2nd row seat won't fold
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 554
Likes: 63
From: Virginia
2019 E450 Cabriolet, 2020 GLS450
2nd row seat won't fold
Have a 2020 GLS with the executive second row.... We're getting an error when we try to fold the driver's side (the part that includes the small armrest portion)... "“Cannot fold 2nd Seat Row. See Operators manual”.
Of course the operator's manual doesn't tell you anything. It only happens on the driver's side, the passenger's side works fine. The regular seat adjustments work just fine, just the fold forward portion on driver's side won't work.
Anyone had this happen? It's not like it just doesn't move, a popup appears on the dash saying it can't fold and to check the manual."
Of course the operator's manual doesn't tell you anything. It only happens on the driver's side, the passenger's side works fine. The regular seat adjustments work just fine, just the fold forward portion on driver's side won't work.
Anyone had this happen? It's not like it just doesn't move, a popup appears on the dash saying it can't fold and to check the manual."
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 516
Likes: 175
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Have a 2020 GLS with the executive second row.... We're getting an error when we try to fold the driver's side (the part that includes the small armrest portion)... "“Cannot fold 2nd Seat Row. See Operators manual”.
Of course the operator's manual doesn't tell you anything. It only happens on the driver's side, the passenger's side works fine. The regular seat adjustments work just fine, just the fold forward portion on driver's side won't work.
Anyone had this happen? It's not like it just doesn't move, a popup appears on the dash saying it can't fold and to check the manual."
Of course the operator's manual doesn't tell you anything. It only happens on the driver's side, the passenger's side works fine. The regular seat adjustments work just fine, just the fold forward portion on driver's side won't work.
Anyone had this happen? It's not like it just doesn't move, a popup appears on the dash saying it can't fold and to check the manual."
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
2021 GLS 580
Had the same problem just a month after my 2021 GLS 580 CPO with exec plus rear seating package. Twice over to a dealership and the issue would stop happening in service. Anyways the 2nd time over the tech team decided to dig in more and found out
1. The center console needs to be tightly locked in with the seat to make sure that it gets activated to move ahead
2. They found that the center console assembly was using an older part and replaced it
3. They normalized the seats.
I would ask, if you are in warranty to the service center to renormalize the seats and check if the center console is using an older part.
Hope it helps. It has been working reliably for last week for now. Will post more if anything changes.
1. The center console needs to be tightly locked in with the seat to make sure that it gets activated to move ahead
2. They found that the center console assembly was using an older part and replaced it
3. They normalized the seats.
I would ask, if you are in warranty to the service center to renormalize the seats and check if the center console is using an older part.
Hope it helps. It has been working reliably for last week for now. Will post more if anything changes.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
2021 GLS 580
Adding some more findings if it helps other people.
Figured out another problem - this time with the rear center storage box. This is not on the armrest, this is the one on the center console.
If the storage box on the center console is open, the rear seats will not fold, this is the one with the center seat attached as part of the 7 seat configuration.
I had an issue with my rear center console storage box where it wouldn't close properly which resulted in 2nd row seats giving me that same error message.
Fixed the storage box and haven't seen that error since.
Figured out another problem - this time with the rear center storage box. This is not on the armrest, this is the one on the center console.
If the storage box on the center console is open, the rear seats will not fold, this is the one with the center seat attached as part of the 7 seat configuration.
I had an issue with my rear center console storage box where it wouldn't close properly which resulted in 2nd row seats giving me that same error message.
Fixed the storage box and haven't seen that error since.
