I can't get the driver side rear seat in my 2009 dodge dakota to fold down. It has worked fine for a year but it seems to be locked up. I can't find a release latch etc. I note another user had the same problem but the answer isn't published.

no year car told. the now lost free users guide is by year.
made 1994 to present (even 1989 as legacy outback)
no country told at all
sorry cars not the same world wide.

open glove box, read the users guide? oops locked too>?
most cars sold in USA , called wagons
opening the rear gate hatch by accident driving
kids fall the ground, or cargo hits cars behind you. (so is illegall that feature)
and is never called a truck ever, in a wagon
only on sedans. a hatch or 5th door it is named.
In Europe then even call them 5 door cars.
so I am confused.
so all keys lost to the car. and can not drive it
nor open any side doors
and rear hatch is locked and valuables in cargo area to fetch, right?
I say call a locksmith
and pick the lock.
the door lock(mechanism) in the hatch internal, is accessed from the inside of the hatch open.so no why to attack it that way.

call a locksmith,

I DON'T KNOW. CONSIDER LOOKING AT METAL CONNECTORS ON FOLDED SEAT THEN USE WD40 SPRAY OR SIMILAR ON METAL FRAME PARTS UNDER SEAT THAT WON'T FOLD DOWN.

they probably are because it sounds as if the spring is broke that is what helps it retract if it is broke this will cause it to not spring back like it should

Remove headrest, there is a small button on the base of the headrest mount you need to push in. Next pull up the strap at the front of the seat cushion bottom, then flip forward. Press in the flipper on the top of the seat back and pull forward.

check the side or bottom of the seat, there should be a leaver or a tap to pull on to release the lock latch

You have to REMOVE the BACK SEAT to gain access

YOU may be better off calling a Lock Smith.

go to www.reliable-store.com
you will get all info and solutions there definitely

I just replaced my rear struts on my 2009 Camry Hybrid. This was the second time in my life I ever did this kind of work. The trick is to get access to the top of the strut. You have to fold down the back seat cushions. In my hybrid there are two pull levers in the trunk that release the seats. The levers are at the top of the trunk.

Once you fold down the seats, there will be two side cushions on the side of the seats that did not fold down. At the bottom of that side cushion, between the side cushion and the bottom seat is a bolt holding the side cushion on. It is way in the back so you will need an extension with a 12mm socket to get to the bolt. Dont be afraid to dig you had into the space to find the bolt. Once you unscrew the bolt, you can lift up on the side cushion and it will come out (lift upward). You now have a clear (and easy) access to the top of the strut.

there should be a little lock/unlock switch by the trunk latch...and one of your seats should fold down so you might have to crawl through there and unlock it