Service Information Bulletin

August 19, 2025

Seats

B52 09 20

HEAD RESTRAINT AND/OR BACKREST OF 3RD ROW SEATS
CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN
This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 10) replaces SI B52 09 20 dated December 2024.
What’s New:
• Electric actuator for third-row seat headrest and seat latches: design and part number
change
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THIS REPAIR IS MOBILE FRIENDLY
THIS REPAIR IS REMOTE SOFTWARE UPGRADE (RSU) FRIENDLY

MODEL
E-Series
G07

Model Description
X7 Sports Activity Vehicle

SITUATION
Various concerns about the third row of seats (3SR):
1. Head restraint (aka headrest), on one or both sides, cannot be folded down.
2. Third-row seating, on one or both sides, cannot be folded down.
3. Noise from third-row seat backrest when the vehicle goes over bumps.

CAUSE
1. Head restraint (aka headrest), on one or both sides, cannot be folded down:
- Head restraint mechanism is faulty.
- Bowden cable is not routed correctly, or not mounted.
- Bowden cable mechanism (when cable is under tension it does not pull far enough)
- Electric motor not fully pulling on common housing that moves the 3 Bowden cables.
- Seat initialization required.
2. Third-row seating, on one or both sides, cannot be folded down:
- Drivetrain for backrest release (actuator) is faulty or internally damaged.
- Drivetrain for backrest tilt adjustment is faulty.
- Bowden cable not correctly mounted.
- Bowden cable mechanism (when cable is under tension it does not pull far enough).
- Seat initialization required.
3. Noise from third-row seat backrest when the vehicle goes over bumps.
- Bowden cable contacts metal seat backrest.
- Headrest mount moves (weld penetration).
- Seat backrest bolt bushing movement.

CORRECTION
Depending on the problem found, one or more of the following corrections will be required:
1. Perform seat initialization.
2. Replace the head restraint mechanism.

3. Replace the Bowden cable.
4. Re-route the Bowden cable.
5. Replace the drivetrain for backrest release (actuator).
6. Replace the drivetrain for backrest tilt adjustment.
7. Route the electrical wiring for the seat cable motor behind the Bowden cables.
8. Replace the seat frame assembly.
9. Apply a penetrating oil to the Seat backrest bolt and bushing.

PROCEDURE
These networked seats are described in detail in Service Bulletin B52 23 19. In that service bulletin all
relevant seat bulletins are listed.
Program the vehicle with ISTA to the most recent I-level.
NOTE:
1. Software improvements were released August 2019 which changed certain seat operations on
early production vehicles. For a detailed list of the changes see Service Bulletin B52 21 19.
2. All G05 / G07 produced up to August 1, 2019, can be updated to 7/2019 software as per Service
Action Service Bulletin B65 19 19.
After programming perform seat initializationThe seat initialization procedure can be found in ISTA by choosing:
• SERVICE FUNCTIONS
• BODY
• SEATS
• SEAT ADJUSTMENT STANDARDIZATION
Then select the correct ABL test plan for the relevant seat(s).
You should initialize all 4 seat modules.
NOTE: The third-row seat is controlled by the second-row seat module.
Then proceed as follows:
1. Head restraint cannot be folded down:
NOTE: Raising the headrest back into the
upright position must be done by pushing
up on it by hand.
If the headrest is stuck in its upright position,
can the head restraint be manually unlocked
using the release loop beneath the headrest
(see picture) and thus folded down?

YES = Head restraint mechanism is faulty
or not being fully actuated.
A. Determine root cause of Bowden
cable not moving (see steps
below to cover most repairs)
OR
B. ONLY IF the cable is moving
fully but the headrest is not
folding, then replace the folding
module of the head restraint (#2
in picture).
See REP 52 30 118 Remove
and install/replace folding
module of left or right head
restraint.
For the Headrest Bowden cable (center
cable) to move fully the actuator will travel
upwards 40 mm from the lower plastic
housing releasing the headrest
mechanism.
If the actuator moves 40 mm and the
Headrest Bowden cable was not able to
fully actuate the folding module of the head
restraint, then the Headrest Bowden cable
may have stretched and will require
replacement.

The white plastic housing will not travel its
complete length if:
• something is binding the seat
latches.
• the Bowden cables are not routed
correctly.
• the supplied voltage to the actuator
motor is below 10 volts.
NOTE: The Electric Actuator for third-row
seat changed design and part number as of
March 28, 2025. The improved part fits all
production date vehicles. The new
actuators’ spindle drive turns in the opposite
direction from the previous design requiring
a change in vehicle software.
52 20 9 473 697 Actuator folding backrest
for vehicles built prior to March 28, 2025
(part to be discontinued)
52 20 5 B6C 6A1 Actuator folding backrest
for vehicles built after March 28, 2025.
• When installing this improved
actuator into a vehicle built prior to
March 28, 2025 you must replace
the headrest actuators in both the
drivers and passengers third-row
seats at the same time AND
perform ISTA/P conversion
"Replace 3rd row actuator". This
will add +AA3S into the Vehicle
Order to reverse the spindle drive
direction.
• There is a note about this retrofit
added into Test Plans
Driver Rear Seat Module ABLDIT_AT5220_GFAHANSV
Passenger Rear Seat Module ABLDIT_AT5220_GBFHANSV

•

•

for the rear seat modules as of ISTA
version 4.52.1x that will appear for
vehicles produced prior to April
2025.
When installing this improved
actuator into a vehicle built after
March 28, 2025 only replace the
defective side.
See SI B52 10 25 regarding the new
design actuator.

NOTES: Head Rest / Head Restraint
Removal
To remove the head restraint / headrest
from the metal upright posts without
damage.
See VIDEO BV52 01 24 3SR Headrest
See step by step instructions in Attachment
B52 09 20_3SR Headrest Removal
IF the head restraint cannot be removed
from the posts without damaging the
covering material, then a new cover
(leather) will be required.
Some parts replacement of the seat can be
done without removal of the headrest. For
example, if replacing the seatback frame
assembly there is no need to separate the
head restraint from the guide rod assembly.
Once the seat cover is released from the
original frame, you can easily raise the seat
cover and cushion as one assembly to gain
access to the two retaining bolts of the
guide rod assembly to the frame and
remove the complete assembly without
damaging the head rest restraint, hence it’s
not always necessary to replace the head
restraint leather cover or remove the
headrest from the metal upright posts.
NO = Check if the Bowden cable is correctly
mounted and properly routed.
If the Bowden cable is mounted properly and
cable correctly routed and the electric motor
moving the common housing fails to pull all 3
Bowden cables equally and to the end of
travel, then see steps below about
troubleshooting the actuator.
See VIDEO BV52 02 24 3SR Actuator NOK
OR
If the Bowden cable is mounted properly and
cable correctly routed and the electric motor
moving the common housing pulls all 3
Bowden cables equally and to the end of travel
See VIDEO BV52 03 24 3SR Actuator OK
but the headrest Bowden cable does not travel
far enough to release the headrest then

replace the Bowden cable for the headrest
(shown in yellow in picture).
See REP 52 30 253 Replace Bowden cable for
left or right head restraint (Bowden cable
unlocking device for head restraint).
Cable routing UP TO February 2023 shown.
NOTE: A Bowden cable routing change was
made in the third seat row backrest. This
change was implemented starting in February
2023 production.
Replacement parts are all the new shortened
design cable and require a new routing to
install in vehicles produced prior to February
2023.
See Service Bulletin B52 14 23

Cable routing FROM February 2023 shown.

2. Third-row seating cannot be folded down:
Check if the latch (the fastener on the left or
right side) of the third row of seats is open or
closed? (this is the hook/pin shown in green in
picture)
As a quick check for this, proceed as follows:
Fold the rear seat backrest of the third row of
seats including the head restraint into seating
position. This must be done using the
button(s) via motorized controls and cannot
be moved manually by hand or this will
cause damage to the motor for backrest
movement.

See Video BV52 04 24 3SR Fold Motor
broken
If the head restraint stays in the seat position,
the latch is closed.
If the head restraint falls into the folded
position again, the latch is open.
YES (Latch is open) = Replace drivetrain of
backrest tilt adjustment.
See REP 67 31 635 Remove and
install/replace drivetrain for backrest tilt
adjustment of third-row seating (left or
right) (according to vehicle diagnosis)
See step by step instructions in
Attachment B52 09 20_3SR LNV
Motor Replacement
NOTE: If the seat was moved
manually with excessive force, it
may cause damage to the internal
gear of this actuator. The motor may
spin but the seat backrest may not
move. In this case replacement of
the drivetrain for backrest tilt
adjustment is needed and the seat
frame would not need replacement.
There may be noise from the motor if
it is internally damaged. To check
the gear mechanism, the motor can
be removed for inspection.

NO (Latch is closed) = Check if the drivetrain
for backrest release adjustment is broken?
NOTE: The 3 Bowden cables are housed in a
common housing that moves along a worm
gear assembly.
When the electric EKHV motor activates, it
spins the worm gear to pull up on the housing
so that all 3 cables move simultaneously.
One of the cables controls the head restraint
folding. Once pulled, the headrest will release
and pivot downwards. Raising the headrest
back into the upright position must be done
by pushing up on it by hand.
(The other two cables control the latch release
at the seat pivot to enable the seat to fold.)
For more details see either video:

•
•

B52 01 19 - G05/G07 Seat
Troubleshooting 6 Passenger
B52 02 19 - G05/G07 Seat
Troubleshooting 7 Passenger

When the seat is in the upright latched position
so the EKHV Motor is not energized and both
latches are in the CLOSED position you will
measure 27 mm from the lower plastic to the
top of the outer Bowden cable(s).

When the EKHV Motor actuates and spins the
worm gear to pull upwards on the white plastic
housing it will then measure 56 mm from the
lower plastic to the top of the outer Bowden
cable(s). This will OPEN the seat latches.
The white plastic housing will not travel its
complete length or pull up equally on all 3
cables if:
• something is binding the seat latches.
• the Bowden cables are not routed
correctly.
• the supplied voltage to the actuator
motor is below 10 volts.
If the white plastic housing travels its full length
but one of the latch Bowden cable(s) do not
travel far enough to release the latch then
either:
A. Check for foreign object in latch
mechanism.
OR
B. The Bowden cable for one of the
latches has stretched. Replace the
Bowden cable. See appropriate repair
instruction:
REP 52 30 256 Replace Bowden cable
for left or right rear seat backrest
(Bowden cable for outer backrest
release)
REP 52 30 255 Replace Bowden cable
for left or right rear seat backrest
(Bowden cable for inner backrest
release)

OR
C. Compression springs are required for
the electric fold function and to fully
seat the latch assembly.
An improperly positioned or missing
compression spring prevents the seat
backrest from locking completely.
Reference B52 05 22 for further
information.

Is the drivetrain for the backrest release