NHTSA Complaint #10138193 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XL 4 DOOR MODEL WITH 29744 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 3 DIFFERENT SAFETY RECALLS, THROTTLE CABLE, HOOD LATCH AND DRIVERS SEAT IN THE EARLY PART OF MY OWNERSHIP. ON SEPTEMBER 21 2005 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK THE DRIVERS SEAT FELL BACKWARDS ABOUT 4-5 INCHES MAKING ME MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NEARLY CAUSED AND ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT WHEN I GOT HOME IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE SEAT FRAME JUST IN FRONT OF THE HINGE MECHANISM HAD BROKEN AND BENT UPWARD ALLOWING THE ENTIRE MECHANISM AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO MOVE REARWARD. THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNUSABLE DUE TO THIS EXTREME SAFETY DEFECT. ON SEPTEMBER 22 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY FORD AT 5100 W ROSECRANS AVE. HAWTHORNE CA. 90250 AND PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE ADVISER AARON ESTRADA AND ASKED IF THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE SAFETY RECALL OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL AND THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY SEAT DEFECT AND OTHER THAN SELLING ME A NEW SEAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. SOUTH BAY FORD SAID THEY WANTED A MINIMUM OF $87 TO EVEN INITIATE A REPAIR TICKET TO LOOK AT THE DEFECTIVE SEAT. I NOW OWN A FORD VEHICLE THAT LOOKS TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION BUT IS IN FACT, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OR SOLD. I COULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE KNOWING IT COULD KILL THEIR FAMILY!. *JB