Power Seat Motor

Remove and replace a faulty power seat motor on the driver or passenger seat. This procedure covers accessing the seat frame, disconnecting wiring, and installing a new motor.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power seat motor (specify which function: fore/aft, height, recline, or lumbar) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Wiring harness connector (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 2 minutes
3. Move seat to full forward position for easier access to rear mounting bolts
4. Lower seat to lowest position if replacing height motor
5. Gather all tools and replacement parts

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove seat track cover trim
   Use trim panel removal tools or a flat blade screwdriver wrapped in cloth to carefully pry up the plastic covers on both sides of the seat track. These covers snap into place and may have accumulated debris. Set covers aside in a clean area.
2. 2

   Disconnect seat wiring harness
   Locate the main wiring harness connector under the seat, typically on the inboard side near the front. Press the locking tab and pull connector apart. If equipped with heated seats or additional features, there may be multiple connectors - photograph and label each before disconnecting.
3. 3

   Remove seat mounting bolts
   Locate the four seat track mounting bolts (two front, two rear) that secure the seat assembly to the floor. Use the correct socket to remove all four bolts. Support the seat assembly as you remove the final bolts. Verify the exact fastener size before beginning; these are commonly 15mm hex-head bolts on this platform.
   ⚠Seat assembly weighs approximately 60-80 lbs - use proper lifting technique or have assistance available
4. 4

   Remove seat from vehicle
   With all mounting bolts removed and wiring disconnected, carefully lift and tilt the seat assembly to remove it from the vehicle. Maneuver through the door opening - you may need to recline the seatback. Place seat on a clean, padded work surface with the bottom facing up.
5. 5

   Access power seat motor
   With seat inverted on work surface, locate the defective power seat motor. The seat typically has separate motors for fore/aft movement, height adjustment (front and rear), recline, and possibly lumbar support. Identify the specific motor requiring replacement by tracing the drive cables or gears to the non-functioning adjustment.
6. 6

   Disconnect motor wiring and drive cables
   Disconnect the electrical connector from the defective motor by pressing the locking tab. Note the orientation of the motor for installation. If the motor drives a cable system, release the cable from the motor output gear by removing the retaining clip or rotating the cable housing to unlock it. For gear-driven systems, note the gear mesh position.
7. 7

   Remove motor mounting fasteners
   Remove the motor mounting bolts or screws securing the motor to the seat frame. Note the count and fastener type as you remove them, as these vary by seat type and motor function. Support the motor as you remove the last fastener to prevent it from dropping and damaging other components.
8. 8

   Remove defective motor
   Carefully extract the motor from its mounting location. If the motor is stuck, check for additional retaining clips or fasteners. Inspect the mounting area for debris, corrosion, or damage to the seat frame. Clean the mounting surface with a wire brush if needed.
9. 9

   Install new power seat motor
   Position the new motor in the mounting location, ensuring it matches the orientation of the original motor. Align the output gear or cable drive with the seat mechanism. Verify the motor sits flush against the mounting surface before installing fasteners.
10. 10

    Secure motor and connect drive mechanism
    Install and hand-tighten all motor mounting fasteners, then tighten in a cross pattern to ensure even seating. Reconnect the drive cable by inserting it into the motor output and securing the retaining clip, or mesh the drive gears ensuring proper alignment. Verify the mechanism moves freely without binding.
11. 11

    Reconnect motor electrical connector
    Connect the electrical connector to the new motor, ensuring it clicks into place and is fully seated. Verify the connector lock is engaged. Clean any corrosion from connector terminals if present.
12. 12

    Reinstall seat assembly in vehicle
    Carefully lift the seat assembly and maneuver it back into the vehicle through the door opening. Position the seat tracks over the four mounting holes in the floor. Start all four mounting bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement before tightening any bolts.
13. 13

    Tighten seat mounting bolts
    Tighten all four seat mounting bolts in a cross pattern (front left, rear right, front right, rear left) to ensure even seating of the seat tracks. Torque to factory specification (commonly around 40 ft-lbs on this platform); confirm the exact value in the service manual before final tightening. Verify seat is secure with no movement.
14. 14

    Reconnect seat wiring harness
    Connect all wiring harness connectors under the seat, ensuring each clicks into place and locks properly. Route wiring away from moving components and pinch points. Verify no wires are trapped or kinked.
15. 15

    Reinstall trim covers and test operation
    Snap the seat track trim covers back into place on both sides. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Test all power seat functions to verify proper operation of the new motor and all other seat adjustments (power seats are typically powered directly and do not require the ignition to be on).

Reassembly

1. Ensure all wiring is properly routed and secured away from moving seat components
2. Verify all four seat mounting bolts are properly torqued and seat is firmly secured to floor
3. Confirm all trim covers are properly seated and secure
4. Test all seat adjustment functions multiple times to ensure reliable operation

Verification

• With ignition ON, operate the repaired seat function through full range of motion multiple times
• Verify seat moves smoothly without binding, unusual noise, or hesitation
• Test all other power seat functions to ensure no wiring was damaged during repair
• Check that seat is firmly mounted with no movement or play at mounting points
• Verify all trim panels are secure and properly installed

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle