The back of the seats in my monte dont latch. They just kind flop around.They have the little finger tipsized lever on them on the back so I know they are supposed to latch, but neither side does. Whats the deal?

 

If both sides of the latch are there (hook and loop) there something is obstructing the hook from catching the loop.

Possibly the upholstery of the seat has shifted some and keeping the hook from grabbing the latch?

 

Both, my 85 Cavilier and my 91 Z24 had that problem. The spring-loaded finger latch wouldn't go down. But since the seat backs didn't flop around back and forth while braking, I didn't worry about it. I looked to see if something was in the way, but the latch was stuck in the up position internally. And I didn't feel like opening up the seat.

Is it possible for the hook or loop to get bent over time? Could they get bent from people leaning to grab stuff from the backseat a lot? If so, does it require unstitching the upholstery to repair? Kinda curious on this one myself.

 

What year is your Monte? Some years only latch in a collision,while braking,or if you are on a hill.The lever is for passengers to release the seatback if it catches while parked on a hill,facing down the hill.There is a pendulum machanism inside the seat that will lock the seatback when necessary.My 85 Monte Carlo had this feature and it described it in the owners manual.Other years probably have it as well.

 

Only problem I have had is the plastic lever snapped off and they have to replace the whole mechanism. Mine is an 06 SS.

 

I have a 97. I tried pushing on the seat real quick to see if it in fact did only latch in a collision. It doesnt latch when I do that. It doesnt latch, period.