1999 FORD EXPLORER Seats Problems

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE REQUIRING ME TO HEAVILY BRAKE AND SHARPLY SWERVE TO AVERT COLLISION. BECAME IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT HEADRESTS OF FRONT SEATS PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO (REPEAT NO) INJURY (E,G. WHIPLASH) PROTECTION. WHEN SITTING IN FRONT SEATS THE HEADRESTS CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE POSITIONED CLOSE TO THE HEAD OF THE OCCUPANT. THIS, IN TURN, PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR SEVERE INJURY SUCH AS "WHIPLASH" TO OCCUR. ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE SAFER REPLACEMENT HEADRESTS FROM FORD AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS THEY WERE REPORTEDLY NEVER MANUFACTURED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT PREMATURELY DETERIORATED AND THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FRACTURE CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE STRUCTURALLY UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED FARTHER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RECLINING BOLT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE METAL TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,118.

SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BOLTING OF THE SEAT FAILED DUE TO THE WEIGHT CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE BASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE FIXED THE SEAT AT HIS EXPENSE. UPDATED 12/29/10

EVERY SINCE I HAD MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER WORKED ON FOR THE SEAT RECLINER RECALL I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY DRIVER'S SEAT MOVING LIKE IT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE PIN HOLDING MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT TO THE RAIL THAT THE SIDE SLIDES ON, FRONT TO REAR, HAD PULLED OUT OF THE HOLE. THIS MEANS THAT MY SEAT WAS NOT SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE PIN BACK INTO THE SEAT RAIL BUT IT WILL NOT STAY IN. THE RESULT IS THAT THE SEAT REMAINS UNSECURED TO THE FLOOR AND WILL FALL BACK IF I LEAN BACK IN IT! *NM

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...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD THEN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CONTACT SITS IN THE SEAT, THE SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT DOES NOT RECLINE. IF THE SEAT IS ADJUSTED TO LEAN FORWARD, IT WILL NOT GO BACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SEAT TRACK IS BENT. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE SEAT WILL RECLINE BUT WILL NOT ADJUST. IT IS FROZEN ON THE TRACK AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER CANNOT REACH THE GAS PEDAL . *NM

CONSUMER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT (BOTTOM FRAME) 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THE SEAT FRAME HAS BROKEN IN THE SAME MANNER. *BF THE FRAME METAL RIPPED/TORE AT THE LOCATION OF THE MOUNTING BOLT FOR THE RECLINER LEVER. THE TEARING CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO RECLINE WITHOUT WARNING ON THE LEFT SIDE. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER FELL BACKWARDS AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE FRAME AT THE BASE OF THE SEAT BROKE IN TWO. *AK THE METAL BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE SIDE OF THE SIDE ADJUSTMENT BROKE AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO FALL BACK. *NM

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER BOLT. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE IN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES TO GET RECALL WORK DONE, AFTER IT WAS COMPLETED, THE SEAT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO DAMAGE DONE IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN THE MALFUNCTION AND A YEAR LATER GETTING THE RECALL BOLT FIXED. THE DIFFERENT BRACKETS AND BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE SEAT BROKEN. DRIVER IS RELYING ON STEERING COLUMN FOR SUPPORT WHILE DRIVING, AND ALSO HAS BACK PAIN DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT. THE SEAT RECLINER LEVER IS BENT AND EXPOSED, WHICH IS TEARING THE FABRIC OF THE SEAT AND ALSO SCRAPES AGAINST THE DRIVER WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING BRUISES AND PAIN ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S LEG. ATTEMPTS TO WORK WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND THE DEALER HAVE PROVED FUTILE.*AK

03-V-281-000:THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

CROSSBAR UNDER FRONT OF POWER SEAT BROKE I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED NOT JUST THE BAR. IT IS LIKE DRIVING ON WATER(FLOATING AROUND). THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER IF THE MOTOR FAILED OR IF IT WAS A NONPOWERED SEAT. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED AS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER SEAT WILL FULLY RECLINE BACK CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE SEAT LATCH ASSEMBLY BROKE. *AK *JB

THE FRONT ROW ELECTRIC BUCKET SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *JB THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT, HAD CRYSTALLIZED AND BROKE. SCC

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH BOTTOM BOLT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FOLD BACK. CONSUMER HAD BARELY SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT.*AK

THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR SEAT CUSHION WAS COMING LOOSE. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THE SEAT WAS FIXED. AFTER A FEW DAYS LATER IT BROKE AGAIN, THIS TIME NOT ONLY THE MECHANISM, BUT THE PLASTIC SIDE COVER AND THE SEAT COVER WERE DAMAGED. CONSUMER STATED THERE MAY BE A DESIGN DEFICIENCY OF THE MECHANISM OR A MANUFACTURER DEFICIENCY OF THE ENTIRE SEAT. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, DRIVER'S SEATBACK REST COLLAPSED COMPLETELY BACKWARD. DEALER NOTIFED AND NOTICE THAT BOLT WAS SHEARING OFF. *AK CONSUMER ADDS SEAT BOLTS SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE AND DRIVERS HANDS WENT OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL. *TT

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACK. DEALER DETERMINED IT BROKE AT SEAT BOTTOM. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH A BOLT IN DRIVERS SEAT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE AND CAUSED SEATBACK TO FALL INTO SECOND ROW OF SEATS. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S FOOT HIT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, INCREASING SPEED OF VEHICLE, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE TRAVELED AN ESTIMATED DISTANCE OF 50-60 FEET BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TREE. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR HEAD AND SHOULDER INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. NOTE: PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK

DRIVER SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORWARD. ALSO, RECLINED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK

RECEIVE A STATIC SHOCK UPON STEPPIMG OUT OF VEHICLE AND TOUCHING DOOR TO CLOSE IT. FORD HAS A SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE #03373 WHICH CONFIRMS THIS BUT STATES THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION. I OWNED A 1992 FORD EXPLORER AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. IN ADDITION, NO ONE SPENDS $28,000 FOR A VEHICLE AND RECEIVES A STATIC DISCHARGE AND FINDS THAT ACCEPTABLE. PROBLEM #2 IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELF PERIODICALLY.

ARM REST IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK IS IN THE WAY OF WHERE THE CHILD SEAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY MAKE NO OTHER SEATS. *AK

WHEN LIFTING THE LATCH ON THE SEAT, THE LATCH SPRING FLIPPED OFF, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD ON THE RAILS, AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT GOES UP AND DOWN. *AK

FRONT SEAT HINGE MADE OF 3 STEEL SLOTTED PLATES, THE MIDDLE PLATE SLIDES W/MOVEMENT OF SEAT. WITH SEATBACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ALL THREE SLOTS LINE UP, ALLOWING CHILD TO EASILY INSERT FINGER THROUGH HOLE. UPON MOVING SEATBACK FORWARD, MIDDLE PLATE SLID, AMPUTATING CHILDS INDEX FINGER.