3rd row stuck in stowed position

[red65FJ40]

Hello, long time 40 owner with a new to me 2013 200 series, and loving it. However I went to use the third row last night and the D/S seat won’t release from the D pillar. The pull handle next to the tailgate doesn’t feel connected to anything. The P/S released and worked as expected and has a normal spring/tension to the pull handle. The D/S has a much lighter spring feel and no tension. I don’t hear the mechanism working anything in the D pillar near the seat catch either. So before I start diving into this corner blind are there any instructions or advice this amazing group of owners can offer? Should I attempt to unbolt the seat and remove it first that way, or am I going to compound the issue with a somewhat loose seat that’s still latched at the top? Wondering how to access behind the panel where the lever is, there’s some easily removed covers at that location but seems like I will need to pop off the tailgate bulb seal and remove the cargo hook next to it (which I’m not sure how to do that, pull hard? Twist and remove?
Any input advice would be welcomed-

 

[elcie200]

Have you tried pushing the seat toward the side panel to see if the latch is fully engaged? Sometimes when I stow the seats they’re not “fully latched” and I have to give them a shove to “click in” before the release lever will work.

 

[Sandroad]

Is there any chance that brown/black cover on the seat has prevented the seat from fully latching so it’s just jammed.

 

[red65FJ40]

Yeah appreciate the feedback. I’ve pushed hard on the seat (repeatedly) to see if needed more engagement to the latch but not the issue. Also I think the release lever would have felt tight if it was halfway engaged, and it feels the opposite like nothings there.
The seat cover is kind of in my way in this moment, but it’s free from the latch,
Hole in cover rotates around the latch freely but stuck on the seat until I can get the latch to release.

 

[Kinnada]

i haven't had my seats on in a few years but i dont recall ever having the headrest on them when i stowed them. looks to me like perhaps your headrest is causing the seat to be jammed with the back of the middle row.
just a guess

 

[red65FJ40]

Follow up on my resolution, pretty straight forward really. Pulled the lower D-pillar cover after removing the 2 screws (one at the cargo hook and one behind the cover at the latch release). My cable had popped off the latch release, and upon reassembling it found that the release's plastic clip for the cable housing had cracked and so the cable housing would just pull-through and pop off when putting tension on the release lever. Quick fix with my cheap amazon plastic welder and some reinforcing staples. Works as it should now, and no binding in the actual latch, so not sure what the original issue was that caused the stress to crack my latch release mechanism. We'll see how long this fix holds up, and eventually may have to replace the release mechanism.