E-Class Coupe (C207) & Cabrio (A207) 2010-: E250CDI Coupe, E350 Coupe, E350CDI Coupe, E500 Coupe, E550 Coupe [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Passenger seat won’t recline fully upright

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old May 17, 2020 | 04:36 AM
  #1  
Ian Short's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2011 E class coupe 125 blue efficiency amg sport
Passenger seat won’t recline fully upright

Hi all I’m sure this has been talked about before but my front passenger seat won’t go into the fully upright position I’ve tried the old go all the way down hold for 5 seconds then go there other way and hold for 5 more seconds that didn’t work, no obstructions, tried resetting memory of seat, removed battery, nothing seems to get it back fully upright like the drivers seat goes. So anyone had same issue and if the managed to sort it please let me in on the secret
Reply
Old May 17, 2020 | 08:55 AM
  #2  
Late's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 269
Likes: 4
From: New York
03 SL500(Sold), 09 C300, 11 E550
Maybe pull down your back seats and slam them back into place( gotta push back in pretty hard on the older cars for it to latch properly) if they don't latch all the way sometimes it will limit the front seat movement

Last edited by Late; May 17, 2020 at 08:57 AM. Reason: typo
Reply
Old May 17, 2020 | 10:37 AM
  #3  
konigstiger's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,633
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
May need to be re-synced using Xentry (MB diagnostics) possibly due to low battery condition.
Reply
Old May 17, 2020 | 02:35 PM
  #4  
Ian Short's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2011 E class coupe 125 blue efficiency amg sport
Originally Posted by konigstiger
May need to be re-synced using Xentry (MB diagnostics) possibly due to low battery condition.
Funnily enough I tested battery today and it was only at 40% but won’t it effect drivers seat as well.
Reply
Old May 18, 2020 | 04:07 AM
  #5  
0okm's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
C207 E350CDI
You will have to go for SD reset. I had the same issue with driver seat. I went for a SD diagnosis, they reset the memory and everything is perfect since then.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2024 | 11:09 AM
  #6  
mhatcha's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
E350 Cabriolet
Originally Posted by Ian Short
Hi all I’m sure this has been talked about before but my front passenger seat won’t go into the fully upright position I’ve tried the old go all the way down hold for 5 seconds then go there other way and hold for 5 more seconds that didn’t work, no obstructions, tried resetting memory of seat, removed battery, nothing seems to get it back fully upright like the drivers seat goes. So anyone had same issue and if the managed to sort it please let me in on the secret
Hi, have you been able to fix this issue?
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2024 | 06:07 PM
  #7  
erich_aux's Avatar
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 64
Likes: 5
2012 E350 Cab
Had the same problem. I also had to take it in to a shop so they could perform a reset. Was only a couple hundred dollars.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2024 | 03:37 AM
  #8  
shotgun_banjo's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 272
'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
You dont need to go to a shop to fix this. Just unplug the motor harness behind the seat then push the control forward for 10 seconds and that will fix the issue.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 14, 2024 | 12:39 PM
  #9  
Cbb129's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
2016 SL 550
Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
You dont need to go to a shop to fix this. Just unplug the motor harness behind the seat then push the control forward for 10 seconds and that will fix the issue.
Which harness, there's a few of them ?
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2024 | 10:17 AM
  #10  
shotgun_banjo's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 272
'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Originally Posted by Cbb129
Which harness, there's a few of them ?
The one that is going to the motor. The motor is the vertical cylinder on the side area of the back seat. There is only one wire going to it just unhook that one. Use two small flat screw drivers to do the job. One is pushing out the retaining tag and one is pushing up the pin. DO NOT PULL FROM THE WIRES.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2024 | 11:57 AM
  #11  
Cbb129's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
2016 SL 550
Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
The one that is going to the motor. The motor is the vertical cylinder on the side area of the back seat. There is only one wire going to it just unhook that one. Use two small flat screw drivers to do the job. One is pushing out the retaining tag and one is pushing up the pin. DO NOT PULL FROM THE WIRES.
Worked like a charm, seatback goes way forward and back now. Can't thank you enough !! No to figure out why the Aircap doesn't go up, any ideas ?
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2024 | 02:32 AM
  #12  
shotgun_banjo's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 272
'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Originally Posted by Cbb129
Worked like a charm, seatback goes way forward and back now. Can't thank you enough !! No to figure out why the Aircap doesn't go up, any ideas ?
Not sure what you mean about Aircap.....
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2024 | 06:32 AM
  #13  
Cbb129's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
2016 SL 550
Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
Not sure what you mean about Aircap.....
I have an E350 convertible, and the Aircap is a wind deflector at the top of the windshield that you can raise up and down to keep wind turbulence down at speed. Mine doesn't do anything when I press the button.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2024 | 09:19 AM
  #14  
WRC-LVR's Avatar
Super Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 532
Likes: 182
From: Atlanta GA
2012 E350 Cabriolet now SOLD to my son
RE Aircap Check the fuses, but the control module is what usually goes on these A207. There is a thread on here somewhere that someone posted some of the details for replacing it. But it does mean the Aircap and top of the windshield area has to be disassembled. Module is $$$$ from MB and may not be available any more. You would have to check, IIRC that poster found a used module off Ebay or some other place.
Good luck with it and post up if you decide to replace. Pics and better write up would be nice.
Also it might be wporth looking into getting the module tested and repaired, if possible.

Last edited by WRC-LVR; Jul 17, 2024 at 09:21 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2024 | 01:27 PM
  #15  
snake320's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2003 E320
Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
You dont need to go to a shop to fix this. Just unplug the motor harness behind the seat then push the control forward for 10 seconds and that will fix the issue.
I am dealing with a similar problem with my 2003 E320 passenger seat (pic attached)It can move forward and backward, but not up! I’m feeling a little anxious because fixing this might cost me a lot, especially since accessing the motors is harder than before. Bought it a last week :/

The seat is tilted all the way back, and I hear a click when I try to lower it further. Now why did i try to lower it more knowing it can’t go up, you might ask? Well, I read a post on an MB forum where someone suggested the seat would come back up if I tilted it all the way back first. I did exactly that, and now here I am.

Help me out brothers!


Last edited by snake320; Sep 14, 2024 at 01:44 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2024 | 10:56 PM
  #16  
shotgun_banjo's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 272
'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Originally Posted by snake320
I am dealing with a similar problem with my 2003 E320 passenger seat (pic attached)It can move forward and backward, but not up! I’m feeling a little anxious because fixing this might cost me a lot, especially since accessing the motors is harder than before. Bought it a last week :/

The seat is tilted all the way back, and I hear a click when I try to lower it further. Now why did i try to lower it more knowing it can’t go up, you might ask? Well, I read a post on an MB forum where someone suggested the seat would come back up if I tilted it all the way back first. I did exactly that, and now here I am.

Help me out brothers!

That will be a pita to access the bolt below the seat. I think you need to remove the seat to get this fixed so try figuring out a way to remove the bolts first below the seat before even thinking of fixing the recline. Did you not test the seat controls first before buying the vehicle?
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2024 | 01:14 PM
  #17  
snake320's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2003 E320
Thanks for the reply! I found another seat on ebay for the exact same model. Even with the seat being in this position I was able to loosen the bolts and replace the seat. To answer your question; I did know about it before buying the car.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2024 | 10:00 AM
  #18  
Snarla's Avatar
Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 146
Likes: 35
Mercedes e350 coupe
Noted by me how gracefully the dash meets the door panel on the 2003 e320 pictured above. Especially the marriage of the wood. Better designed that my 2013 e350.

um hmm.

Reply
Old Oct 10, 2024 | 01:54 AM
  #19  
Nbxjskamg's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 111
Likes: 33
E63amg
Originally Posted by Cbb129
Worked like a charm, seatback goes way forward and back now. Can't thank you enough !! No to figure out why the Aircap doesn't go up, any ideas ?
post pics please which harness you removed.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2024 | 09:52 AM
  #20  
znd's Avatar
znd
Junior Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 4
R171; C207
Originally Posted by shotgun_banjo
The one that is going to the motor. The motor is the vertical cylinder on the side area of the back seat. There is only one wire going to it just unhook that one. Use two small flat screw drivers to do the job. One is pushing out the retaining tag and one is pushing up the pin. DO NOT PULL FROM THE WIRES.
Can you please share a bit more detail? When you say "back seat", do you mean "back side of the front seat" as I thought the thread was about a front seat of a coupe? Sorry if I'm reading it wrong. And will the same procedure work for the driver's seat too? I'm just not seeing vertical cylinders under the front seats of my 2011 C207, only one horizontal per seat.
Thanks!
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2024 | 12:04 AM
  #21  
RosSauce's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 68
Likes: 22
From: Orange County, CA
2012 C207 E550 RWD
Originally Posted by znd
Can you please share a bit more detail? When you say "back seat", do you mean "back side of the front seat" as I thought the thread was about a front seat of a coupe? Sorry if I'm reading it wrong. And will the same procedure work for the driver's seat too? I'm just not seeing vertical cylinders under the front seats of my 2011 C207, only one horizontal per seat.
Thanks!
This took me a little bit to figure out but he meant take off the plastic cover on the back of the front seat (few screws on the bottom and then I think you lift and pull off) and there's I think a black plug on the left side near a cylinder looking thing (I did this on my front right passenger seat) which I unplugged and followed the procedure detailed by shotgun_banjo and it actually worked.
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2024 | 09:09 AM
  #22  
znd's Avatar
znd
Junior Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 4
R171; C207
Originally Posted by RosSauce
This took me a little bit to figure out but he meant take off the plastic cover on the back of the front seat (few screws on the bottom and then I think you lift and pull off) and there's I think a black plug on the left side near a cylinder looking thing (I did this on my front right passenger seat) which I unplugged and followed the procedure detailed by shotgun_banjo and it actually worked.
Thanks a lot, it's both clear and working

I made some pics for those like me who aren't good at reading
1. Unscrew 2 torxes at the bottom of the back of the seat

2. This is what my driver's seat looks like (passenger's has two motors to the left), you need the lower motor, not the higher one:

3. Remove the plastic insert first, then bend the retainer outwards a bit and then push the pin up

4. Wait for some time and, without putting the pin back on (I somehow tried differently a couple of times), press and hold the seat recline button in the forward direction. You'll hear the relay click.
5. Put the pin back on and check that the seat can now be upright again

Many thanks shotgun_banjo and RosSauce!
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2024 | 09:25 PM
  #23  
Snowhite63's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
2009 C63 AMG
Just did this on my 09 C63, passenger seat would not return fully after my kid reclined it. I unpluged every conn. under the seat just to make sure and after that raised the seat fully foward and with full height, reclined the seat all the way back holding the button 20sec then held it foward. It returned to normal upright position after that.
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2025 | 09:46 PM
  #24  
ThatKiwiNutter's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: Wellington, New Zealand
C6 Audi A6 Avant, W204 C200 Kompressor, B6 VW CC
Originally Posted by znd
Thanks a lot, it's both clear and working

I made some pics for those like me who aren't good at reading
1. Unscrew 2 torxes at the bottom of the back of the seat

2. This is what my driver's seat looks like (passenger's has two motors to the left), you need the lower motor, not the higher one:

3. Remove the plastic insert first, then bend the retainer outwards a bit and then push the pin up

4. Wait for some time and, without putting the pin back on (I somehow tried differently a couple of times), press and hold the seat recline button in the forward direction. You'll hear the relay click.
5. Put the pin back on and check that the seat can now be upright again

Many thanks shotgun_banjo and RosSauce!
Just to add my experience with this for anyone else having the issue. I had the same problem where my driver seat backrest was slightly too far back and I couldn't bring it forward enough. Everything was easy as, but taking the plug out I found really hard. I couldn't for the life of me get the grey plug out or get either of the retainer tabs either side unclipped. I ended up just sliding a flat head underneath the clip to push the whole thing up without "unlocking it". This seemed to work fine as it came straight off with no breakages.

And if you have a coupe, ensure you push the seat back upright before trying to use the seat controls while it's unplugged. If you don't, it won't actually try as the seat isn't locked. Then you can unlock it again and plug it back in. It should work again.
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2025 | 09:11 AM
  #25  
erich_aux's Avatar
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 64
Likes: 5
2012 E350 Cab
Oh, man! Wish I had seen this a week ago.
You can see above, I posted in this thread 1 1/2 years ago about my passenger seat. Now, it’s in the shape for a couple of things including the driver seat.
All fixed now, but I could have saved myself a couple of hundred dollars! 🙂
Reply


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:52 PM.

story-0
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-4
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE