how the cracking could be attributed to environment and/or abuse. Being at 52K on the OD - my dealer wasn't sure RAM would do anything but took pictures and sent them in for "review".

Has anyone else had this problem? If so - how did you fix it? I'm reluctant to waste time on repair kits I see on the internet and am thinking it might be best to take the seat cover off and run it down to a local upholstery shop and see if they could replace the bolster panel (but am worried about it matching the other seats).

I saw another thread here today title something like "why do they still put cloth seats in trucks" - based on my experience - my answer might be: "so the seat covers might actually last as long as the 72 month payments" . The Canyon Brown cloth seats in my 2013 Big Horn hardly look any different than they did when the truck was brand new.

 

[BWL]

I have a 2018 Lonestar which is used as my passenger vehicle - not for work. The truck is less than 3 years from its in-service date and the left thigh bolster on the driver's side has started to crack. The seats are cloth in the center and vinyl on the thigh/back bolsters.

The truck is not in an extreme climate (Phoenix AZ or Buffalo NY) and I barely tip the scale at 185lbs these days - so I can't see how the cracking could be attributed to environment and/or abuse. Being at 52K on the OD - my dealer wasn't sure RAM would do anything but took pictures and sent them in for "review".

Has anyone else had this problem? If so - how did you fix it? I'm reluctant to waste time on repair kits I see on the internet and am thinking it might be best to take the seat cover off and run it down to a local upholstery shop and see if they could replace the bolster panel (but am worried about it matching the other seats).

I saw another thread here today title something like "why do they still put cloth seats in trucks" - based on my experience - my answer might be: "so the seat covers might actually last as long as the 72 month payments" . The Canyon Brown cloth seats in my 2013 Big Horn hardly look any different than they did when the truck was brand new.

If the crack is bad enough and it's under warranty they'll replace the cover. If they don't you can buy oe replacement covers individually. I replaced the front lower on my Laramie when it cracked. Didn't match at first being brand new, but after a few months of being the cover taking the most wear and tear it matched perfect.

 

[Gary2]

I have a 2018 Lonestar which is used as my passenger vehicle - not for work. The truck is less than 3 years from its in-service date and the left thigh bolster on the driver's side has started to crack. The seats are cloth in the center and vinyl on the thigh/back bolsters.

The truck is not in an extreme climate (Phoenix AZ or Buffalo NY) and I barely tip the scale at 185lbs these days - so I can't see how the cracking could be attributed to environment and/or abuse. Being at 52K on the OD - my dealer wasn't sure RAM would do anything but took pictures and sent them in for "review".

Has anyone else had this problem? If so - how did you fix it? I'm reluctant to waste time on repair kits I see on the internet and am thinking it might be best to take the seat cover off and run it down to a local upholstery shop and see if they could replace the bolster panel (but am worried about it matching the other seats).

I saw another thread here today title something like "why do they still put cloth seats in trucks" - based on my experience - my answer might be: "so the seat covers might actually last as long as the 72 month payments" . The Canyon Brown cloth seats in my 2013 Big Horn hardly look any different than they did when the truck was brand new.

I went through the same thing with a Jeep Sahara. They called the seats leather but it was the same junk thats in the Rams and they both cracked . I bought Loc-tite vinyl ,fabric and plastic adhesive. It stays pliable. I opened up the split and put some in and the jeep seat still looked good a year later when I traded it . This 17 Sport has a crease that turned into a crack so I did the same thing and it has held up for almost a years so far . If and when it gives up I will buy the replacement cover on Ebay from a place in Texas .. the loc-tite can be bought at Lowes. 3214617

 

[GlennB]

I went through the same thing with a Jeep Sahara. They called the seats leather but it was the same junk thats in the Rams and they both cracked . I bought Loc-tite vinyl ,fabric and plastic adhesive. It stays pliable. I opened up the split and put some in and the jeep seat still looked good a year later when I traded it . This 17 Sport has a crease that turned into a crack so I did the same thing and it has held up for almost a years so far . If and when it gives up I will buy the replacement cover on Ebay from a place in Texas .. the loc-tite can be bought at Lowes. 3214617

Thanks for the loc-tite link - I'll probably wind up going that route for a temporary fix while I wait to spot a reasonably priced replacement on eBay.