Originally Posted by
PoliceStateSurvivor
One has nothing to do with the other. Seat controls are made by a different company than the rest of the aircraft.
I know because I happen to work for a company that makes seat controls, so I know what I am talking about.
As to why they are often broken, the answer is probably poor maintenance by the airline.
I realize they come from suppliers. Why can't they have a bullet-proof design though? It probably comes down to weight issues, I suppose. Also this technology changes so fast, that no supplier has enough field history to build a solid design. High failure rates are acceptable since it's not that big a deal in the manufacturer's eyes.