Leather Seat issue

[danksheehan]

Is it possible that prior to seating in the Jeep you've sat somewhere and got some sand, or some type of chemical dust (fertilizer, cement dust, etc) that when combined with moisture (sweat) attacked the leather/leatherette?

Possible. Thank you so much.

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[danksheehan]

I believe @TheRaven is correct that the center seat panels are indeed real leather and should be able to be addressed with a leather treatment product. Personally not sure if I'd break out the Scotchbrite pad immediately and think I'd first try rubbing in a good leather conditioner with a clean rag and see if it improves first. If not, then try a more intensive correction method.

Best of luck!

I’ll try some leather conditioner. Can you recommend a good one AND possible more intensive correction methods?
Thank you.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Did you buy it new? Often, used car lots or depts will, for the lack of a better word, paint (they call it re-dye) the leather if it shows wear or cracking. Lot’s of videos online about this.

The factory “leather seating surfaces”, the small parts that touch your ass and back, are leather. The rest of the seat is vinyl. And those seats are often coated with a film of clear sprayed on them.

 

[danksheehan]

Did you buy it new? Often, used car lots or depts will, for the lack of a better word, paint (they call it re-dye) the leather if it shows wear or cracking. Lot’s of videos online about this.

The factory “leather seating surfaces”, the small parts that touch your ass and back, are leather. The rest of the seat is vinyl. And those seats are often coated with a film of clear sprayed on them.

Used sir.
Never noticed it was like that when I got it.
Just after hot day noticed the marks on leather.
Thank you

 

[AFD]

I’ll try some leather conditioner. Can you recommend a good one AND possible more intensive correction methods?

I'd try the Lexol leather conditioner and/or cleaner (or something similar that's a leather cream, and not a thick paste or watery spray). By more intensive, I just meant that using a Scotchbrite pad maybe seemed too abrasive to start with and to just try it with a softer clean rag/applicator first.

This kit comes with both cleaner and conditioner, plus 2 applicator pads.

https://www.amazon.com/Lexol-Leather-Conditioner-Cleaner-Kit/dp/B07LGVZLP9/

 

[wingnut60]

Can’t help fix it, but have a ‘21 Sahara HA also, 40k miles, nothing like those marks on mine.

 

[danksheehan]

Can’t help fix it, but have a ‘21 Sahara HA also, 40k miles, nothing like those marks on mine.

Thank you.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Used sir.
Never noticed it was like that when I got it.
Just after hot day noticed the marks on leather.
Thank you

Then I suspect that they did a re-dye, or they could have used an ozone machine to get rid of smoke or mold smell. The ozone will make plastic surfaces a little sticky, including the coating on your leather, it may make the gauge plastic slightly yellow, and can cause the matte coating on your screen to start to come off. Another thing that will do those things to clear plastic and seats is Armor All, which is bad stuff and should be avoided. The only thing I use on leather seats is a wicro fiber, wrung out, in warm water. I wont use conditioner until the seats show creasing or cracks, and that's only in those areas to condition the exposed leather.

That would explain the marks left from the stitching on your shorts. Leather conditioner won't fix it. As with most car seats, they don't have the top grain exposed. They have a PVC, or similar coating, that give a nice even grained finish. The coating bonds with the leather and is usually very durable. Top grain leather, found in luxury cars and some King Ranch trucks, don't have any coating. They are finished and prepared with the actual surface of the leather exposed. No Jeep, and most cars in general, don't come with that type of leather. You'll know top grain leather, because it will darken if it gets wet, like a pair of boots. High quality leather will be so full of lanolin and waxes from the factory, that get some occasional rain drops on it wont hurt. But, if it's not properly maintained and cared for, will stain, crack and eventually split. Go look inside a 20 year old Jag that wasn't cared for to see.

 

[danksheehan]

Then I suspect that they did a re-dye, or they could have used an ozone machine to get rid of smoke or mold smell. The ozone will make plastic surfaces a little sticky, including the coating on your leather, it may make the gauge plastic slightly yellow, and can cause the matte coating on your screen to start to come off. Another thing that will do those things to clear plastic and seats is Armor All, which is bad stuff and should be avoided. The only thing I use on leather seats is a wicro fiber, wrung out, in warm water. I wont use conditioner until the seats show creasing or cracks, and that's only in those areas to condition the exposed leather.

That would explain the marks left from the stitching on your shorts. Leather conditioner won't fix it. As with most car seats, they don't have the top grain exposed. They have a PVC, or similar coating, that give a nice even grained finish. The coating bonds with the leather and is usually very durable. Top grain leather, found in luxury cars and some King Ranch trucks, don't have any coating. They are finished and prepared with the actual surface of the leather exposed. No Jeep, and most cars in general, don't come with that type of leather. You'll know top grain leather, because it will darken if it gets wet, like a pair of boots. High quality leather will be so full of lanolin and waxes from the factory, that get some occasional rain drops on it wont hurt. But, if it's not properly maintained and cared for, will stain, crack and eventually split. Go look inside a 20 year old Jag that wasn't cared for to see.

Thank you for the insight.

I just wonder why those lines are there permanently yet when I go for a ride now I see additional lines, but they end up coming out themselves. Perhaps the material got really hot and because it was compromised, it set into the material.

Bottom line looks like the only option is to either deal with it or replace with a new factory seat cover. Would you agree?

 

[TheRaven]

Then I suspect that they did a re-dye, or they could have used an ozone machine to get rid of smoke or mold smell. The ozone will make plastic surfaces a little sticky, including the coating on your leather, it may make the gauge plastic slightly yellow, and can cause the matte coating on your screen to start to come off. Another thing that will do those things to clear plastic and seats is Armor All, which is bad stuff and should be avoided. The only thing I use on leather seats is a wicro fiber, wrung out, in warm water. I wont use conditioner until the seats show creasing or cracks, and that's only in those areas to condition the exposed leather.

That would explain the marks left from the stitching on your shorts. Leather conditioner won't fix it. As with most car seats, they don't have the top grain exposed. They have a PVC, or similar coating, that give a nice even grained finish. The coating bonds with the leather and is usually very durable. Top grain leather, found in luxury cars and some King Ranch trucks, don't have any coating. They are finished and prepared with the actual surface of the leather exposed. No Jeep, and most cars in general, don't come with that type of leather. You'll know top grain leather, because it will darken if it gets wet, like a pair of boots. High quality leather will be so full of lanolin and waxes from the factory, that get some occasional rain drops on it wont hurt. But, if it's not properly maintained and cared for, will stain, crack and eventually split. Go look inside a 20 year old Jag that wasn't cared for to see.

Just wanted to note a couple of things - despite the fact that pretty much all automotive leather is coated with a polyurethane top coat, it is not impervious and still needs oil from time to time (conditioner). You should not be experiencing any cracking at all as long as you maintain the leather this way. Also, the little bit of actual leather in the Wrangler does darken when wet - my wife called me panicking one night soon after we got our JLU, because she left a wet towel on seat to dry and when she removed it, she saw the dark spots from the water and they wouldn't wipe off - she thought she had ruined the leather. I had to explain this to her. It actually took more than 24 hours for the dark spots to go away. As long as its just water, it won't be a problem. Dyed sugary drinks though...that's another story.

 

[Barney392]

Just wanted to note a couple of things - despite the fact that pretty much all automotive leather is coated with a polyurethane top coat, it is not impervious and still needs oil from time to time (conditioner). You should not be experiencing any cracking at all as long as you maintain the leather this way. Also, the little bit of actual leather in the Wrangler does darken when wet - my wife called me panicking one night soon after we got our JLU, because she left a wet towel on seat to dry and when she removed it, she saw the dark spots from the water and they wouldn't wipe off - she thought she had ruined the leather. I had to explain this to her. It actually took more than 24 hours for the dark spots to go away. As long as its just water, it won't be a problem. Dyed sugary drinks though...that's another story.

I would check these out before going back with factory covers.

https://katzkin.com/

 

[danksheehan]

Just wanted to note a couple of things - despite the fact that pretty much all automotive leather is coated with a polyurethane top coat, it is not impervious and still needs oil from time to time (conditioner). You should not be experiencing any cracking at all as long as you maintain the leather this way. Also, the little bit of actual leather in the Wrangler does darken when wet - my wife called me panicking one night soon after we got our JLU, because she left a wet towel on seat to dry and when she removed it, she saw the dark spots from the water and they wouldn't wipe off - she thought she had ruined the leather. I had to explain this to her. It actually took more than 24 hours for the dark spots to go away. As long as its just water, it won't be a problem. Dyed sugary drinks though...that's another story.

Gotcha. Ty sir.

 

[Beach Nut]

Thank you sir.
Marks are right in the middle of seat. They are the upgraded leather (I think, maybe vinyl).
today it made more imprints but they are gone after cooling.
the ones in pictures are there permanent.
do you think I should consider it a defect and replace?
Didn’t want to replace if common and will do on new ones as well.
$1500 to replace seat cover.
$900 labor and $600 for part.
thank you in advance for your experience and opinions.

Dan

I have leather in my 2020 Sahara…no issues. I also condition the seats often because of direct sunlight, so perhaps that helps. Fixing them sounds expensive…I had my entire Ram done for $2500. Front, back and console. Katskin.

 

[danksheehan]

I have leather in my 2020 Sahara…no issues. I also condition the seats often because of direct sunlight, so perhaps that helps. Fixing them sounds expensive…I had my entire Ram done for $2500. Front, back and console. Katskin.

Thank you sir.

 

[Frankenstein2124]

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