The invention relates to a method for operating an adjusting drive in a motor vehicle. Said method comprises the following steps: measuring the actuating force exerted by the adjusting drive, comparing said actuating force with a limit force, reversing the adjusting drive when the limit force is exceeded. According to a first method, the measured values of the actuating force are filtered before they are compared in order to suppress any rapid changes of the actuating forces in relation to the distance already covered by the adjusting drive, while the vehicle is moving. According to a second method, said measured values are not filtered at all while the vehicle is stationary with the engine switched off. Rapid changes are therefore suppressed less in the second method than in the first method. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.