NHTSA Complaint #10100503 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

ON 11/19/04 I ALMOST WAS INVOLVED ON AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER BACK SEAT OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2000, 65,000 MILES VIN #[XXX]. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 11/22/04, AND I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN BOLT AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT AND THEY DID THE REPAIR FREE OF COST. WHEN I SEATED ON THE REPAIRED SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE BACK SEAT IS NO LONGER PARALLEL TO THE STEERING WHEEL; IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2" TWISTED TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, WHEN I HOLD THE TOP OF THE BACK SEAT I CAN TILT IT FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND IT HAS ABOUT 6" OF PLAY. I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. THE FORD CO. SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A BROKEN TRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE MECHANISM SINCE A DRIVER SEAT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YEARS OR 65,000 MILES. THE SEAT IS UNSAFE AND ACTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME WITH THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM AND CAN SAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE. SINCERELY,[XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/04/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)