10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 19,555 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
A bolt that holds the driver's seat back upright broke, causing the seat to fully recline backwards immediately. This is the second time this seat bolt has failed. The original failure was in July, 1999 (NHTSA report #708738).
- Tecumseh, MI, USA
I have a 1996 Ford Explorer that just had it's front seat assembly fail and had to be replaced at a cost of over $300. I notice that Ford has issued a recall notice but it was not for 1996 but 1998 - 01 year Explorer. I spoke to the dealer that made the repair and them stated that there is not much difference between the 1996 and 1998 versions of this vehicle. They pointed me back to Ford. I believe that Ford is limiting this recall to save money. They should have included the 1996 model as well as other year models as evident by the problem my vehicle just experienced. The recall notice is below for reference. Thank you.. make : Ford model : Explorer year : 1998 NHTSA campaign id number : 03V281000 recall date : Aug 04, 2003 component: Seats:front assembly:recliner potential number of units affected : 1552880
- Easton, PA, USA
Recall 03V281000. The driver side seat bolt broke. The seat laid all the way to the back seat with the bolt broke.
- Macon, GA, USA
Seatback in my 1996 Ford Explorer ([xxx]) broke without warning while driving on the interstate. Cause is a fractured bolt in the reclining seatback latch. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Oswego, IL, USA
While driving seatback fell backwards, and consumer ran off the road before stopping. Has contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
- Wafften, SC, USA
I bought this SUV used and I thought I was getting a great vehicle, boy was I wrong. It has been one thing after another with this SUV. Please check all of my complaints this is an interior problem, these things cannot be caused by evey day use. The problems I am having are, back seat door handles are broke, the spare tire release broke the first time it was used, the air bag light went off and caused an inconvience to my family, the tires have been replaced and the alingment hasen't been right sense I've owned it, the back seat doesn't work properly, it will not release to fold forward, and the motor on the hatch hasen't worked properly from day one of my ownership. Please help me with this matter. Thank for all you do. Margie hulsey.
- Douglasville, GA, USA
A bolt that holds the driver's seat upright snapped, seatback collapsed.
- Warren, NJ, USA
The back support part of the seat collapsed while driving due to a crack in the adjustment lever. Dealer has been contacted.
- Bayonne, NJ, USA
When the seatback recline mechanism broke, I fell backwards and nearly lost control of the vehicle. I am only reporting this now because of a comment made by a service writer at the dealership where I had it fixed. He told me they had seen other failures like this and in fact had another customer coming in the follwing week to have the recline mechanism replaced.
- Tecumseh, MI, USA
Both driver's and passenger's side seats collapsed backwards during a rearend collision. Driver sustained injuries.
- Pleasantvi, NY, USA
- Long Beach, NY, USA