B1953

Code

Other B — Body

Seat Rear Up/Down Potentiometer Feedback Circuit Short To Ground

Brand: Other

Type: B — Body

Views: UK: 22 EN: 42 RU: 30

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Page language: EN

Causes

Damaged/chafed wiring harness with insulation worn through to chassis ground
Corroded or bent connector pin shorting signal to ground
Failed potentiometer/position sensor inside the seat track
Water intrusion or contamination in the connector
Incorrect or faulty aftermarket wiring or accessories
Faulty seat control module or BCM (rare)

Symptoms

Seat rear up/down function inoperative or intermittent
Seat position memory may fail or not store/recall
One or more seat adjustment directions work incorrectly
DTC B1953 stored and possibly a related warning/message
Seat hunts or moves erratically when commanded

What to check

Scan and record all related DTCs and freeze frame data
Visually inspect seat wiring harness, boots, and connectors for damage or corrosion
Backprobe the potentiometer connector and measure reference and signal voltages with ignition ON
Check continuity and resistance between the signal wire and chassis ground
Unplug the potentiometer connector and re-scan to see if the short persists
Wiggle harness and operate seat while monitoring signal to reproduce fault

Signal parameters

Reference (Vref) typically ~5 V from the control module (verify with vehicle data)
Potentiometer signal expected to vary across travel approximately 0.5–4.5 V (varies by manufacturer)
Typical potentiometer total resistance commonly in the 1–10 kΩ range (check vehicle spec)
Short condition: signal voltage near 0 V or continuity to chassis ground
Open condition: infinite resistance (OL) between signal and potentiometer common

Diagnostic algorithm

Retrieve DTCs and record freeze frame. Clear codes and attempt to re-create to confirm persistence of B1953.
Visual inspection: remove seat trim as needed to inspect harness along seat frame, rails, and booted areas for chafing, pinched wiring, or connector damage.
With ignition ON (engine off), backprobe the potentiometer connector: verify Vref is present, verify signal voltage and observe while moving the seat rear up/down. If signal is ~0 V, note result.
Measure resistance/continuity from the signal wire to chassis ground. A very low resistance indicates a short to ground.
Unplug the potentiometer from the harness. If the short to ground on the harness disappears with the sensor disconnected, suspect the potentiometer assembly. If the short remains, suspect wiring/ground or control module.
Inspect and repair damaged wires, repair/replace connector pins or the harness as required. Use proper butt/splice methods or replace sections of damaged harness.
After repairs, reconnect and verify correct signal behavior (smooth variable voltage when moving seat) and clear codes. Perform a functional test of seat movement and memory functions.
If wiring and sensor check good but short persists, consult wiring diagrams and consider seat control module or body control module diagnosis/repair or replacement per manufacturer procedures.

Likely causes

Wire rubbed through at seat track or hinge and contacting metal
Pin pushed out or connector housing cracked, contacting ground
Internal short in the potentiometer assembly
Moisture causing low-resistance path to ground at connector

Fault status

⚠️ Status

Seat rear up/down potentiometer feedback circuit shorted to ground — the seat position sensor signal is reading near 0 V, preventing valid position feedback to the control module.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours