10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 28,074 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.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver side seat would move back and forth and failed to lock in place. The dealer stated that the recliner bolt failed. The contact received NHTSA campaign id notice number 03V281000 (seats:front assembly:recliner) in 2004. The manufacturer refused to perform the recall repair because of the time frame. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 94,848. Updated 10/03/07
- Ripon, WI, USA
We took our 2000 Ford Explorer into santa margarita Ford for maintenance. We were told that the vehicle was subject to recall 03S04, replacement of a seat bolt. The dealer requested authorization from Ford to do the repairs. Ford said that they would not pay for repairs. The dealer said that there was apparently somee damage to the driver's seat. I contacted Ford customer service and all they offered was to pay $100. I was unable to speak with any individual who made the decision to not completely pay for the needed repairs. $100 is unacceptable; I expect Ford to pay for any and all repairs.
- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA
(1) backing up. We accidentally hit a pole in a parking lot. (2) drivers seat back slipped backwards and will not stay in position now...keeps slipping backwards with minimal pressure on it...cannot lean on it fully (3)will have to be disassembled and repaired..not sure what yet.
- Stamford, TX, USA
1) inadequate driver's seat latch - driver cannot position seat back properly; 2) running boards rusting without cause; 3) roof rack peeling without cause, and nothing has been done to correct these problems; Ford dealerships cannot explain why the running board is rusting or the reason for the roof rack peeling.
- Katy, TX, USA
While driving the consumer swerved onto the shoulder and hit a guardrail while attempting to avoid hitting a vehicle which had pulled out in front of her. The driver's seat collapsed during the collision which resulted in loss of control. As a result the vehicle flipped over three times. The driver sustained injuries to her neck, head and hip. The vehicle recliner bolt was recall and replaced prior to the accident (recall # 03S04).
- Fair Play, SC, USA
The front driver's side seat failed to stay in the upright position. Seven months earlier, dealership performed high back seat recall 03V281000 repairs. Dealership inspected the seat, and indicated that this failure was related to the recall bolt that was replaced. It may be the racket assembly or one of the seat frames.
- Lansdowne, PA, USA
Ford recalls (03S03 / 03S04). The driver seat back may recline while driving posing a safety hazard. Also, the speed control on the vehicle may not disengage due to a binding condition between the speed control strand cover and the cable conduit. The consumer received a safety recall pertaining to the above mentioned, however she was unable to get the work performed in a timely manner as a result of the dealer not having the recalled parts.
- Harrisburg, PA, USA
Driver's seat bolt snapped and causing the seat to recline without warning. The dealer told the consumer that there would not be any parts for recall#03V281000 repairs of high back seat. The driver's seat was bolted until March 2004. Ford refused to fix the warranted parts.
- Woodbridge, VA, USA
Went to sit in driver's seat and back support collapsed without warning. Subsequently, back support could not be locked in an upright position. Back support could have collapsed while moving at high speeds or collapsed upon a child in the backseat.
- Wausau, WI, USA
We have a 2000 Ford Explorer. The back portion (recliner) of the front seats were very loose. I had them inspected and found that the pivot bolt (recliner bolt) on both sides were broke off. The service department says they had never seen anything like this before and that this was very unusual. I looked under your website and found that an investigation is open as of 5/21/03 regarding similar situations. If it wouldn't have been for me being concerned about us falling to the backseat someday due to their looseness, a severe injury could maybe have occurred just like ones filed in the complaints you have on file.. I got the situation repaired (costing me $77.13). The servie department even gave me the bolts to show what had happened. I feel this should be investigated also and maybe I should be compensated for repairing this before a sever injury did occur.
- Plain, WI, USA
While backing up seat reclined without warning. Dealer notified.
- Chicago Ridge, IL, USA
2000 Ford Explorer 4dr AWD - the driver's seat unexpectedly went into the fully reclined position without warning while sitting in the seat. A Ford dealership identified the problem as a broken bolt. Repairs cost $240.22
- Indian Head, MD, USA
The drivers seatback in my wifes 2000 Explorer appears to be loose, it rocks fore and aft about one quarter of an inch.I am concerned that it will get progressively worse and possibily collaspe while driving.
- Flushing, NY, USA
The seat fell into a reclining position.
- San Marcos, CA, USA
While driving driver's side seatback bolt broke, and back went all the way back to the floor of vehicle.
- Harwick, PA, USA
I was lucky. I just came home, parked car. When I went into the back seat and touched the back of the driver seat it collapsed. If I were still driving I could have caused and accident and been possibly killed with my children in the vehicle. The back of the seat just collapsed
- Paramus, NJ, USA
After takeoff driver's seatback fell back, bolt had snapped.
- St.Louis, MO, USA
Seatback does not protect against whiplash. For people 6 feet or taller, vehicle does not have adjustable head rests.
- Thorn Hill, CD, USA
- Victorville, CA, USA