Seat Bolster/Lumbar Air Bladder

The air bladder inflates and deflates on demand to adjust the firmness and positioning of lumbar or side support in the seat, controlled by the vehicle's seat control module and pneumatic pump system.

Seat bolster air bladders are small pneumatic chambers integrated into power seats, typically controlled by electronic switches or touchscreen controls on the door panel or seat. They inflate and deflate to provide customized lumbar support or lateral bolstering to improve comfort and reduce fatigue during long drives. Over time, the bladder material can crack or the air pump/valve can fail, resulting in loss of support adjustment capability.

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Typical part cost

$150–$400🔒

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Typical labor cost

$200–$500🔒

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Typically lasts

80,000–150,000 mi

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Or about

6.0–12.0 years

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DIY difficulty

7/10

⚠️ Owners Often Notice

If the Seat Bolster/Lumbar Air Bladder is starting to fail, these are the signs owners most commonly report before it gets worse:

Lumbar support won't inflate or deflate

Seat support feels soft or collapsed

Hissing sound from seat area

Control buttons unresponsive for seat adjustment

Related Services

Services commonly performed on or around this part.

Replace Seat Bolster/Lumbar Air Bladder(s)

No standard interval on file

Inspect Seat Bolster/Lumbar Air Bladder(s)

No standard interval on file

Test Seat Bolster/Lumbar Air Bladder(s)

No standard interval on file