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https://autopapyrus.com/guides/lexus/gx/removing-and-installing-the-second-row-rear-seat-cushion-and-backrest/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Lexus GX (J250): Removing and Installing the Second-Row Rear Seat (Cushion and Backrest)

The exact factory procedure for the J250 is not described in publicly available sources, so the steps below follow the general order for second-row seats on SUVs in this class. The seat is bolted to the floor and to brackets. The cushion and backrest have connectors (seat heaters, seat belt sensors), and SRS wiring runs nearby. The main risks are damaging the wiring and straining yourself when lifting the heavy frame.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 1-1.5 hours Steps: 11 Tools: Socket set and ratchet (typically 12-14 mm and Torx; exact size depends on trim), plastic trim removal tools, flat-blade screwdriver, torque wrench, soft blanket for the seat, helper

Parts

2
№Part
01 Trim retaining clipsif needed
02 Plastic trim plugsif needed

Step by step

11 steps
  1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut off the engine, and remove the key. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Wait at least 5-10 minutes for the SRS capacitors to discharge.
  2. Clear out the cabin. Slide the front seats forward to get access to the mounting points. Fold the second-row backrest forward if it folds.
  3. Inspect the cushion and backrest: find the plastic hinge covers, side trim caps, and bolt covers. Carefully pry them off with plastic trim tools without breaking anything.
  4. Lift the rear edge of the cushion if it is held by latches or clips, and release it from the factory mounts. Then disconnect the seat heater and sensor connectors, if equipped. Press the connector locks; do not pull on the wires.
  5. Disconnect the seat belt buckles and the wiring harnesses under the seat. Do not cut anything. Do not touch the yellow SRS connectors unless necessary.
  6. Remove the bolts securing the cushion to the floor, then the bolts securing the backrest or hinges to the body. Note the length and location of each bolt so you can return each one to its original place.
  7. Have a helper support the backrest. Lift out the cushion, then the backrest (or the whole seat if it is a one-piece unit). The weight is significant, so lift it with two people and set it down on a blanket.
  8. Before reinstalling, inspect the floor and mounting points for corrosion, dirt, damaged threaded inserts, and damaged wiring.
  9. Install in reverse order. First put the backrest and cushion in place, then connect the connectors and seat belt buckles, and only then thread all the bolts in by hand to avoid cross-threading.
  10. Tighten the bolts with a torque wrench. Fasteners like these typically call for 35-55 N·m (26-41 lb-ft); check the exact value for each bolt in the manufacturer's service manual.
  11. Check that the backrest latches, folds, and raises without binding, and that the seat belts extract and latch properly. Reconnect the battery and make sure there are no SRS or seat belt warning messages on the instrument cluster. Turn on the seat heaters, if equipped.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • The seats are tied into the passive safety system (seat belts, side airbags, sensors), so any assembly error affects safety
  • If you have no experience working with SRS, leave the job to a repair shop
  • Do not tighten bolts by feel, do not leave any fasteners loose or unchecked, and do not drive with connectors unplugged
  • If the SRS warning light comes on after reassembly, the system needs to be diagnosed with a scan tool