A vehicle seat actuator includes an electric motor and a gear set that connects the drive motor to the seat and transmits the output of the motor to the vehicle seat. The drive motor and gear set are each disposed in an individual, dedicated housing component. The individual housing components are then assembled together to provide the actuator. The housing components are maintained in the assembled configuration using snap fit mechanical fasteners. Each snap-fit fastener includes a receiving portion provided on one housing component and an insertion portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a slot formed in the gear housing that is partially obstructed by an elastic member, while insertion portion is an ear that protrudes from an outer surface of the drive motor housing and forms both a snap-fit engagement with the elastic member and a press-fit engagement with the slot.