Update on the creaky lumbar support problem described below. Couple months ago, after raising the issue to Toyota 800# Cust Svc, dealer service mgr followed up and asked me to bring it in and they would provide rental car. Had it in for about 6 hours and they took the top seat leather off and added additional cushioning into the lumbar area. They had me test it after the adjustment and it seemed OK. After a few days a bit of creakiness returned but I'm just living with it now - it is very minor, but still can hear and feel the creak. They told me the power lumbar in the driver seat is not a plastic bladder but a motorized arm that moves in/out. I'd guess like a scissor jack. Whatever it is, it's cheap. So for you folks that have this problem...
Just for clarification, DeanFL is correct. There is no bladder. It is a plastic shield that sort of looks like a rib cage that deflects in and out. See attached side view... View attachment 25116
I think the evalutions of the "creaking lumbar" have been well documented. The lumbar on my 2010 V also creaks under any extension. This has been verified by my dealer on a Toyota invoice. Two telephone calls were also made to Toyota voicing my concerns. At this time I don't use the lumbar and my name has been added to "the list". The dealer called the noise characteristic.
Mine doesn't creak or make any noise, but I feel that the lumber support bulge is not centred. I have to shift a little bit to the left to feel the "summit" of the bulge centering at my spine. No big deal but feel rippped off with such low quality of material / design / workmanship for such a high priced car (to the poor man, me, anyways).
No car is perfect and I can accept that fact, but..... I have had several cars with lumbar support and all have been pretty good. They offer a " pillow" like support. The noise is the main problem and the second is the log like support. A bad design in a car with so many positives.
You folks must be "love handle challenged." I have ample cushioning across my lower back to render the lumbar feature superfluous.
