NHTSA Complaint #10227921 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

DRIVERS SEATBACK FAILURE. THE DRIVERS SEAT IN OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER COLLAPSED. THE UPPER PORTION OF OUR SEAT SUDDENLY FLEW BACKWARDS ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT STRUCK THE REAR SEAT. LUCKILY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. MY WIFE WAS HURLED BACKWARDS HER FEET FLYING UPWARDS AND STRIKING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. HER HANDS CAME OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHE WAS LEFT PRONE STARING AT THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A GREAT CONCERN TO NHTSA SINCE ANY DRIVER EXPERIENCING SUCH A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WOULD BE IN GRAVE DANGER. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT AND RESEARCHING ISSUES WITH EXPLORER SEATS I FOUND THE 1998 EXPLORER RECALL THAT EXACTLY DESCRIBED OUR SEAT FAILURE. THE SAME EXACT BOLT IN THE 1998 RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR SEAT COLLAPSE. I HAVE SAID BOLT ( BROKEN IN TWO PIECES)AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE NHTSA EXAMINING IT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO BAD BOLTS OR IF THE SEAT DESIGN CAUSED THE BOLT TO FAIL. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE BOLT WITH A NEW BOLT AND STEEL SPACER (I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE REMEDY CALLED FOR IN THE 1998 RECALL) IF I HAD NOT REMOVED THE SEAT THE WHOLE PROCESS WOULD HAVE TAKEN UNDER 20 MINUTES AND THE PARTS CAN BE HAD FOR UNDER $2 . PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT DOESN'T YOUR WEB SEAT SAY THAT IF A SAFETY RELATED REPAIR IS NECESSARY THE MANUFACTURER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR SAID REPAIR. THIS REPAIR CLEARLY FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY. I WOULD HOPE NHTSA SHARES MY CONCERN AND DOES A THROUGH INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU, GREG CAMPBELL *TR