Power Failure (Broken Power Seat)
July 7, 2024
Know anyone who doesn't love a power seat in an SUV, a car, truck or van? They're convenient and precise in their adjustments. But when they break, oh, what a pain. Not only is it inconvenient, it may leave your seat position too close to the steering wheel or too far from the pedals. This is a must-fix problem.
There are many things that cause a power seat to fail:
- Seat controls. These are either at the side of the seat or in the door. Both are places that can be exposed to moisture or other contaminants. When the controls stop working, they usually need to be replaced.
- Seat motor. Electric motors are what make a power seat move, and sometimes they fail. Sometimes they just get worked to death and die of old age. Replacement is the most common remedy.
- Fuses. A power seat is, after all, powered by electricity and all vehicle power systems have fuses to protect them. A technician can determine which fuse may have blown and replace it. But it's also important to figure out what caused the fuse to blow and deal with that, too.
- Wires. There are wires under the seats that move when you move the seat. Sometimes they get stretched, kinked or ripped. In a power seat malfunction, it may be a wiring harness that needs to be replaced.
- Gears. They help the seat move and may need to be realigned or replaced.
- Obstructions. Yes, a piece of trash or a kid's toy has been known to jam up the works of a power seat. Taking them out of the mechanism may get your seat working again.
Most people pay extra to have power seats in a vehicle. So make sure you keep that convenient feature working. And don't forget that it's a safety issue, too.
South Side Garage
9117 S WALKER AVE
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma 73139
405-308-1514
http://www.thesouthsidegarage.com
More articles from Southside Garage

What's in a Number? (What Tire Numbers Mean)
February 22, 2026
You've probably never paid much attention to the writing on the sides of your tires, but they contain a wealth of information. There's a long combination of letters and numbers that can tell you a whole lot about what tires your vehicle was designed to be riding on. Let's check out this example... More

Rubber Match (Tire Replacement)
February 15, 2026
A set of new tires isn't probably high on anyone's list of exciting purchases. But since your life is literally riding on them, it's probably a good idea to know when it's time for you to buy new ones. If you've been feeling your vehicle slipping more in wet weather or it takes a longer distance... More

Lean Times (Shocks and Springs)
February 8, 2026
You may have noticed your vehicle going through lean times. By that, we mean it's literally leaning to one side. When you notice that, you should get it checked out at your service facility soon because you could have a serious problem. Many things can cause a vehicle to lean. You may have pro... More
