How to Remove Rear Seat on Kia / Hyundai
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The rear cushion comes out in under twenty minutes on most Kia and Hyundai models. Two things to watch for underneath: yellow connectors, which belong to airbag or seat belt pretensioner circuits and mean the battery should come off first, and heated seat connectors, which need unplugging before you lift the cushion clear rather than after.
At a Glance
- Most Kia and Hyundai rear seat cushions unclip at the front edge. Some also have bolts.
- Lift the front edge firmly to release the clips, then slide the cushion forward and out.
- Heated seats: unplug the connectors under the cushion before pulling it out.
- When refitting, feed the seat belt buckles through their slots and keep the child seat anchors clear.
- Push down until the clips lock, then pull up to check the cushion is secure.
How to Remove Rear Seat on Kia / Hyundai
Procedure
1. Remove bolts
Remove the mounting bolts if applicable. Not all models have these bolts.
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2. Remove the rear seat cushion.
If there are no bolts, you will lift the seat to remove it. If you can find no bolts, then try the following to remove the rear seat. Lift the front edge of the seat firmly to release the clips underneath. If your car has heated rear seats, unplug the heater connectors under the cushion as soon as you can reach them, before you pull the cushion out. Move the seat cushion back towards the trunk, then lift.
3. Reinstall the rear seat
Install the seat in reverse order. Reconnect any heated seat connectors first, then feed the seat belt buckles up through their slots in the cushion and keep the child seat anchors clear. Slide the rear of the cushion into place, push down hard on the front edge until the clips lock, and pull up on it to check it is secure. If your seat uses bolts, tighten them to the torque in your service manual; they are safety related fasteners, so do not guess.
Never drive with the cushion loose or with seat belt buckles trapped under it. A buckle that cannot be reached cannot be used.
These instructions will help owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Cadenza, Forte, K900, Sorento, Sportage, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis, and Equus.
Note that this vehicle has no bolts that need to be removed. Other models may have two 10 mm bolts that need to be removed before you can remove the rear seat.
To troubleshoot Kia problems such as no start condition or fuel pump issues, check out this helpful guide on diagnosing vehicle problems like a Mechanic.
Removing the Rear Backrest
With the cushion out, the backrest on most Kia and Hyundai sedans is held by bolts at its base and hooks at the top. Remove the bolts, then lift the backrest straight up to release the hooks. On models with folding rear seats, fold the seat forward first and remove the pivot bolts at the outer edges instead.
Safety and Airbag Notes
- If you see yellow connectors under the seat, they belong to airbag or seat belt pretensioner systems. Disconnect the battery and wait a few minutes before unplugging them.
- Never turn the ignition on with an airbag connector unplugged; it will set the airbag light.
- Keep the seat belt buckles and child seat anchors clear when refitting so they work properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the airbag light on after removing the rear seat?
A connector for a seat belt pretensioner or side airbag was probably disturbed. Reconnect it with the battery disconnected, then clear the code with a scanner that reads the airbag module.
Do all Kia and Hyundai rear seats have bolts?
No. Many cushions only use spring clips at the front edge, while some models also use a bolt or two. Check for bolts before pulling hard.
How long does it take?
Usually less than 20 minutes for the cushion, and a little longer if you also remove the backrest.
Just did this on my 2012-13 Tuscon and there is just a long U single bracket that bolts in under the spare tire compartment. No other bolts.
Really hard to get those 2 bolts started when you reassemble!
I just want to see the rest of the steps