Rear Seat Buckling Problems in the 2010 Prius?

[yardman 49]

For all of you who have encountered this problem, please contact Toyota directly and make them aware of this issue.

This and other problems that have been showing up with the G3s need to be brought to Toyota's attention.

Best wishes,

[HTMLSpinnr]

For the kids that need seats, I use LATCH attached seats and secure the child with integrated restraints in the seats. The other kids are big/old enough to figure out the belts on their own.

The buckles need to "submerge" into the seat just a bit in order to allow the seats to fold down flat w/o damaging the seating surfaces.

[hythere]

For those who seem to be having the problem buckling with child seats, may I ask if you have leather or cloth seats??

I noticed the same difficulty also and thought it was because we had the seats changed to leather. (Never had the child seats in when it was still cloth)

Anyway, I have a Highlander Hybrid as well and had the seats switched to leather. We have no problems with these buckles as the shaft is much longer and does NOT sink into the seat crevice.

I might have to try the sock idea or fashion another quick fix.

[gtonnell]

Originally Posted by SFguy2009

I am glad someone made a post for this problem. My wife has been complaining about this when we first got the car. Fortunately my daughter have managed to get a hang of it, although occasionally she had a tough time when we were in a rush. When the center armrest/cupholder console is down, it is especially much harder. I am trying to find something to prop that part of the seatbelt receptor without damaging the leather seating. That socks idea is crude, but I might just try that ...lol

Reply: I might explain that I used freshly cleaned socks--those that are not in style anymore. Did they help? Yes, to some degree, but it is still a pain to get the seat belts latched. Gtonnell

[Dakine50]

Check out the owner's manual under Adjustable components, page 88 and they list a seat belt extender available for free!
Hope this helps....

[Dakine50]

Also try Ebay / Goggling, "seat belt extender."

[Radiant]

I've noticed it too. I have the cloth seats and my daughter could buckle herself in on our last car just fine. Now she has a hard time. I think I will look up the free seatbelt extender and try the socks in the meantime.

I will only place her in the middle now as my last car was totaled by a crazy speeding driver who T-boned me in an intersection. So if you see me sitting at the green light until the other cars stop completely, just wave and wait - honking won't help.

[liskipper]

Shouldn't this be an issue for the NHTSA? I have not yet tried it, but will be transporting my granddaughter soon.

[jayong]

Originally Posted by Dakine50

Check out the owner's manual under Adjustable components, page 88 and they list a seat belt extender available for free!
Hope this helps....

Yup. I asked my dealership for this extender for the exact same reason all the posters here mentioned - it's a real pain to get my daughter buckled into her booster. Believe it or not, it's an EVEN BIGGER pain to try to get the extender, for the following reasons:

1) Dealership will only offer the extender to you for obese people. Not for children, but only for obese people who can't fit into the regular seat belt.

2) Both the driver and the obese person needs to be there at the dealership, in person.

3) Someone from Service will need to measure the "fit" and fill out a long legal form, signed by the owner, to order the extender from Toyota. They don't stock them at all.

4) You can't buy it even if you're willing to pay for it. Toyota's legal team (probably same geniuses who insisted on the Nav lockout) requires the dealerships to enforce these asinine rules.

Maybe my dealership was pulling my leg, but there was no way to argue with them.

Jay

[Airbalancer]

My wife was taking care of the grandkids, one 2 and 9 for 7 weeks never complained about the seat belts
SO everyone complaining must be doing something wrong LOL