Annoying Front Seat "Play"

[2Gen3Gen]

The 04 2500 4x4 I had last year did it after about 5k miles. i kept taking it in and no one could feel it except me. It was driving me crazy. By the time I hit 12k, I knew I wanted a 04. 5 3500 so I just forgot about it. Funny thing was that the dealer that couldnt find the problem, now owned it on their used truck lot! :-laf . I wonder if the guy that bought it ever felt it? Are any of you out there with the problem in a Patriot blue Q cab 2500 with Oregon plates?

 

[EVoos]

I wanted to add a suggestion to all those experiencing this problem(same one i have at 3000 miles)... Don't give up. Let's keep going back to the dealer and bothering Dodge until they either recall the vehicle or put a TSB out on the problem!!!

 

[SKing]

It's the plastic gear in the seat drive screw. . Mine broke and the dealer fixed it and after 2mths it's rocking again.

 

[bighammer]

I must be lucky, mine are solid.

 

[JasonH]

Mine too. Mostly noticeable on accel

 

[mgonske]

Mine does it. A look under the seat will reveal the problem. When the height is adjusted all the way up, the rocker arm that rotates to raise the seat is nearly straight up and down, so just a little bit of play in the rotation of the shaft that adjusts the height (caused by accel/decel forces on the seat) allows a slight movement.

 

[JHumphrey]

Mine does it as well.



I checked it out this weekend and found the seat anchor bolts are tight. The mechanism that has the screw action in it to move the seat is cracked all the way around. It is the aluminum gear housing for the electric motor that turns the screws that adjusts the seat. The housing in silver looking and at first look, the crack appeared to be a seam. If you move the seat (imitate the slight movement we are discussing) and look at the closest adjustment mechanism, you will most likely see the crack expand. This is what is causing my movement. Very frustrating sensation and it can't be too good in an accident.



I suppose the fix will be to replace the mechanism. I assume it will happen again. I may take it somewhere to see if the housing can be welded.

 

[ENafziger]

Same here, my '06 has had the problem since soon after new... . I thought getting a new truck would free up all the spare time I spent chasing frivolous issues on my chevrolet! Oh well...

 

[nickleinonen]

mine has gotten worse. . i need to take it in for warrenty before it finally expires [~2 weeks and warrenty is up]

 

[CIverson]

Mine does it as well.



I checked it out this weekend and found the seat anchor bolts are tight. The mechanism that has the screw action in it to move the seat is cracked all the way around. It is the aluminum gear housing for the electric motor that turns the screws that adjusts the seat. The housing in silver looking and at first look, the crack appeared to be a seam. If you move the seat (imitate the slight movement we are discussing) and look at the closest adjustment mechanism, you will most likely see the crack expand. This is what is causing my movement. Very frustrating sensation and it can't be too good in an accident.



I suppose the fix will be to replace the mechanism. I assume it will happen again. I may take it somewhere to see if the housing can be welded.

That is what made my seat move also. The worst part is, that they don't sell any of the seat track parts, you have to buy the whole thing for about 300 bucks, and of course it is a special order from the manufacturer.



I bought a used seat track from a junkyard for $140 bucks. I hammered (and cut) the pins out that hold the motor in on both tracks, and put the junkyard motor and screw mechanism on my trucks seat track w/ some bolts to replace the pins.

 

[Signal73]

Mine does it also, 06, very slight but its noticeable. Im not exactly what many would classify as a "heavyweight" either so I dont think that has anything to do with it... .

 

[rjohnson916]

My '05 2500 "quadcab" has done this since new, I'm a bout a buck fifty in weight so I know I didn't break it, must be all that torque coming from the mighty Cummins mill :-laf But on a serious note, it's very annoying. I don't feel it whilst driving per se, but more or less when getting in and sitting in the truck?



-Ryan

 

[SKing]

My seat had a crack in the front tube of the seat frame. My seat would rock as others post. One day the seat fell down in the front left corner and the rocked back and I mean way back. I found that the front tube of the seat frame had cracked and about 3 inches of the end of the tube slid out of the frame. This tube can be seen by looking under and up the front of the seat. From the door side of the seat you can lift the bottom flap under the seat controls and see that the tube is hollow. I slid a peace of 3/8 metal through the tube and welded it on both sides of the seat and then welded the crack. The lower seat frame is around 400. I spent about 2. 00 for my repair. The seat is now solid. The crack was between a 2 icnch bracket the tube runs through. Hope this helps some of you. Let me know if it does. I'm back from Iraq for a while and will be able to answer emails and post for 3 wks then I have to go back.

 

[ringneck]

my 05 3500 dose it. took it in they said it was loose blots. it wasnt ichecked before i left . its going back and back. they put a car seat in a truck. my 94 had a truck seat.

 

[RockinJ]

Yeah, my '01 and my '05 Laramies with 6-way power seats BOTH do it . . . dealer says "cannot duplicate customer's complaint"

 

[AMassaro]

Mine does it also... I can't see taking it into the dealer. Who has that kind of time?

SKing, if you're in the military, I thank you for your service to our country...

 

[JHumphrey]

Well, not to happy with Dodge.



I went to the dealer to see about some relief for the broken seat rail. Was informed the replacement cost is about $379. 00 for the part. Decided to call the Customer Center at 800-992-1997. Opened a case, was told that I had to have a Dodge dealer mechanic diagnose the problem. I would have to pay $86. 00 for a mechanic to confirm what I already know to be a fact. What BS! Then, there is no assurance that I will get any relief on the replacement part from Dodge. So, I could be out the $86. 00 and the $379. 00 in the end. Needless to say, I am ****** off.



The seat mechanism should not break after 3 years and 2 months. By the way, this weekend, it completely broke and rocked back about 8 inches. Now it really is a safety issue. As such, I opened a complaint with NHTSA on this issue. I would encourage others to do the same. The website is www.nhtsa.gov.



Unhappy with Dodge's response,



Jamie

 

[nickleinonen]

well, my dealer was no help for the drivers seat. . their super mechanic said on the work order "no defects found". . i can see where most of the wobble on mine is coming from. the mounting bracket that controls the seat bottom tilt is wiggling around. the rivits are not very secure. i plan on someday welding it up solid and running an extra brace in there to the bracket. . that should fix up my wobble



[i am glad i am out of warrenty now. no more trips to the dealer. . they replaced my drivers seat belt as the retractor was not working properly. the new ones are slightly different color than the old ones so they were nice enough to change the pass side one to match. . they managed to break the pass side B pillar piece and tried to pretend it didn't happen. i noticed it the next day and was going to raise hell over it, but the service advisor was cool about it and ordered a new part no questions asked and now that is replaced. . dealers]

 

[GWBourne]

It sounds like the floor of the truck is flexing.

nope. it is the cams system for the power option. they have a bit of play in them. not sure if they are supposed to, but it bothered me big time when i frst bought my truck. so i played with it a bit. it took 3 people to figure out. one to sit in the seat, one to rock it from the back seat and me to look under the seat.



could it be fixed? yes, but it would cost a lot to machine the parts out of high quality steel and the tolerances would have to be much tighter. also the seat motors would have to be able to take more shock load than they are built to.



6 in one, half dozen in the other...

Grant

 

[JHumphrey]

I fixed my seat yesterday. What a pain. It was a lot more involved than I imagined. Three trips to the Advanced Auto for tools. I replaced the driver's seat rail unit with a new one. While I had the seat out, I fix the lumbar support as well. For the moment, everything works. Really like having the lumbar support and a solid seat.



I can only assume that my bracing with my left foot on the floor and pushing back on the seat to get situated contributed to the failure. I still do not think it should have failed though. I will be much more gentle in my "getting situated" going forward.