Second row seats are locked in the down position and will not release when using typical levers. Is this a common problem?

I just ran into the exact problem with my 2004 Suburban. Once I got the seat to lay down all the other mechanisms worked as they should and I could get the seat in and out as usuall. I found this post below which explained how to get the seat down. Wish I could take credit for figuring it out on my own but I can't.
"After working on it for a couple of days here is what I did to remove the 3rd row seat.
On the rear lower right and left side there are plastic covers, if you push the seat material forward a little you can see a hole where a nut holds it on, remove the nut. On the left side pull back the plastic cover and you can see the wire and the lever that releases the seat. With my foot holding up the #1 release lever on the right side I used an open end wrench to push forward the left side lever and the seat folded down.
I then used the #2 and #3 levers to remove the seat.
To view the whole cable, open the lower seat cover, it is an overlapping plastic clip, My problem was a loose cable, similar to a brake cable on a bicycle, after fixing it I have had no problems."
To remove the nut I used an 8mm socket wrench. My problem was not a loose cable but the #1 mechanism wouldn't pull up all the way, I'm guessing because that left side locked in out of order. I pushed that left side lever down with a hard tool and had my 5yr old daughter pull up on the #1 and the seat folded right down.
Hope this helps if you havn't already gotten it fixed.

Apr 23, 2013 | 2000 Chevrolet Suburban

1 Answer

Jus t purchased a used 2003 yukon xl and trying to find out how to fold the 2nd row seat down cannot find a lever on the one side

The passenger side 2nd row release lever is at the lower right corner. On the driver side, there is no release lever, just a pull ******** the center of the seat, that sometimes falls between the seat.

Aug 26, 2011 | 2003 GMC Yukon XL

2 Answers

2004 3rd row rear seat won't fold down using lever

Cable is broken or stretched. pick up the bottom seat and see the cable end if broken or slack from being stretched pull that cable and then the back should fold down. Ibelieve you will need to remove seat to repair the cable. the bottom seat when lifted pulls on a cable that releases the backs lock to fold down

Jun 11, 2011 | 2004 Chevrolet Suburban

1 Answer

Our 2007 Yukon XL's third row seat is stuck in the fold position. We can lock it into place but cannot unfold the backrest portion. The lever does not seem stuck but it will not release the seat. ...

try to look under it for the cheap *** piece of wire or spring they use to connect the lock levers to the handle.

May 13, 2011 | 2007 GMC Yukon XL Denali

1 Answer

How do you let the back seat down

The third row seats have pull tabs inset into the top of the seat backs. The pull tabs are connected to wires that when pulled will release the catch that holds the seat in place.
The middle seats have the typical lever that on the outside bottom of the seat that you would use to adjust a seat manually in many cars.

Mar 08, 2011 | 2006 Chrysler Pacifica

1 Answer

Driver side second row seat will not fold down or adjust.

I had the same problem.The dealer wanted $400 to replace the latch. I didn't wnat to pay that much so I looked at it and found that the release strap was twisted and jammed in the mechanism. Here's how I fixed it.

I removed the screw from the lever and removed the lever. I pulled apart the plastic housing. It does not come apart all the way but enough to work on it. Pull the release strap that comes out of the back and pull it clear of the mechanism and straighten it out. slip the lever back on and the seat should fold. Fold it up all the way to make it easier to reassemble. Pull the lever back off and slip the release strap back into the slot and make sure it is not twisted or kinked. Snap the housing back together, put the lever back on, and screw it in. Test it and it should work fine. Hope this helps,

Aug 03, 2009 | 2005 Ford Freestyle

1 Answer

'07 Chevy Tahoe 3rd Row seat will not fold down

I have had this problem, and I am having it again. The problem is if a little trash gets under the bar in the floor, it will keep the mechanism from locking completely. I had tried everything. The only solution so far is the rock back and forth. Real pain. I am trying to find a secret release.

Apr 29, 2009 | 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe

2 Answers

I want to make my 1999 Mercury Villager Sport into a cargo loader, with just the front seats kept and the rest of the back empty. How do I remove the other 3 seats? So far, I can't get any of them to budge...

the middle seats come out easily. There are 2 handles you have to lift up on each of the bucket seats, they are in the front of the seat down by the seat tracks. After you lift them, tilt the seat upward in the front and rotate them backward. Then lift out of the hooks. Each seat is held down by 4 hoks.

The 3rd row seat is not designed to come out xcept by a technician. It does slide forward all the way up to the front seat. It has a sliding seat track.
First, lift the T handle under the seat cushion on the left front side of the seat. This will allow you to lift the seat bottom up all the way to lcok in the full up position.
Then, lift the lever on the same side of the seat and slide the seat forward. It will stop in 4 places.
Rear -Rear
6 inches forward of that.
another two ft to the second row seating position
full frward against the front seats.

Pleae rate as fixya if this helps.

Seat —Third Row Bench Removal
CAUTION: Removal of the third row bench seat requires more than one technician.

Remove the second row seats. For additional information, refer to Seat—Second Row .

Remove the floor mats.

Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.
1. Lift the handle to release the cushion.
1. Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.

Move the third row bench seat to the second row position.
- Lift the seat track release handle.

Remove the two bolt covers.

Remove the two seat track front bolts.

Remove the four seat track rear bolts.
1. Position the rear seat cushion floor cover aside.
1. Remove the four seat track rear bolts.

Remove the third row bench seat.

Mar 02, 2009 | 1997 Mercury Villager

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golferhunter · Answer 2 · 4/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

golferhunter

1 Answer

SOURCE: releasing the backrest of the 2nd row of seats

i have a 2003 tahoe and you have to pull the bottom up to a certain point and then the back of the seat will unlock and fold down. it took me forever to finally figure that out. good luck.

Posted on Apr 07, 2009

fordsteve · Answer 3 · 8/11/2009 12:00:00 AM

I had the same problem. The dealer wanted $400 to replace the latch. I didn't wnat to pay that much so I looked at it and found that the release strap was twisted and jammed in the mechanism. Here's how I fixed it.

I removed the screw from the lever and removed the lever. I pulled apart the plastic housing. It does not come apart all the way but enough to work on it. Pull the release strap that comes out of the back and pull it clear of the mechanism and straighten it out. slip the lever back on and the seat should fold. Fold it up all the way to make it easier to reassemble. Pull the lever back off and slip the release strap back into the slot and make sure it is not twisted or kinked. Snap the housing back together, put the lever back on, and screw it in. Test it and it should work fine. Hope this helps,

n733fk · Answer 4 · 9/7/2009 12:00:00 AM

I have had this problem, and I am having it again. The problem is if a little trash gets under the bar in the floor, it will keep the mechanism from locking completely. I had tried everything. The only solution so far is the rock back and forth. Real pain. I am trying to find a secret release.

doug_scott70 · Answer 5 · 12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM

doug_scott70

1 Answer

SOURCE: back seat (middle belt) belt stuck and unable to release.

Hi, We are having the same problem with our son's car. Were you able to come up with a solution?

Posted on Dec 13, 2009

Steve Newton · Answer 6 · 5/13/2011 12:00:00 AM

Steve Newton

1140 Answers

SOURCE: Our 2007 Yukon XL's third

try to look under it for the cheap *** piece of wire or spring they use to connect the lock levers to the handle.

Posted on May 13, 2011

Second row seats are locked in the down position and will not release when using typical levers. Is this a common problem?

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