Middle row back seats...how can I remove or collapse them, I know back seats fold completely to floor, but what about middle row?

copied this from ford forum , quite a lot of work, do your seats fold down into the floo ? if so follow this guidance
Removal and Installation

CAUTION: To prevent possible damage to the third row seat or the safety belts, make sure that the safety belts are not fastened when moving the seat to the load floor position.

CAUTION: Make sure that no objects such as books, purses or briefcases on the floor in front of the third row seats or on the seat cushion before lowering the backrest(s).

NOTE: The third row seat backrests need to be in the raised position for removal of the third row seats.

All seats


Remove the load floor panel.
Remove the jack assembly.
Remove the load floor panel latch striker bolts and the latch striker.
Remove the 3 pin-type retainers and the jack storage compartment liner.
Remove the 2 bolts in mid-floor panel support, lift on the front of mid-floor panel support to release the 3 retainer clips and remove the panel support.

Your missing something's G-404 has nothing to do with it !
Seats - Third Row
The third row seat:

• is three-passenger seat.
• a 60/40 bench seat.
• folds down for more cargo area.
• has optional power fold down seats.

Third Row Power-Fold Seat
CAUTION: To prevent possible damage to the third row seat or the safety belts, make sure that the safety belts are not fastened when moving the seat to the load floor position.
CAUTION: Make sure that no objects such as books, purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the third row seats or on the seat cushion before lowering the backrest(s).
The third row power-fold seat consists of the following electrical components:

• right third row seat relay.
• left third row seat relay.
• right power-fold seat motor.
• left power-fold seat motor.
• right front third row seat switch (if equipped).
• left front third row seat switch (if equipped).
• right rear third row seat switch.
• left rear third row seat switch.

For the third row power-fold seat to operate, a shared ground is supplied by the body security module (BSM) to both of the power-fold seat relays, enabling the seats to then be moved by pressing one of the third row power-fold seat switches. The third row power-fold seat operates only when the vehicle is in PARK and the liftgate glass, liftgate door or any entry door must be open.
The third row power-fold seat motors transfer movement to a drive gear assembly to raise and lower the seat backrest. The power-fold seat motors rotate a short drive cable which is connected to the drive gear assembly.
The relay's are located in Aux. relay box #2

There is a cable that connects the handle to the latch, the cables like to break/stretch, sometimes if you look close at the rear of the seat where it attaches to the floor you can see the latch and manually release it with a long screw driver or similar tool.
Cables are avaiable from GM dealer if thats the problem.

dealers repair book best option/mechanics manuals may find online

You can make it release by pulling up on the metal bracket where the cable attaches under the seat at the back in the middle.

Okay so im just going to start from the seat being upright in a normal riding position.

1. You need to fold the head rests first. Pull the black tab under both headrests. They should spring into a folded position.

2. pull the side seat lever (on the door side of the seat). This will fold the top/back support down to an angle.

3. There is one more lever on the backside of this seat. Its in plain sight on the angled portion of your seat. Lift the big plastic lever.

4. While keeping the handle lifted, grasp the back of the seat and pull it torwards the front of the car. The seat should come unlocked and roll forward and down more towards the floor. If you have a bunch of junk on the floor, it obviously wont work. clear the path and the seat will fold completely flat.

Also, your drivers seat and front passenger seat cannot be all the way back, they need to come forward some in order for the second row seats' head rests to clear and fold flat.

I have had this problem, and I am having it again. The problem is if a little trash gets under the bar in the floor, it will keep the mechanism from locking completely. I had tried everything. The only solution so far is the rock back and forth. Real pain. I am trying to find a secret release.

You can not remove the far back seat, only the middle one. But you can slide it all the way foward. I have had my van for two years and just learned how to do it today from my husband. Below the rear are two levers. A and B. Make sure the back of the seat is in the upright position and then pull on Levee A. At the same time, lift of the bottom of the seat. It will go up and fold together making a V with the back of the seat. Then pull lever B and slide seat forward.

I don't think the seat can be split! I am looking for '01 -02 LT or SLT center row buckets, if they will fit the floor brackets - my dealer cannot determine if the attachment is workable! (Someone, please help) These seats recline (not fold flat) and would allow plywood to be carried vertically between the seats! I have already installed floor brackets and belts for a '4th row' in my 8 passenger to carry plywood on top of the seats, but it is 'mickey mouse'.