Having a time with this as the cable seems in tact. I pull the lever and there is a lot of play in it and the seat doesn't recline. Any suggestions or does someone have some knowledge of how these things operate?

 

My 06 4dr has the same problem. The cable does not retract with the part that pulls it. I could not see the driver's side set up to compare. I tried grasping the cable end with vice grips and pulling but nothing. It appears to me the cable is supposed to retract when lever down to reset.