NHTSA Complaint #10374420 — 1997 FORD RANGER

I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF THE GROCERY STORE I HAD BEEN SHOPPING AT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE RECLINING SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CONTROLS THE ANGLE OF, AND LOCKS THE BACK OF THE SEAT INTO POSITION, GAVE WAY AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO GO BACKWARDS AS WELL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE WITHOUT CAUSING A COLLISION OR INJURY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT HOME, AND WITH INTERNET RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THE RECLINING SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN A WEAK POINT WITH FORD RANGER TRUCKS AND FORD EXPLORER SUV VEHICLES FOR YEARS. THE FORD DEALER/SERVICE CENTER THAT I DO BUSINESS WITH, NOW TELLS ME THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS OBSOLETE AND THEY WILL HAVE TO CONTACT VARIOUS DEALERS STILL LISTING IT IN THEIR INVENTORY TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THE PART, AS THE PARTS SUPPLIER FOR FORD THAT MADE THE REPLACEMENT LATCHES WENT OUT OF BUSINESS DURING THE BAD ECONOMY. I'M AMAZED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR GREAT HARM AND POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT.