2001 Ford Explorer Seats Problems

Your front driver's seat became difficult to recline up and down. After three dealer visits to address a recall, the mechanic damaged the seat while installing a new bolt, leaving it unable to recline properly and requiring the middle row seats to prop it upright. The seat ultimately needs to be replaced, but Ford declined to help cover the repair costs. Fixing this will likely require replacing the entire driver's seat assembly or repairing the recline mechanism.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY FOLDED FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS. THE SEAT WOULD NO LONGER HOLD ITS UPRIGHT POSITION AND HAD TO BE PROPPED UP BY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELD ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,500. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ A BOLT WAS REPLACED IN THE SEAT BACK. UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SITTING IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT CUSHION DROPPED DOWNWARD. NUMEROUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND TILTS TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY IT IS AFFIXED TO THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM HAS A DEFECT CAUSING THIS LOOSENESS. THE DEGREE OF LOOSENESS HAS INCREASED SINCE IT BECAME CLEARLY APPARENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2009; 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW EVEN MORE LOOSE AND THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS IF NOT FIXED BY THE DEALER. I WAS LIED TO AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, I REQUESTED CARFAX REPEATEDLY, BUT WAS NEVER PROVIDED WITH ONE. I REQUESTED A CAR MANUAL REPEATEDLY, BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN ONE. I OBTAINED A CARFAX ON MY OWN THAT SHOWS THE DEALER LIED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PREVIOUS OWNERS, THE SERVICE OF ONE FORD RECALL, AND THE EXISTENCE OF A SECOND FORD RECALL. THAT IS THE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL 03S04, DATED AUGUST 2003. CERTAIN 2001-2002 MODEL YEAR 2-DOOR EXPLORER/EXPLORER SPORT* VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, BUT AT THE LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM JOB #1, 2001 THROUGH JOB LAST 2002. IN 2001, THE EXPLORER 2-DOOR WAS RENAMED EXPLORER SPORT. AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE IDENTIFIED OASIS. IN ADDITION, FOR A LIST OF VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO YOUR DEALERSHIP, VISIT THE WEBSITE. THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE ON APRIL 5, 2006. SOME OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE ONE LETTER DESCRIBING BOTH PROGRAMS. FOR CUSTOMERS CONVENIENCE, PLEASE COMPLETE BOTH PROGRAMS 03S03 AND 03S04 DURING ONE CUSTOMER VISIT. THE REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL IS IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, A BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE DRIVER SEAT BACK FRAME MAY FRACTURE. IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, THE CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE LOOSENESS OR NOISE IN THE SEAT. IN EXTREME CASES THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT OR THE SECOND ROW CUSHION. THE OCCUPANT COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. *TR

MY 4 DOOR EXPLORER IS EQUIPPED WITH RECLINER HIGH BACK SEATS. ABOUT A 2 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND THE SEAT ON THE FRONT LEFT HAND (DRIVER SIDE) IT RECLINE WITH OUT WARNING UNTIL IS CAME IN CONTACTED WITH THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION. I WENT TO A FORD DEALER SHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR SUCH PROBLEM. I HAVE SEND AND MADE CALLS AND SEND LETTERS TO FORD, BUT THEY HAVE FAIL TO ANSWER ANY OF MY LETTERS. *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER. PER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V281000 ON OTHER FORD EXPLORER SPORT MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINER WHERE THE SEAT WOULD RECLINE DURING ACCELERATION , CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTACT WITH STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE 2001 FORD EXPLORER FELL OUTSIDE OF THE TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL YET HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM ASKING TO EXPAND THE TIME FRAME SINCE SAME CONDITIONS EXISTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER GRABBED THE DRIVER, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE AND HIT THE CURB. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

JOHN KILLEN WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRUCK, WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT COMPLETELY RECLINED. APPARENTLY THE SEAT HAD BROKEN. THE BOLT CONNECTING THE TOP PORTION OF THE "HIGH-BACK" SEAT TO THE ASSEMBLY RECLINER HAD SPLIT IN HALF. THE SEAT CAN NOT BE PUT BACK INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT HAVING TO BE PROPPED UP. JOHN HAD TALKED TO A NEIGHBOR ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THE NEIGHBOR STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THERE WAS THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET. JOHN HAD CALLED FORD TO INQUIRE THE RECALL, AND TO STATE THAT THE SEAT IN HIS TRUCK HAD BROKEN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. JOHN CALLED A SECOND TIME AND A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER REP STATED THAT HIS TRUCK HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED. JOHN CALLED A THIRD TIME AND THE CUSTOMER REP STATED THAT HIS TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL- EVEN THOUGH THE PART THAT BROKE IN JOHN'S DRIVER SEAT WAS THE SAME PART DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. NOW FORD WANTS JOHN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR ON THE DEFECTED PART.*JB

I FOUND A RECALL DATED AUG. 5, 2003 ON AUTOSITE.COM, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR RECALL BY BOHN FORD. I HAVE A 2001 FORD SPORTS TRAC. MY SEATS JUST FALL BACK WITHOUT WARNING, DOES AN ACCIDENT HAVE TO OCCUR FOR MY SEATS TO BE REPAIRED BY FORD? SHOULDN'T THIS BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY? WHAT VEHICLES WERE RECALLED IN AUG. 5, 2003 IF NOT MY MAKE AND MODEL?

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. SHE FOUND RECALL 03V281000 FOR SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, 03V281000. BUT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE HER VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. FRONT SEATS DID NOT LOCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IF SEAT BACKS WERE PRESSED ON THE SEAT THEY WILL GIVE AND FALL INTO THE RECLINED POSITION. SHE HAD NOT ANYONE LOOK AT SEATS TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT: THE FRONT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS' SEAT SEVERED OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY SEAT COLLAPSE UNDER NEAT CAUSING MY BODY TO SLOUCH. I STARTED TO SWERVE THE CAR BUT HAD UNDER CONTROL AND LUCKILY CAUSED NO ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY , AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW SEAT FRAME AND CUSHION SINCE THE SEAT FRAME BROKE, THEY EVEN SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS HAPPENED OR SEEN IT HAPPEN. THEY TOLD ME SINCE IT DOES NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH I HAD PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THAT I WOULD HAVE PAY FOR IT AND THAT IT WILL COST ME ALMOST 400 DOLLARS. I TOLD THEM THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A SEAT FRAME THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK, I EVEN CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT WE WILL TELL THE ENGINEERS AND THE ONLY THING THEY CAN OFFER WAS DISCOUNT. I AM NOT A HEAVY PERSON AND ANYWAY NO MATTER HOW HEAVY YOU ARE A SEAT FRAME SHOULD NOT BREAK OR COLLAPSE AT ANY POINT OF TIME. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH FORD IS BLAMING ME FOR BREAKING THE PART AND IT IS MY FAULT. LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK. *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE BOLT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THREE MONTHS LATER THE POPPING NOISE STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE BOLT WAS FINE BUT THAT THE LEVER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE LEVER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

THE DRIVER SEAT LOOSE, SEAT TRACK BROKE. REPLACED SEAT TRACK. *BF THE WELD ON THE SEAT TRACK HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

PASSENGER SIDE LATCH NOT CATCHING ON FRONT SEAT. I HURT MY UPPER BACK AND NECK. THE SEAT JUST GOES BACK ON ITS OWN. *AK

RECALL 03V28100 REGARDING HIGH BACK SEAT. CONSUMER WAS REACHING BACK TRYING TO PICK UP SOMETHING BEHIND THE SEAT AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK KEPT FLYING FORWARD WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP. T HE CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK HAD A FAILURE THAT CAUSED IT TO SQUEAK AND NOT TO WORK EFFICIENTLY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THIS PART 5 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEATS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE IS IN THE REMEDY SCOPE FOR RECAL 03V281000 SUBJECT: HIGH BACK SEATS. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 45-50 MPH THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPAIRED SEAT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN. *AK THE PIN ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE THE SEAT BACK ATTACHED TO THE PIVOT WITH THE SEAT BOTTOM HAD SNAPPED TWICE WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSED BACKWARDS 6-8 INCHES. *SCC *JB

THE SEAT IS DESIGNED WIT A HEAD RESTRAINT THAT IS TOO LOW AND CAUSED A PERSONS HEAD TO SNAP BACK RESULTING IN INJURY. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OPHER PEOPLE.*AK

CCONSUMER STATE THAT THE SEAT SQUEAKED AND IT WAS TAKEN IN AND THEY FOUND 3 CRACKS IN THE BASE AND THEY REPLACED IT AND THE CONSUMER STATE THAT THE SEAT STILL SQUEAK THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT IS OK NOTHING WRONG. *MJ

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SECOND ROW SEAT FLIPPING OVER WHEN EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *MJ CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BOTTOMS ON THE BACK SEAT FLIP, THE REAR OF THE BOTTOM ON SEATS FLIPS FORWARD AND PASENGER SLIDES OFF SEAT. *SLC

REAR BENCH SEAT IS NOT STATIONERY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR SEAT LIFTS UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN SEAT TO ALMOST BE THROWN TO FRONT OF VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN MANY TIMES INQUIRING ABOUT THE SQUEAKING IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. THE BASE OF THE SEAT FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE SEAT HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE SQUEAKING STILL EXISTS. *JG

SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE CONSUMER HAS BEEN INQUIRING ABOUT A SQUEAKING OR CREAKING NOISE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED BUT THE CREAKING CONTINUES. *JG

SEAT DOES NOT RELEASE TO LET BACK PASSENGERS OUT OF TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SECOND SET OF SEAT PROBLEMS. I OWNED AN EXPLORER SPORT IN 2000 AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK AND IF SOME THING HAPPENS TO ME UP FRONT, THEY ARE TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. SEEMS TO BE A SEAT MECHANISM PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. THIS IS ACTUALLY A LIFE/SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH SEAT BACK LATCH MECHANISM FOR SECOND ROW OF SEATS FAILED, ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

CUSTOMER COMPLAINS THAT BACK BENCH SEAT IS OF SUCH DESIGN THAT WHEN CHILDREN SIT ON IT, AND BRAKE IS APPLIED SEAT WILL MOVE UP, AND START TO FLIP FORWARD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ADULTS SIT ON BENCH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SEAT. *AK

THE REAR SEATS IN THE EXPLORER FLIP FORWARD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THEM WHEN STOPPING FAST. THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK DOWN IN ANY WAY. THIS IS HOW THEY ARE BUILT. TRIED TO RETURN THE EXPLORER 1 WEEK AFTER THE LEASE FORD TOLD ME IT'S A DESIGN FLAW, CAN'T BE FIXED.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE BACKWARDS ON REAR IMPACT FROM A TRUCK. *AK

THE REAR SEATS DO NOT LOCK DOWN, CAUSING THE TOP OF SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN SOMEONE EXITS THE BACK SEAT. WHEN THE SEAT COMES FORWARD IT OPENS A PINCH POINT THAT HAS PINCHED THE HANDS OF 3 THAT HAVE RIDDEN IN THE BACK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL AGES BUT ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN!*AK

THE SEATS DO NOT HAVE A SEPERATE HEAD REST THAT IS ADJUSTABLE ACCORDING TO SIZE. ACCORDINGLY, A PERSON OF AVERAGE HEIGHT SITTING IN EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT IS TO FAR FROM THE TOP OF THE SEAT TO GET ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN AN ACCIDENT. GIVEN TODAY'S SAFETY STANDARDS, I EXPECT MORE FROM A 2001 LIMITED EDITION AUTOMOBILE. MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE MAJORITY OF HIS INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MITIGATED IF THESE SEATS WERE DESIGNED PROPERLY.*AK

SECOND ROW SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY ANCHORED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK WHEN REAR SEAT ARE IN UPRIGHT POSITION, BACKK OF SEAT REMAINS LOCKED BUT SEAT PART MOVES IN CATAPULTING FASHION. *YH

WHEN STOPPING, THE PASSENGER SEAT TRACK RELEASES THE LOCK AND THE SEAT "SLINGS" FORWARD WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN IT. IT HAS SENT MY STEP-DAUGHTER INTO THE DASH AS THE SEAT SLIDE FOWARD. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT STOP IT SINCE THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS MOVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DAILY OCCURRENCE. *AK