Middle row seat

Check and make sure nothing is down in the recess where the seat latches.

Yes of course you can remove the seat. There is a pull at the rear of the seat in the middle (down on the frame) The pull is a loop of material. You need to pull that up with solid force, this will release the lock so you can tilt your seat forwards. Once the seat is rotated forward enough, you will be able to lift the seat out.
I leave my seat out behind the drivers seat most of the time for easy access into the back and just putting stuff in the car. Also, the side clearance height is higher than the rear hatch height.

If the handle on left side pulling up doesn't do it, try leaning back in the seat first, then pull the handle and lean forward while pulling handle up and see if seat back comes forward.

The middle row seat slides forward to the middle position (and several other positions as well.)

Owners manual explains how to slide rear seat foreard.
Remove middle row seats. Lift handle under 3rd row seat cushion on passenger side. Raise seat cushion up until it locks up. Then lift the lever on the passenger side of seat and pull seat forward until it locks in place.

if you don't have owner manual, go to motorcraft.com, pro center, tech info, owner manual.
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Do they have a "T" like handle in front under seat? If so, lift handle and pull it forward to unlatch. Then lift seat slightly and slide it back to release rear catches. Hopefully they are still same as my 99.

first fold them flat then pull the handle which will release the rear bottom brackets and allow you to pull back and lift the entire seat out of the van....both seats.

the middle seats come out easily. There are 2 handles you have to lift up on each of the bucket seats, they are in the front of the seat down by the seat tracks. After you lift them, tilt the seat upward in the front and rotate them backward. Then lift out of the hooks. Each seat is held down by 4 hoks.

The 3rd row seat is not designed to come out xcept by a technician. It does slide forward all the way up to the front seat. It has a sliding seat track.
First, lift the T handle under the seat cushion on the left front side of the seat. This will allow you to lift the seat bottom up all the way to lcok in the full up position.
Then, lift the lever on the same side of the seat and slide the seat forward. It will stop in 4 places.
Rear -Rear
6 inches forward of that.
another two ft to the second row seating position
full frward against the front seats.

Pleae rate as fixya if this helps.

Seat —Third Row Bench Removal
CAUTION: Removal of the third row bench seat requires more than one technician.

1. Remove the second row seats. For additional information, refer to Seat—Second Row .

1. Remove the floor mats.

1. Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.
   1. Lift the handle to release the cushion.
   1. Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.

1. Move the third row bench seat to the second row position.
   • Lift the seat track release handle.

1. Remove the two bolt covers.

1. Remove the two seat track front bolts.

1. Remove the four seat track rear bolts.
   1. Position the rear seat cushion floor cover aside.
   1. Remove the four seat track rear bolts.

1. Remove the third row bench seat.

Got it, with the help and eyes of my wife. The rear latch releases as the seat back is lowered. This release is ALMOST seat back down (about 3 inches above the seat bottom). As the seat back lowers, apply constant lift on the rear latch, and it will release as the seat back lowers. Hard-won knowledge - I think I invented some bad words in the process.

The double seat actually gets caught on the bottom of the second row seat cover. If you move the second row middle seat forward a couple of inches it will release the rear folding seat and allow it to return to the upright position. You can also reach inside the back seat and push the seat cover ( which by the way has a metal bar in it ) forward to release the rear seat.