Recliner Only Moves One Way? What It Usually Means

If your chair reclines but will not come back up, or the other way around, here is what to check.

A chair that moves in only one direction still has power, so you can skip the wall outlet. The fault usually lies in the control side or the motor.

Start with the hand control

Each direction has its own button contact, and one can fail while the other works. This makes the hand control the first thing to suspect. Unplug the chair and check that its plug is fully seated, then reconnect and test again.

Check the plug and cable

A damaged wire in the cable can stop one direction only. Look for pinched spots where the cable passes near the mechanism.

Then consider the actuator

If a known good hand control does not fix it, the actuator may be at fault. A hum or a click with no movement is another clue.

If the chair is stuck reclined

Do not force it by hand or stand on the footrest. A battery-powered chair may also just need a charge.

Next step

Find the model number on the part before you order.