So the power reclining is not working on driver’s seat on my 2015 NX300h. Seems like the side closer to the center console is dead. All it does when I use my reclining switch is moving forward or back a little bit then the whole thing starts to wiggle because one side has gave out. Hard to capture it in video clearly but here it is. Anyone has an experience in fixing this? Car’s out of warranty but I’m not exactly in love with the idea of dropping a thousand bucks to the dealership for this.

 

What is your mileage on the car?

 

About 20,000 miles.

 

Get quote from a body shop. Maybe way cheaper than dealership. Dealership will try to fix it/repair it. Body shop will replace the whole seat from a recycled/salvaged car and recycle/sell your seat to same recycler who will repair and resell.

 

You might also try a local auto upholstery shop, because part of the seat fabric may have to be pulled away to access the mechanism.
The recline function is usually accomplished in Toyota vehicles with a small motor and reduction gearbox located within the backrest near the pivot point (on the outboard side on both front seats on the NX). Attached is an image of the similar part from a 2015 RX. A shaft is splined to the large hole on the right and connects to the right and left sides of the seat. The shaft is basically the hinge for the backrest.
Some of the gears are plastic and your symptoms suggest some gear teeth have broken off. Dorman sells replacement plastic gears for high-volume car models. Someone who works with automobile seats would be the individual most likely to know if that relatively low-cost option is possible. Online Lexus OEM parts vendors sell the complete assembly for about $450, which is a rip-off, as it is not much different from a power window actuator.