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2-door seat release handles - don't yank 'em too hard

OldGuyNewJeep

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Reposting from 2-door thread (247412, 249190)...

There are handles on top of the front seats (next to the headrests) that rear passengers use to flip 'n roll the seats forward for entry/exit.

Anyway, my daughter yanked the passenger side one way too hard, thinking she was meant to pull the seat forward by the handle. It was literally her 1st attempt at using it, and she didn't know that you just need to pull it until the latch lets go, and then after that push on the back of the seat to flip 'n roll. The handle pulls a release cable, and there is a spring mechanism that returns the handle to the closed/flush position. That spring mechansim popped out of the plastic channel holding it in place so that the handle was floppy and not wanting to lay flat (it still worked for releasing the seat).

I eventually got it back how it's supposed to be, but it was a bitch. No room and the spring is sharp.

So, watch your passengers and help them if they don't understand how to climb in. 2-door vehicles are so rare nowadays, I wouldn't expect without some gray hair to know what to do. (I also tried climbing in the back via the driver's side just to see what it's like. Ha! Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that it's my Jeep and I'll never have to do that, again!)

UPDATE:

Argh. The spring keeps popping out of the channel. It's ever so slightly bent, which may or may not be the cause. I say may or may not because the whole spring has some side-to-side play that is contributing.

I have zero faith that a dealership tech would do anything else but pop the thing back in the channel, pull the handle a couple of times, and call it a day. That's what I did the first two times...

So, I decided to close-off the channel to prevent the spring from escaping. I put a tiny dab of Marine-Tex over the channel to, hopefully, prevent the thing from popping back out. If it breaks through, I think I'll give up and live with a floppy handle. Frustrating, but I'm being careful to only vent to you guys because my daughter felt awful when she did it (literally 2 minutes after I arrived home from the dealership).

IMG_0146.jpg
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jlopes68

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Reposting from 2-door thread (247412, 249190)...

There are handles on top of the front seats (next to the headrests) that rear passengers use to flip 'n roll the seats forward for entry/exit.

Anyway, my daughter yanked the passenger side one way too hard, thinking she was meant to pull the seat forward by the handle. It was literally her 1st attempt at using it, and she didn't know that you just need to pull it until the latch lets go, and then after that push on the back of the seat to flip 'n roll. The handle pulls a release cable, and there is a spring mechanism that returns the handle to the closed/flush position. That spring mechansim popped out of the plastic channel holding it in place so that the handle was floppy and not wanting to lay flat (it still worked for releasing the seat).

I eventually got it back how it's supposed to be, but it was a bitch. No room and the spring is sharp.

So, watch your passengers and help them if they don't understand how to climb in. 2-door vehicles are so rare nowadays, I wouldn't expect without some gray hair to know what to do. (I also tried climbing in the back via the driver's side just to see what it's like. Ha! Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that it's my Jeep and I'll never have to do that, again!)

UPDATE:

Argh. The spring keeps popping out of the channel. It's ever so slightly bent, which may or may not be the cause. I say may or may not because the whole spring has some side-to-side play that is contributing.

I have zero faith that a dealership tech would do anything else but pop the thing back in the channel, pull the handle a couple of times, and call it a day. That's what I did the first two times...

So, I decided to close-off the channel to prevent the spring from escaping. I put a tiny dab of Marine-Tex over the channel to, hopefully, prevent the thing from popping back out. If it breaks through, I think I'll give up and live with a floppy handle. Frustrating, but I'm being careful to only vent to you guys because my daughter felt awful when she did it (literally 2 minutes after I arrived home from the dealership).

IMG_0146.jpg
excellent tip. it happened to me too.
 

tas2018rubi

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Reposting from 2-door thread (247412, 249190)...

There are handles on top of the front seats (next to the headrests) that rear passengers use to flip 'n roll the seats forward for entry/exit.

Anyway, my daughter yanked the passenger side one way too hard, thinking she was meant to pull the seat forward by the handle. It was literally her 1st attempt at using it, and she didn't know that you just need to pull it until the latch lets go, and then after that push on the back of the seat to flip 'n roll. The handle pulls a release cable, and there is a spring mechanism that returns the handle to the closed/flush position. That spring mechansim popped out of the plastic channel holding it in place so that the handle was floppy and not wanting to lay flat (it still worked for releasing the seat).

I eventually got it back how it's supposed to be, but it was a bitch. No room and the spring is sharp.

So, watch your passengers and help them if they don't understand how to climb in. 2-door vehicles are so rare nowadays, I wouldn't expect without some gray hair to know what to do. (I also tried climbing in the back via the driver's side just to see what it's like. Ha! Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that it's my Jeep and I'll never have to do that, again!)

UPDATE:

Argh. The spring keeps popping out of the channel. It's ever so slightly bent, which may or may not be the cause. I say may or may not because the whole spring has some side-to-side play that is contributing.

I have zero faith that a dealership tech would do anything else but pop the thing back in the channel, pull the handle a couple of times, and call it a day. That's what I did the first two times...

So, I decided to close-off the channel to prevent the spring from escaping. I put a tiny dab of Marine-Tex over the channel to, hopefully, prevent the thing from popping back out. If it breaks through, I think I'll give up and live with a floppy handle. Frustrating, but I'm being careful to only vent to you guys because my daughter felt awful when she did it (literally 2 minutes after I arrived home from the dealership).

IMG_0146.jpg
Mine just broke as well (200 miles). I did it and I did not pull up hard on it. To the dealer I go. I am certain this is going to be an issue for a'lot of folks.. looks like a poor design to me..
 
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OldGuyNewJeep

OldGuyNewJeep

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Mine just broke as well (200 miles). I did it and I did not pull up hard on it. To the dealer I go. I am certain this is going to be an issue for a'lot of folks.. looks like a poor design to me..
Agreed. My ā€œfixā€ is holding up great, though. If your dealer does nothing more than pop the spring back in, which is what I suspect theyā€™re going to do, consider a do-it-yourself fix.
 

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metallicpea

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Well, about 2k miles and I have had my first issue with my 2019 JLR.

We have loved this new Wrangler so far. We had a 2006 TJ for about 10 years before we ordered this new one.

The seat release latch on the back of the passenger side front seat broke. It looks like it broke where the two screws attach it to the seat frame.

This handle was very flimsy from day one. Either it was partially broke since the Jeep was built or under designed for the force required to release it.

Has anyone else had any issue with this handle breaking? I am wondering if they have redesigned it to be more durable. It is a pretty thin plastic handle with not much in the way of reinforcing ribs. Can't imagine these are going to last very long on 2 doors that actually have rear seat passengers on any regular basis.
 
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OldGuyNewJeep

OldGuyNewJeep

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Well, about 2k miles and I have had my first issue with my 2019 JLR.

We have loved this new Wrangler so far. We had a 2006 TJ for about 10 years before we ordered this new one.

The seat release latch on the back of the passenger side front seat broke. It looks like it broke where the two screws attach it to the seat frame.

This handle was very flimsy from day one. Either it was partially broke since the Jeep was built or under designed for the force required to release it.

Has anyone else had any issue with this handle breaking? I am wondering if they have redesigned it to be more durable. It is a pretty thin plastic handle with not much in the way of reinforcing ribs. Can't imagine these are going to last very long on 2 doors that actually have rear seat passengers on any regular basis.
Youā€™re well within warranty, so just have the dealer replace it. FWIW, the solution I posted above is going strong more than a year later. My seats get flipped a lot, like almost every day. I think you just got a defective handle.
 

Uhdinator

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Yep.........also noticed those levers are very cheesy. You must be very careful/gentle with it........very flimsy.
 

four low

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There is a TSB for the loose seat handle, it involves bending the end of the spring to stay seated in the groove,
TSB 23-008-19 . This looks like a DIY, if you are so inclined. Free at the dealer, it's listed in this Forum, under TSBs and Recalls
 

jlopes68

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best way to fix that lever is to remove the back seat, have not had an issue since. lol
 

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OldGuyNewJeep

OldGuyNewJeep

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There is a TSB for the loose seat handle, it involves bending the end of the spring to stay seated in the groove,
TSB 23-008-19 . This looks like a DIY, if you are so inclined. Free at the dealer, it's listed in this Forum, under TSBs and Recalls
That TSB is a joke. Bending will not fix it. To fix, you have to block the channel. My Marine-Tex hack works great. Thereā€™s another thread where a guy use a modified electrical lug (wrong terminology?) to accomplish the same. Anyway, youā€™re 100% right that itā€™s a DIY fix. (Unless the plastic handle actually broke like the guy above.)
 
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JeepCares

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Well, about 2k miles and I have had my first issue with my 2019 JLR.

We have loved this new Wrangler so far. We had a 2006 TJ for about 10 years before we ordered this new one.

The seat release latch on the back of the passenger side front seat broke. It looks like it broke where the two screws attach it to the seat frame.

This handle was very flimsy from day one. Either it was partially broke since the Jeep was built or under designed for the force required to release it.

Has anyone else had any issue with this handle breaking? I am wondering if they have redesigned it to be more durable. It is a pretty thin plastic handle with not much in the way of reinforcing ribs. Can't imagine these are going to last very long on 2 doors that actually have rear seat passengers on any regular basis.
Hi Eric,
If you decide to work with your dealer to address this, feel free to loop us in. We'd be happy to connect you with a Case Specialist to assist. Our team is available via private message.
Alex
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Jeepinjack66

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Mine broke a month ago.. 2 door. The part is backordered. Hmm wonder why. Junk.
 

metallicpea

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My spring is still in place. The whole handle assembly is just not attached to the seat frame any longer. I am dropping it off at the dealer tonight to have them look at it. I will report back.
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