NHTSA Complaint #10156854 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

HERE IS THE COMPLAINT(S) SENT TO FORD MOTOR CO ABOUT MY 1999 EXPLORER: I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SEAT BREAKING. IT YIELDS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS REPEATED PROBLEM. I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY CAR AND MONEY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR AGAIN. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE PAST AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS IN WRITING AND LET ME KNOW MY OPTIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I THEN CALLED THEN AND THEN EMAILED THEM THIS FOLLOW UP:I CALLED THE NUMBER YOU REQUESTED AND SPOKE WITH JASON AND AM DISSATISFIED WITH ANSWER HE GAVE ME. HE DID SAY HE WOULD REPORT MY CASE TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT AS I BELIEVE THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR DRIVER'S SEATS ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND ARE UNSAFE. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM IS THAT THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM BENDS AND THEN THE FRAME FRACTURES AND THEN THE SEAT CAN POSSIBLE SNAP OFF. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. I AM A REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BY PROFESSION SO I UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THIS ISSUE. YOUR ENGINEERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR CALCULATIONS AND/OR CHECK THE METALLURGY OF THE SEAT COMPONENTS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A PROPERLY DESIGNED SEAT TO BREAK LIKE MINE HAS. PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE LACK OF STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. *NM