Rear seat folding mechanism broken

[docsnavely]

Hi all. Did a cursory search and couldn't find anything...

I have a 2015 limited and just discovered I can't fold down the passenger side rear seat. It's never given a problem before. I usually flip the seats up and down every other week so it's hopefully not an operator error issue.

When pulling the lever at the top of the seat, I can see the pull cable still connected, however there is no resistance like I'm used to when pulling the lever to release the seat. I did notice a small metal loop about 1.5cm big that had fallen between the seats when sliding it forward. Don't know if it's part of the mechanism or just some junk from my kids.

The partial fold and slide lever for getting back into the 3rd row still works fine.

Do you all have any suggestions or a copy of the repair manual for the seats? I'm not sure if this would be covered under warranty. Just had my 25k service....

Thanks!

 

[kman79]

Hi all. Did a cursory search and couldn't find anything...

I have a 2015 limited and just discovered I can't fold down the passenger side rear seat. It's never given a problem before. I usually flip the seats up and down every other week so it's hopefully not an operator error issue.

When pulling the lever at the top of the seat, I can see the pull cable still connected, however there is no resistance like I'm used to when pulling the lever to release the seat. I did notice a small metal loop about 1.5cm big that had fallen between the seats when sliding it forward. Don't know if it's part of the mechanism or just some junk from my kids.

The partial fold and slide lever for getting back into the 3rd row still works fine.

Do you all have any suggestions or a copy of the repair manual for the seats? I'm not sure if this would be covered under warranty. Just had my 25k service....

Thanks!

Were you able to resolve this issue? I purchased a certified 2015 SR5 and I am having the same issues. I would take it to the dealer, but like most of us here, it's hard to find the time or do not have time to waste sitting at the dealership for them to look at it.

 

[Cornfed97]

Have the dealer do it. You can fix it yourself easily, but the cable will keep coming out. Tell them it has been happened several times and you've fixed it and you want them to fix/tighten the bracket that holds the cable. There's a notch in the cable head that slips into a u type of bracket. They can squeeze the bracket so it holds the cable head better. I tried to do this myself but didn't have the leverage or right tool.

 

[RiDE]

This exact thing just happened to my passenger rear seat. Anyone have a link on how to take that seat out before i start unbolting things?

 

[flea1983]

Do the rear seats adjust forward to back? I thought the mechanism was broken in my cr-v for months until I realized the seat had to be all the way back to fold up. You might have already checked that but worth a shot.

 

[4RnR Grl]

This exact thing just happened to my passenger rear seat. Anyone have a link on how to take that seat out before i start unbolting things?

It's super easy. It's linked in my thread.

 

[RiDE]

Figured it out. I didn't have to take the seat out to fix this. I just pryed the plastic covers around the mechanism and attached the cable back onto the metal tab. I also made the metal tab tighter by taking some channel locks and squeezing the openings together to tighten the hold of the cable housing.

 

[MaD HuNGaRIaN]

Figured it out. I didn't have to take the seat out to fix this. I just pryed the plastic covers around the mechanism and attached the cable back onto the metal tab. I also made the metal tab tighter by taking some channel locks and squeezing the openings together to tighten the hold of the cable housing.

Ok, now mine is doing it. Where do you pry? You didn't happen to take any pics when you did it, did you?

 

[docsnavely]

Sorry everyone. I don't know why but I never got alerts that there were replies to this thread. I created some pictures for my own future reference after the second time this happened. Hopefully this helps.

This is the second row, right seat looking at the left side mechanisms for that seat. This is in a 5th gen (2015) LTD with 3rd row.


EDIT: apparently imgur links won't display as images with the IMG tag...

https://imgur.com/anU2Ae5

https://imgur.com/UsIs90x

 

[nagol22]

Hi, I am having the same issue with my 16 limited, the passenger 2nd row seat will not fold flat. The folding mechanism looks just like the 1st image that was posted above so I don't think I have an issue with the piece falling out of the bracket as it still seems to be there, unless it could be on the other side where the latch is?

When I pull the latch with the cover off the mechanism moves very very slightly but doesn't fold down.

 

[nagol22]

I looked into it a bit more, I think mine is different, there is another metal line that is on the inside of the mechanism that moves freely when I pull the latch. It seems like it should be in a bracket somewhere but I can't see any and it is very difficult to get to, it seems like I'd have to take the seat apart to get to it.... Any help would be much appreciated, I may give up and take it to the dealership.

See image below, it is in the red box...

https://i.imgur.com/11UKETx.jpg

 

[kman79]

The pictures and advice from this thread was very helpful

I was able to get the cable "head" back into the notch and got it to work again. But like someone else posted, its very hard to get pliers in there to squeeze the metal tab together. Someone mentioned using channel locks, I don't have any but it may be worth buying some to avoid having to do this repair over again.

 

[JD1991]

This thread deff helped!! So thanks! I was having the same issue in my 2015 sr5 premium. Right side 2nd row seat wouldn’t fold all the way down. It would only move forward and tilt slightly. I have some pics of where my issue was. Deff tight squeez needle nose pliers helped.

 

[vballspikeit]

This worked thank you!! Once I realized it was the inside covers of the seat I was supposed to remove then I got it. I was originally trying to remove the outside cover and it did not look the same as your pics so I wasn’t sure what to do then I reread your description of which side of the seat you were working on. Thank you again!!

 

[Colinr]

I looked into it a bit more, I think mine is different, there is another metal line that is on the inside of the mechanism that moves freely when I pull the latch. It seems like it should be in a bracket somewhere but I can't see any and it is very difficult to get to, it seems like I'd have to take the seat apart to get to it.... Any help would be much appreciated, I may give up and take it to the dealership.

See image below, it is in the red box...

https://i.imgur.com/11UKETx.jpg

I have exactly the same issue. I can't see anyway to look underneath to see if there is a bracket to hold the outer cable so that it doesn't move but the inner does, releasing the latch to allow the seat to fold flat. Is there any way to remove the seat without having to resort to the dealership?

 

[KpItWld4Runner]

Need your help, please. 2015 4Runner Ltd w/ 3rd row. rear passenger seat lever stopped working, opened up the plastic area (per the thread) and the cable was hanging completely disconnected. I reinserted it into the "U" connector and tightened it, but where does the metal end attach onto the mechanism? - CW

 

[chef744]

Did you find a solution to this? I took mine to the dealer.. they reattached free of charge but it just came off again. Now they want to order a new mechanism for $300+! I might just try this on my own.

 

[Ashade]

Mine disengaged at the release lever. You just have to ply the cover to expose the screws. Some pictures here for future reference:

 

[robeede]

Good morning,
My 2016 4Runner had the cable disconnect (again) on the passenger 2nd row seat. The first time the dealer reconnected it for $40. Now it has disconnected again after a few short months.
It appears that the cable must be running down the right side near the door from the latch to the bottom.
I would appreciate any advice and pictures which would help guide me before I tackle this problem tomorrow.
So far I took off the bottom plastic cover near the seat exposing what looks like a wound up spring but there was no cable to be seen.
I loosened the plastic backing on the upper part of the seat and it looks like I need to remove an inner cloth covering in order to see what is going on.
I appreciate any help y'all can give- especially how to fix it permanently.
Thanks so much.

 

[2016Toyo4R]

5th Gen 4Runner passenger reat seat won't fold (with 3rd row seat option)

after reading through the threads and did the repair myself, I think a more detailed explanation would help the others with similar problem.

This is definitely a design flaw. The cable (with hard plastic shield) was bent 90 degree; therefore, it was under a lot of tension and would came off the metal socket over time. Even I was able to re-attach it, it would came off again after couple of folding the seat. So it is not worth to go to the dealer, a person with average mechanical skill can do it. No special tool is required.

I detailed my fix in a series of 10 photos:
1. This is the passenger rear seat. If you cannot fold the seat with the latch as shown; then you have this problem.
2. Fold the driver side rear seat and move it forward. The mechanism is behind the black plastic cover.
3. There is a small Philip head screw driver near the bottom (difficult to see). Must remove it first.
4. showing the screw removed.
5. The black cover can be removed by hand. Just using muscle force, no need to use any metal tool.
6. now, you can see the loose cable.
7. This photo shown the loosen cable and the metal bracket where it suppose to be seated.
8. Another view of the metal bracket with the notch.
9. To prevent the cable from pop-up, tie a metal wire around it and the metal housing after the cable is attached back to the metal bracket.
10. Then twist and tighten the metal wire.