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My 2007 Boxster driver’s seat has started showing odd dimpling or lumps in the seat bottom and a weird stretch-looking pattern in the seat back. I’m wondering if the seat back issue is from a past repair since the pattern is uniform (I’ve only owned her for 3 years). However, the strange bumps in the seat bottom have me boggled. Any idea what either issue is and how to address it?
Hey
@PrebbleQMc
, I see what you mean about those strange bumps appearing in the seat bottom leather. Do they feel firm, like something is underneath, or are they soft? Adding a bit more detail on that might help someone here recognize what's causing it.
Thanks
@ForaFrank
for the suggestion. There is nothing underneath pushing up. The marks themselves feel like the leather material itself. Some places I can push the area down, almost like an air bubble. Other spots are denser and feel like thicker leather.
@PrebbleQMc
Thanks for that extra detail. The "air bubble" sensation is the key clue, and it points to a common issue in cars of this vintage.
What you are describing is very likely leather delamination. The leather cover isn't just stretched over the foam; it's bonded to it with adhesive. Over many years of heat cycles and daily use, that adhesive can give up the ghost, causing the leather to separate from the foam cushion. This creates the bubbles and loose spots you're feeling. It’s a well-known quirk on these cars, affecting everything from dashboards to door panels.
Unfortunately, this means there's no simple spot-fix with a cream or conditioner. The proper repair involves having an automotive upholsterer remove the seat cover entirely, clean off the old, failed adhesive from both the leather and the foam, and then re-bond it with modern, high-temperature contact cement. It’s a bit of a project, but it’s the only way to restore that smooth, factory finish.
Of course it isn’t simple LOL. Or easy and inexpensive. I may look at a seat cover until it progresses to being unsightly. Thank you for the information.
Wait! It's the driver's seat, right? Just sit in it. Problem solved!!!
I've seen this sort of bubbling happen on perforated-leather seat covers if liquid is spilled on them. It penetrates the leather backing via the holes in the leather, and that backing (also part of the leather) expands and causes bumps and distortion.
That makes a lot of sense for my situation. I’m a swimmer and have certainly sat on the seat in very damp shorts or swimsuits. Is there any way to restore it?
Don, that reminded me of a very good leather repair kit I bought to fix scuffs on my Sand Beige seats. Besides a perfectly matched top coat, it included some sanding sheets to ruff-up and smooth out trouble areas. It even included a filler to fill tough gouges or other irregular surfaces. I got it from leatherRepairKits.com aka MagicMender.com
