Sponsored

No more flip forward driver's seat

yokramer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Threads
21
Messages
30,979
Reaction score
157,399
Location
Colorado
Vehicle(s)
'23 JLR, '26 Suzuki GSX8TT, '88 10th Anny RX7
Occupation
Snark Incarnate
Jeep dropped the molle panel for the '24s I believe, maybe a bit earlier.
My 23 does not have them. I think it started in 22 randomly.
Sponsored

 

The Last Cowboy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Jul 2, 2020
Threads
35
Messages
7,480
Reaction score
14,774
Location
San Antonio, TX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JL Willys 2 door
Occupation
Straight shooter with a crooked grin
The reason some people break the seat folding/sliding seat mechanism is that they use the handle that releases the seat to pull the seat too.

And not having that function on the driver side would be a huge inconvenience for me. I would hate that if I was buying a new '26.
 

jhalla920

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Feb 16, 2025
Threads
5
Messages
59
Reaction score
84
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
2025 2 door sport
This is really dumb. Lots of us use this feature to let kids in, access stuff behind the seat or on the floor, etc. I love my 2 door and would not buy a Jeep with more doors, but it can get tight on long trips or when you have lots of gear. Accessing both sides behind the seat is a must in my opinion and this is a really stupid move by Jeep. Not surprised at all though.
 

Sponsored

AFD

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Threads
15
Messages
3,824
Reaction score
7,353
Location
Northeastern US
Vehicle(s)
2023 JL Rubicon (2DR/V6)
The reason some people break the seat folding/sliding seat mechanism is that they use the handle that releases the seat to pull the seat too.
This is absolutely true, but really something that shouldn't matter and be a point of failure.

Maybe it's just growing up in the 70s and 80s, but my first instinct is just to grab the latch and continue using that latch release to pull the seat down and yank that mf'er forward, like every other 2-door vehicle built in the last 50 years that could do this simple task without breaking.

Carefully pulling the latch, then moving your hand down to fold the seat, then a little lower to push the seat forward is not intuitive and is just a symptom of poor engineering and cheap materials. Something you really wouldn't expect in a $40k+ vehicle, let alone a cheap 2-door shitbox.
 

Scott97

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Threads
2
Messages
198
Reaction score
242
Location
Maine
Vehicle(s)
2024 Willys 2 Door Anvil MT, 2022 Ram Rebel
Occupation
Mech. Engineer, Semi-Retired
Every cubic inch of space in a 2 door is important. Access to that space is important. Eliminating the fold forward & slide function on the drivers side sucks, even if the latch design is weak. I use that floor space behind the drivers seat and am glad I have access to it on my 2024. Tumble the rear seat forward on a 2026 and that volume behind the drivers seat might as well be on the dark side of the moon. Ya, I got a little PF playing in the background this morning....
 
OP
OP

ShafferNY

Active Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
May 4, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
28
Reaction score
30
Location
Ticonderoga, NY
Vehicle(s)
Current Jeeps - 2019 JLR, Hella Yella, 2026 JLR Reign
These pictures are with the seat slid as far forward as possible and the recline feature as far forward also. Notice the lack of a latch release on the seat shoulder.


 

SadRobot

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2019
Threads
145
Messages
7,516
Reaction score
20,114
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicle(s)
2025 Prius LE
The reason some people break the seat folding/sliding seat mechanism is that they use the handle that releases the seat to pull the seat too.

And not having that function on the driver side would be a huge inconvenience for me. I would hate that if I was buying a new '26.
My driver side lever was broken by the dealer when it was in for the first clutch recall years ago. I had to bring it back and have them fix it.

The passenger side mechanism is just as janky. For some reason it's the first thing people go for when they get into the Jeep and want to move the seat forward or back. They always pull too hard like they are trying to intentionally snap it off.

Sounds like instead of improving this Jeep just got rid of it. I guess that's one way to "solve" a problem. :mad:
 

Sponsored

The Fixer

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Aug 7, 2019
Threads
37
Messages
1,544
Reaction score
1,945
Location
North Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2018 Mojito! JLS, 2018 Firecracker JLUSS
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
Teacher
If the seat harness and airbag connectors are still the same, I assume you could just swap it out for an earlier seat if you really need access.

I would trade mine if someone wanted it, my kids are grown and even when they rode with me they would just climb in on the passenger side since it was much easier.
 

The Last Cowboy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Jul 2, 2020
Threads
35
Messages
7,480
Reaction score
14,774
Location
San Antonio, TX
Vehicle(s)
2020 JL Willys 2 door
Occupation
Straight shooter with a crooked grin
These pictures are with the seat slid as far forward as possible and the recline feature as far forward also. Notice the lack of a latch release on the seat shoulder.


I’m curious if yours might be a swap. Maybe a manager at the dealer now has the, reportedly, more comfortable 2 door front seat in his 4 door, that was once in yours.

Or, more likely, Jeep got cheap.
 
OP
OP

ShafferNY

Active Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
May 4, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
28
Reaction score
30
Location
Ticonderoga, NY
Vehicle(s)
Current Jeeps - 2019 JLR, Hella Yella, 2026 JLR Reign
My wife also has a 2026 Wrangler. We bought them with weeks off each other. Her seat is the same.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AFD

GinaC

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gina
Joined
Jul 18, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
1,223
Reaction score
2,177
Location
Newport, VT
Vehicle(s)
2026 Willys 2.0T 2DR Hard Top in Mojito built for me!
My seat is also the same.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AFD

AmericanPatriot100

Well-Known Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Apr 14, 2025
Threads
45
Messages
1,558
Reaction score
2,294
Location
Kitsap Co
Vehicle(s)
2025 Wrangler Sport JL
I have a silly question. So that’s the handle for reclining the seat. The. You have the knob for lumbar support. Is the lever behind that knob or is that just the height adjustment? And does your passenger seat have the thing to fold the seat forward? I was looking at some 2026 wrangler videos and they look like they have the lever on the shoulder like the 2025s.
Sponsored

 
 







Top