Most uncomfortable seat I ever rode in 2017 Tahoe with Katzkin leather

Pk64f100 · September 23, 2017

We purchased a new 2017 Tahoe LS and the salesman said they could do a leather swap with heated seats to keep the Tahoe in our price range. He said that the leather was even nicer than the LT factory so we bought the truck. These seats are the most uncomfortable front bucket seats we have ever experienced. After about 20-30 mins you want to get out of truck it feels like something is sticking your back legs / butt area. I have had it back to dealer in Fredrick Md who took it to the installer they used and they said they adjusted the heating kit and steamed the leather told us to wait 90 days to see if it got better well no luck the seat is very uncomfortable I think the seam is hard and sticks into back of butt / leg area causing a pressure pint. We don't know what to do? Anybody have any suggestions I even reached out to Katzkin leather who is supposedly going to get back to me. They look good just uncomfortable

O_J_Simpson · September 23, 2017

Seats in K2's are hard. Fact of life.

newdude · September 23, 2017

Its not the Katzkin its the GM seats. Majority of seats in a lot of cars are now stiffer/firmer than before.

Did you bother to drive the truck for an extended period of time before you bought it? You'd have noticed the seats even with the cloth on them still.

Pk64f100 · September 24, 2017

Yes the seats did not feel uncomfortable and took a long test drive seats were very comfortable. Even the service manager at Chevy dealership go in and immediately said they did not feel right. There is an issue and don't think it is an issue with cGM design I think the sticking at the location should not have been there. The stock leather does not have this stich in that location that hurts

seamus2154 · September 25, 2017

I have had a 2014, two 2015's, and now a 2017. '14 and '15 were the worst. Hard leather and seam/piping really stuck ya. On my '15 the stock seats were no better than the '14 so I decided to stop by my interior guy as this was suppose to be a long term ownership truck. He told me several guys came to him with the same issue. He said it's the leather. GM uses cardboard he said sarcastically. We went with Katzkin's top competitor but I can't remember the name. He said it was the same in his opinion only they were a little cheaper. Well it was a significant change for the better. Buttery soft and much more comfortable. Didn't need any break in. Unfortunately I hated the 5.3 and 6 speed and had some fustrating issues which led me into a 6.2 '15 Denali. Again horrible seats, but fast as hell ! Traded on a good deal into a 2017 Denali. I find the seats on the '17 to be improved over the prior years. Not great, improved. I only have 1500 miles on it and hoping it will break in better? The aftermarket leather is much softer and should be better. Being this was an upsell item that isn't meeting expectations, I would fight to switch manufactures and swap the leather.

Pk64f100 · September 25, 2017

The leather is Katzkin and I don't know exactly which but definitely soft leather. I think may need breaking in I hope I think if they do not get better with time I will purchase the expensive sheepskin covers for front they are aprox $700 but I hear incredibly comfortable. I do believe it is sticking not leather that is uncomfortable.

seamus2154 · September 26, 2017

Maybe have your own installer take a look at them as you may be right, they are sticking and not moving freely, may be install error? My 15's were so bad I took leather off to put my aftermarket leather on and it was a big improvement in comfort. The 17 is slightly improved and not as bad so I am waiting them out breaking them in.

BTW I bought a used BMW M3 and the owner was very anal, and it came with a set of very expensive sheepskin custom seat covers. I thought to myself those are coming off the second I get home as the stock leather was showroom new. After sitting in them and driving in them I was shocked at how comfortable and cool they were. I don't like the look on a BMW but they are crazy comfortable!!!!

Best of luck.

sk · September 26, 2017

Did you check to see if the lumbar is adjustable? If it is you can "soften" up the setting and that may help.

Side note -- if you are talking about the Chevy dealer in Frederick that I think you are then the problem may be with the dealer (I bought my 2015 there and they were HORRIBLE after the sale).

Bad Bowtie2 · September 26, 2017

I just can't believe it's the Katzkin covers- Has to be the aftermarket heater elements and/or the stock seat foam!!

Katzkin leather seating material is 20x better than OE GM.

seamus2154 · September 26, 2017

I just can't believe it's the Katzkin covers- Has to be the aftermarket heater elements and/or the stock seat foam!!

Katzkin leather seating material is 20x better than OE GM.

This is so true. I do remember that I had to specify if I had ventilated seats (special different foam on the covers then) and I know for a fact there is a specific layer my guy put on. It wasn't just take the old ones off put the new ones on. If that layer of light foam or they glued in something that isn't allowing them to move and stretch that could be the whole issue. Install error.