NHTSA Complaint #10445059 — 2000 FORD RANGER

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINER RETENTION BOLT HEADS SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO FALL BACK AGAINST BACK WALL OF TRUCK CAB. ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVOIDED AS HANDS MOMENTARILY CAME OFF OF STEERING WHEEL; FORTUNATELY, TRUCK WAS NOT AN EXTENDED CAB VERSION SO CONTROL WAS REGAINED QUICKLY. 1ST BOLT PROBABLY HAD BROKEN OFF SOME TIME IN THE PAST, (DATE UNKNOWN); 2ND BOLT HEAD BROKE ON DATE INDICATED. FORD ISSUED RECALL 03S04S1 IN 2006 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1998 - 2001 EXPLORER; HOWEVER, FORD STATES RECALL 03S04S1 DOES NOT COVER RANGER EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THE SAME SEAT DESIGN AND BOLTS ARE USED IN BOTH MODELS. OTHER RECALLS HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR RECLINER PROBLEMS IN FORD SUV'S (SEE RECALL 03V281000) IN THIS SAME MODEL YEAR 2000 TIMEFRAME. *TR