GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Manual Reclining Seatbacks

Caution: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

Caution: If either seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.

If the seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats.

Passenger's Seat shown


Object Number: 1649320  Size: B3

To recline the seatback, do the following:

  1. Lift the recline lever.
  2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
  3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following:

  1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.
  2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

Power Reclining Seatbacks

Driver's Seat with Power Seat Control, Power Recline, and Power Lumbar shown


Object Number: 1649318  Size: B3

If the seats have power reclining seatbacks, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats.

    • Tilt the top of the control rearward to recline the seatback.
    • Tilt the top of the control forward to raise the seatback.


Object Number: 806881  Size: B4

Caution: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this.

The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

Do not have the seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.