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 a retaining portion provided on the other housing component. The receiving portion may be a blind hole formed in the drive motor housing that is partially obstructed by an elastic member, while the retaining component is a latch that protrudes from an outer surface of the gear housing and forms a snap-fit engagement with the elastic member.