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Ford Mustang V6 2005-2014: Why is My Electric Power Seat Not Working?

This diagnostic will help you figure out what's wrong with your power seat and how to fix it.

By Jared Hammond - October 19, 2015

This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 (2005-2014).

It's not fun when you can't adjust the seats in your own car. But when your power seats fail, your seat is stuck where it is. Unless you're the type to just set it once, you'll want to fix it soon. There are a number of things that can cause problems like this. If you're not able to move the seat at all, then you should start with Step 1. If your seat still has some of its functionality, start with Step 3. If you can hear the motors working but nothing is happening, go to Step 4.

Materials Needed

  • Fuse puller
  • Flashlight
  • Screwdrivers and socket set

Step 1 – Check the fuse

One of the first things you want to be sure of before you make any expensive repairs is to check for a blown fuse. If your power seat isn't responsive at all, then it could be that it's not getting powered. Open the hood and check the fuses for the power seats in the main fuse box. Look at the contacts. If there's a burnt or broken contact, then the fuse needs to be replaced. The power seat use 30 amp fuses that are cheap and easy to replace.

Figure 1. Diagram of the fuse box. Arrows point to the two power seat fuses.

Step 2 – Check electrical connector under the seat

If one seat is responsive while the other is not, then it may be that the plug for the unresponsive seat came undone; more specifically, the plug that connects your power seat switch to the motors on the track underneath your seat. Take a look under your seat for a large black plug. Disconnect, then reconnect it, and see if that does anything.

Pro Tip

Be careful not to touch or disconnect the yellow electrical connector because that connects to your side airbags.

Step 3 – Check the switch

Sometimes the switch for the power seats will malfunction, or the contacts inside the switch become dirty or corroded. Typically, this is the case if at least one of your power seat's functions still works. To fix it, you'll need to remove the switch, dismantle it, and clean the contacts or replace the switch entirely.

Step 4 – Replace the power seat track

If you hear clicking or the sound of the motor working but nothing is happening, then it could mean that one of the gears for the motor has either broken or become misaligned. To really check the motor, you'll need to remove the seat entirely and dismantle the motor. Unfortunately, the motors and track all come as a single unit, so it's impossible to replace one of the motors individually. In this case, you'll need to talk to a dealer since it's difficult to find aftermarket power seat tracks.

Figure 2. Power seat and track.

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