How to Video: F-150 SuperCab/SuperCrew Rear Seat Release (Driver’s Side)

When I’ve had the chance to look at and test drive the new F-150s, I’ve noticed there are pull straps to raise up the seat bottoms on both sides, as well as one to pull down the passenger side seat back to access the truck’s jack and fuel funnel.

I spent several minutes trying to figure out how to pull the driver’s side seat back forward to no avail. I assumed that it just wasn’t meant to go forward.

I was partially correct in my summation. The seat back can be pulled forward if you know what to look for. There is a small pull tab that is very well (probably deliberately) concealed on the back of the seat that will release a latch and allow you to bring it forward.

Enthusiast’s Garage made a YouTube video showing a technique on how to get that driver’s side seat back down/forward if you need to.



Apparently this has been an issue with this seat on Ford trucks for several years. There are tons on seat latch brackets on Amazon designed to give you easier access to pulling the rear seat down if you frequently need to do so. Just search “F150 rear seat release kit” and you’ll get several hits.

I ordered a Builtright for my truck, based on a recommendation I saw here, still need to get around to installing it, but the quality is great.

Why would one want to pull the back seat cushion down? What is back there that needs to be accessed?
Thanks

Norris McCarty said:

Why would one want to pull the back seat cushion down? What is back there that needs to be accessed?
Thanks

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Nothing NEEDS to be accessed, but it gives you a little more storage space. Nothing is ever truly secure, but things placed in the void behind that seat are out of sight, out mind, for would be thieves.

Norris McCarty said:

Why would one want to pull the back seat cushion down? What is back there that needs to be accessed?
Thanks

Click to expand...

A lot of trucks have things like the subwoofer and stereo amp behind that part of the seat. May need to access it to repair/change it.

Finally took my truck back to the dealer today for a proper cleaning and a couple of little fixes. (Center cap in crooked, headlight assy had broken lens retainers)
Questions I had for him.
Are the seat bottoms supposed to lock in the down position (SuperCab)
How do I get that driver side down.

The seat bottoms in my Chevy locks in the down position as well as up.
And the seat backs do drop down.
I have the seat backs lowered in the Chevy a lot as it does not have the third door and stuff I put back there is higher and easier to get to even from the driver seat.
Acts as a table that is out of the way.
Granted, since the new one has four doors, access is easier when stopped and out of the car, not so much while sitting in it. Plus—Habit—I’m used to the seat backs down.
But, headrests must be removed to achieve this in the new truck.

Need to watch this video so I know how to do it.

Bryan Simon said:

Finally took my truck back to the dealer today for a proper cleaning and a couple of little fixes. (Center cap in crooked, headlight assy had broken lens retainers)
Questions I had for him.
Are the seat bottoms supposed to lock in the down position (SuperCab)
How do I get that driver side down.

The seat bottoms in my Chevy locks in the down position as well as up.
And the seat backs do drop down.
I have the seat backs lowered in the Chevy a lot as it does not have the third door and stuff I put back there is higher and easier to get to even from the driver seat.
Acts as a table that is out of the way.
Granted, since the new one has four doors, access is easier when stopped and out of the car, not so much while sitting in it. Plus—Habit—I’m used to the seat backs down.
But, headrests must be removed to achieve this in the new truck.

Need to watch this video so I know how to do it.

Click to expand...

What center cap was crooked on your truck? How did you notice the headlight assembly, not working, making noise? Do you have pictures?

Hopefully they got it fixed for you.

Knickell said:

What center cap was crooked on your truck? How did you notice the headlight assembly, not working, making noise? Do you have pictures?

Hopefully they got it fixed for you.

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Center cap was knocked in too hard and went in at an angle.
Noticed broken headlight retainer when I opened the hood.
Thought nothing of it until I looked at the other side.
This was not an issue that would compromise the integrity of the assembly in any way as the lens is glued on anyway.
My salesman told me a new one is on the way—5-7 days

Nothing about this truck is giving me concerns at all at this point, it seems to be doing what it is supposed to do.
Quiet and rattle/clunk/squeak free.
Fuel mileage is satisfactory and improving.
Rides nice, but I’m not sure that it rides ‘that’ much nicer than my 98k1500.
(Even with 8ply tires that thing rides good keeping air pressure below 60)
Still getting used to the automatic—weird having a pickup without a clutch pedal.
Shifting varies between soft and firm (usually in normal mode)
Cannot seat of the pants detect the cylinder deactivation, but can tell when it begins hitting on all 8 again.
On my 10mile ride in the mornings at a constant 45-50 the fuel mileage indicator will shoot right up to 25-30mpg, and as soon as I supply input to the pedal drops to around 10 for just a moment before settling around 17.
I can feel it kick in as well—feels like a half gear kick down as it takes off.
No hesitation at all.
I know you are after the 3.5, but just thought you would like some of these tidbits.

Norris McCarty said:

Why would one want to pull the back seat cushion down? What is back there that needs to be accessed?
Thanks

Click to expand...

Well, I found out yesterday that my TCU (Telematics Control Unit, aka modem) has to be replaced (it became non-responsive with 34 miles on the ODO), and the TCU is located behind the rear driver's-side seat.

This was interesting, so I went and looked. There is not a pull tab on my truck (Super Crew), but you can get in there and release the latch. I also learned it can be tricky to latch again due to how the seat back rocks when you lift the seat bottom. It's best to latch it in the same position it was unlatched from, but even then the floating striker/pin could fall or move away from the position you released at. Paint marks are there on the bracket though if you need re-align. You can actually see it too if up and in the truck with the seat bottom up. I'm sure there will be aftermarket storage boxes to go in this area for lower contented trucks (assuming I'm missing some electronic options), but it seemed like not a lot of room behind the drive-side seat with more room behind the center seat.

On my 13 SCREW I drilled a hole in the release mechanism, put a split ring through it and a strap that was long enough to reach

Cooter'sFX4 said:

This was interesting, so I went and looked. There is not a pull tab on my truck (Super Crew), but you can get in there and release the latch. I also learned it can be tricky to latch again due to how the seat back rocks when you lift the seat bottom. It's best to latch it in the same position it was unlatched from, but even then the floating striker/pin could fall or move away from the position you released at. Paint marks are there on the bracket though if you need re-align. You can actually see it too if up and in the truck with the seat bottom up. I'm sure there will be aftermarket storage boxes to go in this area for lower contented trucks (assuming I'm missing some electronic options), but it seemed like not a lot of room behind the drive-side seat with more room behind the center seat.

Click to expand...

I'm running into this right now and cannot get it to relatch to save my life.

Lateonthebrakes said:

I'm running into this right now and cannot get it to relatch to save my life.

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Not as easy as it looks, but here ya go.

I have been able to get it to latch a few times now. But it requires way more violence than I would like to have to employ.

The strap on my Scab just fell off when I pulled on it. Is the release knob going to be inside of the bracket? I can't see anything at all back there, zero space.

Update: I finally got it released using a wrench and pulling on the wrench with some channel locks. It was in the middle of the bracket.