Should you be afraid of motorized recline

One of the major fears anyone experiences buying theater seating today is the fear that the power recline motor will fail and render the seat useless.  It is the question I get asked more than any other single question when selling theater seating.

The motors used in furniture today are of the same quality and often source as the motors used in the power portion of your motor vehicle seat.  They are simple in design and perfected from a reliability perspective to the point where the only time we really ever encounter issues with them is generally straight out of the factory.  In an analysis we did two years ago, less than 1% of these motors failed. 

Added to the fact that they are reliable, is a manufactures warranty that covers the motors for 1-2 years, depending on the brand.  After that, most motors cost $75 to replace and installation is as easy as turning the seat over and pulling out the existing motor from a track and sliding in the replacement.  In 95% of the seats sold today this is the case and the only complicated replacements tend to occur in the very top end of the market.

If one is still nervous then my suggestion is to spend the extra $150 to buy the extended warranty plan which will cover any motor failure to 5 years and also add accidental damage coverage to the seat.  The accidental coverage will protect you against everyday mishaps like red wine or coffee stains and rips and tears.