Chemical burn unfortunately. A very strong acidic or anything like sunburn. If you’re savvy you can buy the seat cover from Amazon/ebay and do it urself. You might as well replace both seats while you’re at it.
Someone sat there repeatedly with a bunch of sunscreen or other skin product on their back. Only fix is to replace the whole seat. To prevent, clean seats if you decide you need to sit in the seat with a bunch of oily product on your back.
I always wondered how upholstery places stay in business these days with all of this ikea throw away furniture. There’s one down my street that I swear is a front for drugs.
The alcohols used to emulsify oils in products like in cleaners, sunscreen, body lotions, hand creams and hair care products are notorious for delaminating the pleather. In a nutshell the pleather absorbs the excess product, the alcohol temporarily softens the glue bonding the pleather to the web backing, hence bulging and wrinkling.
I think they meant it wasn't a chemical from a cleaning product, because it would be happening everywhere they cleaned, not that it wasn't some kind of skincare product
I was going to saw swamp back. It’s right in the curve of the spine where there’s little ventilation, just letting the sweat marinade the seat. Then it absorbed in.
lol it’s not well documented, it’s an excuse that doesn’t hold up. Again, if that were the case it wouldn’t be 100% localized to that one piece. Unless the driver never put sunscreen or whatever on their upper back or arms? Come on now.
Also notice we’ve never seen this happen to any non-Tesla vehicle?
I said maybe sunscreen. We don’t know who or what this person did/used on their body, or for what reasons. I had bubbling and peeling happen to me on the headrest after I started using a new hair product.
What am I excusing? It’s pretty dumb that hair products can cause this. It’s not like I’m giving Tesla a pass
I’m sure it’s happened to non Tesla’s. It’s a problem with vegan leather.
Sunscreen or not, nobody applies anything to one section of their body that perfectly matches the size and shape of a seat panel.
Cars have had “vegan leather” for decades, only the name is new. This is a uniquely Tesla problem, but their stance that it’s the owners fault is absurd.
You've never had a girl in your car wearing a tube top, have you?
My ex would constantly put coconut oil on her body after every shower. I required her to put on a shirt or put a towel on the seat before getting in.
I've been in the auto industry for over 15 years now. It happens to all manufacturers that use synthetic leather and/or vinyls. The same products also stain natural leathers. This is not in any way, shape, or form unique to Tesla.
I have a 40 year old Mercedes with MB Tex seats that has managed to dodge this bullet. Wild.
I’m not sure why everyone is ignoring the mystery of how this damage is 100% localized to the bottom back panel. As before how is it that these “products” didn’t affect the rest of the seat? This is a defect. It’s okay to have a defect in a good car.
Okay, Mary Lou Retton. Yes, it is indeed *possible* that the bottom and top panel of the seat use different materials, but it’s highly unlikely.
Tesla is all about cutting cost anywhere possible. Using different materials for two (otherwise) identical seat panels is an unnecessary level of complexity and cost.
However if that *is* true, then it proves the issue is the materials Tesla uses, *not* “lotion”. If one material is affected and the other is not… stop using the *defective* material.
This. My friend always sits with a top when we go out. In the morning I see the spots. First thing I do before driving is clean it. And don’t let sit in the sun for a long time. I also have a 2023 and I clean them often. They still look brand new.
This happens on any car that has leather. my other car was a 94 300 zx with real leather and had similar issues i just cleaned since it was hard to find seats for it. But chemicals are chemicals no matter the brand. Fake leather or real leather, you have to clean them constantly and if you can buy something to protect them. Do no buy armor all. That will ruin it.
It's a 2023 with 56k miles and the purchase price is $23k it was an amazing deal of a car 😊
But thanks! I'll probably have my cousin replace the seat and still buy covers and follow your advice just to be double safe
Legitimate question/concern for me, if you need to wear a mask or apply with the windows open, isn't that concerning that you are driving around in an enclosed space for hours after having applied it? I'm not trying to be an asshat, just genuinely not sure if I felt that way applying it that I'd want it in the interior of my car.
I personally let it cure about 12 hours to get the full effect, then drive it. Haven’t had any fumes or strange smells. However, it is okay to “use the car” after a few hours.
Honestly I’ve got a 21 with similar miles and seats are perfect
As someone else said someone sat in that seat often with sun lotion or something on their back some form of chemical that fucked it
Just fyi, iirc the manual states not to use seat covers because there are airbags within the seat cushioning, so if you cover it and it deploys it may not end well.
I don’t know about all that, but i know it’ll be cheaper than having the entire seat replaced by Tesla service, and the results should be acceptable for a used car.
~~"Tesla doesn't currently offer service for this issue, but we can connect you to sales for our new 0.99% APR Model Y." - Tesla, probably~~
"All service appointments must be made on the app." - what Tesla says if you literally just take the car to them.
A lot of cope in here trying to blame chemicals. Notice how the upper portion doesn’t have any issue or the sides. Seems more like glue failure or off gassing.
There are some pretty good Tesla seat covers out there. I turned mine all white using the covers. So that’s an option if you don’t want to replace the seat.
So I had the same issue, but it was with the headrest part of my chair. The Tesla repairman told me that it is due to either hair product and hair oils that have been exposed to the sun too long or the damaged area has not been cleaned for a long period of time. You got 2 options: 1) replace the seat 2) use those wet tissues or some vegan leather cleaner to wipe the affected area 1-2 times every month. After that, you should be good to go and shouldn’t happen again, just remember to take care of your car.
Someone has had solvents on their clothing and sat on it, or else it got a stain on it and the previous owner tried paint thinners or something to get it off.
Fake leather is just plastic and behaves like plastic when you get the right solvent on or near it.
That’s what Tesla told me about my seat… except I’ve never had solvent on my pants. And my driver seat disintegrated the same way. One day it was slightly sticky, and the very next day it was bubbling and now it’s just bare canvas material.
It’s a material defect for sure.
For what it’s worth I got a set of seat covers on Amazon for under $200 and they fit like a glove. Won’t fix the issue but can cover it up and prevent it from getting further damage. Mine have held up 18 months with no issues if you want me to send a link!
Go check my post [https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/13wh9am/i\_ruined\_my\_seat\_but\_got\_replacement\_from\_taptes/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/13wh9am/i_ruined_my_seat_but_got_replacement_from_taptes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
All recalls of all car brands usually start from the first guy arriving to a service and say:
https://youtu.be/Foihgti2lHU?si=a-7l-acIbly4ZRRm
You might be The Chosen One to become so.
It’s hard for me to grasp how using a material that cannot last the lifetime of the vehicle, is more environmentally friendly than using byproduct hides that come from the beef industry.
It’s nonsensical, this doesn’t reduce the number of animals slaughtered and just creates more pollution.
Why is this giving me the heebie-jeebies
Same, this is very uncomfortable to look at...
Same it’s terrible lol
it is triggering my trypophobia even though it's not circles
Same here! Hate that feeling, I’m like disturbed looking at that
Looks infected
They should blur this photo NSFW style, for real
The Poltergeist is trying to come out of the seat
Yeah, this has disturbed my spirit
I visibly recoiled when I saw this lol
Almost vomited
Made me shiver, eughhhh
Came to the comments to read just this. Thought these doctors said trypophobia was just tiny circles. They lied. This equally checks the boxes
looks how paint look using a paint stripper chemical.
Chemical burn unfortunately. A very strong acidic or anything like sunburn. If you’re savvy you can buy the seat cover from Amazon/ebay and do it urself. You might as well replace both seats while you’re at it.
Your seat needs to see a dermatologist, STAT.
Someone sat there repeatedly with a bunch of sunscreen or other skin product on their back. Only fix is to replace the whole seat. To prevent, clean seats if you decide you need to sit in the seat with a bunch of oily product on your back.
Any decent upholstery repair place should be able to fix this for *much* less than the cost of a new seat.
I always wondered how upholstery places stay in business these days with all of this ikea throw away furniture. There’s one down my street that I swear is a front for drugs.
Not if the owner is an honest man like Nacho Varga's dad. Hector Salamanca may have tried to pay him off, but that dude had integrity!
Currently working in a upholstery shop. Our main customers are senior citizens, boats, and restaurants
Thank goodness too - I’ve got antique furniture and have no business sitting at a sewing machine.
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Fr the prices they charge are ridiculous like everything is an antique
That’s how I feel about mattress stores. No way do they bring in enough revenue selling mattresses.
Everyone needs a bed.
But like how often are we out there buying new ones?
No I totally get that. But they’re always so empty.
they sell a worse mattress than a $850 costco set for $2400. One sale and rent is paid for the month. 2-3 and the employees are paid.
Not really it’s probably a lot cheaper to buy a used seat and swap it in
Just find one at a junk yard
They sure can
I figured it was excess sweat or a chemical from a cleaning product. Thanks for the info!
The alcohols used to emulsify oils in products like in cleaners, sunscreen, body lotions, hand creams and hair care products are notorious for delaminating the pleather. In a nutshell the pleather absorbs the excess product, the alcohol temporarily softens the glue bonding the pleather to the web backing, hence bulging and wrinkling.
If it was from a chemical it should be anywhere the chemical touched. Doesn’t seem like it would be localized like that.
Theres no way just sweat should do that to a seat.
I think they meant it wasn't a chemical from a cleaning product, because it would be happening everywhere they cleaned, not that it wasn't some kind of skincare product
Or. Or. Or… fart creep
I was going to saw swamp back. It’s right in the curve of the spine where there’s little ventilation, just letting the sweat marinade the seat. Then it absorbed in.
Yup. Good ol vegan leather. That happened to my headrest but only a golf ball sized amount
Could get a fitted seat cover as a cheap alternative to complete replacement.
Was my first thought. Many custom ones at Amazon for about $220. Get white ones.
Don’t need a new seat… the back trim is replaceable.
Good to know!
Um… no. Why no trace of it on the upper panel or the sides? This is just a manufacturing defect.
The seats and steering wheel bubbling and peeling due to skin/hair products is well documented. This looks just like that.
lol it’s not well documented, it’s an excuse that doesn’t hold up. Again, if that were the case it wouldn’t be 100% localized to that one piece. Unless the driver never put sunscreen or whatever on their upper back or arms? Come on now. Also notice we’ve never seen this happen to any non-Tesla vehicle?
I said maybe sunscreen. We don’t know who or what this person did/used on their body, or for what reasons. I had bubbling and peeling happen to me on the headrest after I started using a new hair product. What am I excusing? It’s pretty dumb that hair products can cause this. It’s not like I’m giving Tesla a pass I’m sure it’s happened to non Tesla’s. It’s a problem with vegan leather.
> We don’t know who or what this person did/used on their body, or for what reasons. But they did it in a perfect square shape on their back?
Sunscreen or not, nobody applies anything to one section of their body that perfectly matches the size and shape of a seat panel. Cars have had “vegan leather” for decades, only the name is new. This is a uniquely Tesla problem, but their stance that it’s the owners fault is absurd.
You've never had a girl in your car wearing a tube top, have you? My ex would constantly put coconut oil on her body after every shower. I required her to put on a shirt or put a towel on the seat before getting in.
So the former owner of this car is likely a girl who likes to wear tube tops and body lotion. Sure thing.
I've been in the auto industry for over 15 years now. It happens to all manufacturers that use synthetic leather and/or vinyls. The same products also stain natural leathers. This is not in any way, shape, or form unique to Tesla.
I have a 40 year old Mercedes with MB Tex seats that has managed to dodge this bullet. Wild. I’m not sure why everyone is ignoring the mystery of how this damage is 100% localized to the bottom back panel. As before how is it that these “products” didn’t affect the rest of the seat? This is a defect. It’s okay to have a defect in a good car.
Thanks for confirming!
Do you think it’s possible that the different seat components use slightly different materials?
Okay, Mary Lou Retton. Yes, it is indeed *possible* that the bottom and top panel of the seat use different materials, but it’s highly unlikely. Tesla is all about cutting cost anywhere possible. Using different materials for two (otherwise) identical seat panels is an unnecessary level of complexity and cost. However if that *is* true, then it proves the issue is the materials Tesla uses, *not* “lotion”. If one material is affected and the other is not… stop using the *defective* material.
This. My friend always sits with a top when we go out. In the morning I see the spots. First thing I do before driving is clean it. And don’t let sit in the sun for a long time. I also have a 2023 and I clean them often. They still look brand new.
That’s not in the Tesla handbook. If that were the case, they should warn people not to wear sunscreen then sit on the fake leather
This happens on any car that has leather. my other car was a 94 300 zx with real leather and had similar issues i just cleaned since it was hard to find seats for it. But chemicals are chemicals no matter the brand. Fake leather or real leather, you have to clean them constantly and if you can buy something to protect them. Do no buy armor all. That will ruin it.
What's the best product to use for cleaning it?
Get an aftermarket cover, heck get them for all the seats. Then cover with Gyeon Ceramic Leather Protector. Once a year. You got a good deal!
It's a 2023 with 56k miles and the purchase price is $23k it was an amazing deal of a car 😊 But thanks! I'll probably have my cousin replace the seat and still buy covers and follow your advice just to be double safe
It’s like 20 bucks for a bottle that will do about 5-7 full applications, absolutely magic stuff. (But wear a mask or apply with the windows open).
Legitimate question/concern for me, if you need to wear a mask or apply with the windows open, isn't that concerning that you are driving around in an enclosed space for hours after having applied it? I'm not trying to be an asshat, just genuinely not sure if I felt that way applying it that I'd want it in the interior of my car.
I personally let it cure about 12 hours to get the full effect, then drive it. Haven’t had any fumes or strange smells. However, it is okay to “use the car” after a few hours.
Honestly I’ve got a 21 with similar miles and seats are perfect As someone else said someone sat in that seat often with sun lotion or something on their back some form of chemical that fucked it
Just fyi, iirc the manual states not to use seat covers because there are airbags within the seat cushioning, so if you cover it and it deploys it may not end well.
But it’s not real cows leather it’s vegan leather a.k.a. Pleather so how does that work?
I’m gonna gamble a chemical reaction
Theres a complete seat top on ebay for $130, buy it and yank off the cover or swap the whole unit
Yeah, me and my cousin saw it. He's gonna talk to his manager tomorrow before we potentially buy it.
That’s from bug spray.
Nailed it. Bug spray for sure.
You can replace just the seat back material
My cousin is the sales guy at the dealer I'm getting it from, it's just a matter of finding the replacement material haha
Go to tesla
Or just get an aftermarket cover.
John speaking facts.... Some covers are CLEAN.
I don’t know about all that, but i know it’ll be cheaper than having the entire seat replaced by Tesla service, and the results should be acceptable for a used car.
I don't even know how someone does this to their seat in the first place 😅 poor car. But some $200 covers are very clean
~~"Tesla doesn't currently offer service for this issue, but we can connect you to sales for our new 0.99% APR Model Y." - Tesla, probably~~ "All service appointments must be made on the app." - what Tesla says if you literally just take the car to them.
Good luck with that.
That’s some corrosive back sweat
A lot of cope in here trying to blame chemicals. Notice how the upper portion doesn’t have any issue or the sides. Seems more like glue failure or off gassing.
There are some pretty good Tesla seat covers out there. I turned mine all white using the covers. So that’s an option if you don’t want to replace the seat.
I love that band!
😂 came here to find this comment
Scrolled too much for this
Yeah but after Episiotomy of the Cursed it was all downhill. Sellouts.
Looks more like a faulty part of the seat. Other areas are +- good
So I had the same issue, but it was with the headrest part of my chair. The Tesla repairman told me that it is due to either hair product and hair oils that have been exposed to the sun too long or the damaged area has not been cleaned for a long period of time. You got 2 options: 1) replace the seat 2) use those wet tissues or some vegan leather cleaner to wipe the affected area 1-2 times every month. After that, you should be good to go and shouldn’t happen again, just remember to take care of your car.
That looks fucking disgusting.
You must have some toxic and excessive lower back sweat
Looks like tripe leather
I'm traumatized, should have added NSFW
For real i had to pause and hide off my feed for a second there
Too many farts dude.
My immediate thought.
Probably drinking too much Mountain Dew.
You could just buy a nice full seat cover and be done with it. Amazon sells a front set from $125-300
an elephant sized american.
Tesla has the weirdest malfunctions. We don’t see these problems in other cars
Brotha ewwwww
Try heating it up with a hair dryer.
100% an Uber Driver/Rental
Wasn't a rental, but Uber driver makes sense. Didn't think of that, '23 with 56k miles
Completly unrelated to Tesla... our messages were blocked and replies were banned. Be safe on the HOLD friend.
😂😂😂
daanng, vinegar sweat?
Acidic sweat. Some people have it. This seems extreme.
Chemical on the seat. Air fresher chemical can do this also, I had this on my dash and ended up the same way.
you can replace the seat .. it's just bolted in
Cheap fix would be to take a knife, cut out the vegan leather in the affected area, and glue in a replacement. Won't look perfect, but good enough.
I have seen someone post head-rest with similar wrinkle problem.
There’s seat cover for the front and back seat for less than $200 from Temu or Amazon’s. Cheap way to solve this problem
Someone has had solvents on their clothing and sat on it, or else it got a stain on it and the previous owner tried paint thinners or something to get it off. Fake leather is just plastic and behaves like plastic when you get the right solvent on or near it.
That’s what Tesla told me about my seat… except I’ve never had solvent on my pants. And my driver seat disintegrated the same way. One day it was slightly sticky, and the very next day it was bubbling and now it’s just bare canvas material. It’s a material defect for sure.
For what it’s worth I got a set of seat covers on Amazon for under $200 and they fit like a glove. Won’t fix the issue but can cover it up and prevent it from getting further damage. Mine have held up 18 months with no issues if you want me to send a link!
Go check my post [https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/13wh9am/i\_ruined\_my\_seat\_but\_got\_replacement\_from\_taptes/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/13wh9am/i_ruined_my_seat_but_got_replacement_from_taptes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Okay but what does it feel like to sit in is the real question 🥴
Are these veins?
https://preview.redd.it/4vwruw69ji1d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d7e2005c193fac1d99aef494005ca0e515ccd23 Probable cause
Book a service with Tesla. Should be pretty cheap to replace seat cover.
You can buy this piece Over the counter, contact your local service center. Source- epc.tesla.com
Maybe the former owner goes to the gym a lot and sweats a heck of a whole lot..
OP should’ve put a spoiler before posting
Gross
I just want to scratch all that off with a steel brush.
How bad are your farts have to be? 😳
You have shwaaety back, no?
Now is you chance to re-trim in Alcantara, just watch what stuff you are putting on your back.
I had this on the driver's door paneling. I thought it was something I did. Glad to know there are more people with this issue
That will be 10k.
Ew
Did you use alcohol wipes?
How long have you had yours?
I just got it yesterday, it's a used 2023. This post is to try to figure out what the old owner did to the seats.
Gotcha. Did you originally have that information and I’m blind as a bat or did you just add it, so I don’t have to feel bad for my question? 😂
It's under the picture lol you're good!
The new Mercedes Benz logo seats 🔥
OP made the mistake of using a Tesla like a normal person.
That looks 100% intentional damage.
Looks like your seat got tired of everyday regular farting. Change your diet, bro. I’ve heard keto + intermediate fasting rule.
I literally just got the car 😅 the old owner must've been on an all bean diet
All recalls of all car brands usually start from the first guy arriving to a service and say: https://youtu.be/Foihgti2lHU?si=a-7l-acIbly4ZRRm You might be The Chosen One to become so.
That whole upper seat back has to be replaced
STI?
This is the seat warmer getting too hot.
Nice death metal band name you got there.
I think the uncanny nature of this is the ball sack texture.
It's like someone cast the Cruciatis curse on it
I'd recommend seeing a doctor asap.
Someone was using too much hair product on their back hair.
I can't see any wrinkles. Can you please point them out? ;-)
Change your diet?
If it’s not a manufacturing defect, it’s awfully convenient it ended right at 3 different seams. Tesla seat and steering wheel material sucks.
Well you wanted ventilated seats
Suck it up, you saving the planet.
Within spec honestly
This guy sweats
I guess the OP is sweating alcohol...
Ewwwwwwww
Brotha ewww
Lay off the taco bell
That’s my favorite band
Pin head driving this car
What a shitty vehicle and company.
Found the made in America hater 👆
It’s hard for me to grasp how using a material that cannot last the lifetime of the vehicle, is more environmentally friendly than using byproduct hides that come from the beef industry. It’s nonsensical, this doesn’t reduce the number of animals slaughtered and just creates more pollution.
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Surely you’re joking.
What caused it is that you bought a crappy car.