Power Seat Stuck In Recline – Detailed Reason & Solution

Sitting posture in the car is one of the important factors for both the driver and the passenger.

The electric seat control system in the car has the role of adjusting the seat to suit users’ needs, such as raising/lowering, reclining back, moving, or sliding.

However, you don’t always get these benefits. Why is the power seat stuck in recline? Let’s check the answer.

Why Is The Power Seat Stuck In Recline?

power seat stuck in recline
Seat Stuck In Recline

Short answer: The power seat is an essential feature of every car for a comfortable ride, but it can also become inconvenient when stuck.

This could be due to faulty wiring, recline switch, locking mechanism, motor, recline system, etc. Here are the main causes of this condition:

Damaged Wiring

This unit’s wiring can fail so suddenly that you don’t even notice anything unusual.

Causes can come from deterioration of the cable sheath, damp insulation, overheating of the cable, electrical overload, or prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Burned fuses can also be the cause of damaged power lines. Once this system fails, the power seats cannot be reclined or pulled up.

Recline Button Error

Another common cause is a malfunction of the recline button.

The switch is a part that helps users directly control the seat’s recline, so when it has a problem, your seat can only stand still in a certain recline position.

Broken buttons are often due to device compatibility or physical layer failure.

Rusty Locking Mechanism

The locking mechanism of the recliner, after a period of use, tends to erode and rust worn due to condensation. Water is a big enemy to metal components of locks.

Not only does it weaken the internal structure, but it also affects the durability of the whole system.

The Error Of Recline Motor

A faulty recliner motor is a direct cause of your recliner jamming. This unit operates with the help of electric motors to actuate the screw mechanism.

The seat motor acts as an engine to power the seat.

Once the motor loses power, the electric seats cannot recline and become overheated.

The Reclining System Is Clogged

Another possible cause is a blockage of the reclining system. Some car owners were surprised to find some debris inside that prevented their recliner from reclining or moving as it should.

Long-term use with continuous frequency causes layers of carbon deposits, dirt, or anything like dirt to accumulate longer and longer inside the system.

This layer of impurities will prevent the electric power seats from sitting up or down.

Mechanical Or Electrical Problems

Failure of the car’s electrical system causes the “nervous system” of the whole vehicle to be affected because it can control up to 80% of other systems in the car.

It is responsible for generating power and driving nearly all activities on a car, from simple systems such as starting, ignition, and lighting to new techniques, etc.

Each part of the electrical system plays a specific role and has different operating principles to ensure each part’s smooth and efficient operation, such as the recliner.

However, they can still make mistakes like:

When any device on the vehicle stops working, the fuse has likely blown, or the pipe fuse is faulty. This is also a common cause of car electrical system failure.

Faulty pipe fuses or blown fuses will cause electrical equipment to operate sluggishly or not at all.

That’s why experts advise car owners to check and promptly replace damaged fuses regularly.

Besides, there are a few other errors, such as a dead battery or dirty compartments, a broken generator, a faulty starter, or a faulty spark plug.

Seat Switch Issues 

The components of a car are controlled or operated by different types of switches.

Some common vehicle switches include headlight switches, automatic door latch switches, ignition switch units, recliner switches, etc.

Regular inspection of switches is the best way to see if electrical equipment is loose or shorted. The button is loose, dirty is the reason the parts can not work.

It is a good practice to have the switches repaired or replaced as soon as they show signs of failure.

How To Fix The Seat Recliner Driver? 

chevy equinox driver seat stuck in recline
Repair To The Seat Recliner Driver

Here are detailed instructions for you:

  1. Unplug connections: First, disconnect the seat and your car battery.
  2. Release the seat recline: After you have unplugged the chair from the electrical connections, the next step is to loosen the seat recline.
  3. Find System Failures: you must track down your vehicle’s mechanical system failure.
  4. Remove the screw: Now, you need a screwdriver to take off the bolts; this will allow us to move the electric power seat.
  5. Apply lubricant: Next, determine where the bolt threads are located and coat all their parts with lubricant. Try moving the nut to check if its thread is smooth. For nuts and lines that are worn or have a lot of set rust, replace them.
  6. Reinsert the bolts: Proceed to reinstall the nuts and bolts as before or install new ones. Remember that you need to fasten your arms to ensure that these latches can secure the seat.
  7. Press the recline button: After completing the repair steps, don’t forget to find the dash and press the recline button to check its operation.

How To Move A Stuck Manual Car Seat?

It’s not hard to find comments like “my Chevy equinox driver seat stuck in recline,” “my GMC terrain power seat stuck,” or “Hyundai Tucson driver seats adjustment not working” on auto forums.

There must have been many drivers who have encountered inconveniences caused by this out-of-control seat but do not know what to do in situations like these. Keep these steps in mind:

Preparing Instruments

To manually troubleshoot jam, check your toolbox to ensure you have the following available tools.

  • Hex wrench
  • Coil
  • Screwdriver
  • Scissors or knife
  • Drill or pliers
  • Bolt cutter
  • Flashlight

A winder is a tool that most car owners have in the kit that comes with the car.

It is like an allen wrench and drill extender combination with a long shaft, a drill tip (hexagonal or square), and a stiff handle with a curved tip.

Look For The Motor And The Socket Under The Seat

Depending on the design of each car manufacturer, the motor may be located in different locations, but try to search under the saddle first because most of them are located there.

It is a small box located along a moving rail of the seats. On the motor box, find the socket hole shaped like the screw head of the winding tool (usually hexagonal or square).

This step is complicated because the electric chair has many motors, each with a different task of controlling the movement.

That is why you must carefully consult the manufacturer’s manual information. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to find the motors, leading to incorrect tuning.

Don’t forget to use the prepared flashlight to examine the details closely.

During the search, you may have a few snacks scattered, even a little change, so do not be surprised.

Insert The Bit Of The Coil Into The Socket Of The Motor

Use the winder tool to insert the bit into the socket. Note that it needs to have the right bit for your car model.

If you accidentally choose the wrong one, some repairmen recommend that you can use a dynamic drill with an extension to replace it.

This is not an ideal way but an acceptable workaround.

Slowly Move The Power Recliner

To move it backward, we will rotate the handle slowly clockwise; otherwise, turn it counterclockwise when you want to recline the seat forward.

This way can only allow you to move it very slowly.

The seats only move on one side, which means it has two separate motors, so you have to rotate the handle of the other motor.

One thing to note is that the winder tool cannot move the recliner up or down.

How To Change The Switch Of The Power Seat?

passenger seat stuck in recline
Change The Switch Of The Power Seat

Adjusting the appropriate recline position and angle will help increase the lift of the seats, stabilize the sitting posture, make them feel comfortable, and limit the impact on the body, especially for people who often travel by car.

So don’t block this benefit just because of a broken switch. When it is necessary to replace a new switch for the damaged one, you can follow the instructions below:

  • Locate the switch
  • Take out the panel to access the back of the switch
  • Check if its input is having problems
  • Continue to check the ground and power of the switch
  • Plug in the ground and supply power to the motor
  • Remove the connector of the old switch and then insert the new one

This operation is not too complicated, but it can also become a challenge for those with no concept of car engine parts.

To avoid making a mistake in situations like this, you can ask someone you know for help or bring your car to the repair center to do it.

Conclusion 

Our above sharing will help readers better understand the question: why is the power seat stuck in recline and the most effective way to fix it to maintain stable operation of the car and always peace of mind on every journey.

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next posts.

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