7.7
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $380
- Average Mileage:
- 48,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 7 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace door panel (7 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
Door panel arm rest splitting and falling inside the door. Very poor design, have never seen an armrest do something like this. There appears to be a lack of support for the arm rest cover. Dealer unable or unwilling to help.
- Jack C., Wayne, US
click to see larger images
I noticed the split in my driver’s side armrest more than a year ago. I brought up the issue to the dealership then because I have extended warranty. Initially they said it was cover and the part was on order....Then the door recall came by and after that more than a year after I mentioned they told me that it was not cover and the entire door panel would have to be replaced.
This seems to be an issue with the internal structure in that area that seems to be made of some sort of SL/ SLA type material used on digital printing rather than molded plastic. Therefore, if the structure is fracture/broken underneath every time you open the door is like pushing against a pillow thus the vinyl (Leather like) hits the broken pieces inside causing the tear in the outer material and spread every time the door is open.
As an engineer I suspect this issue must have been know before and fixing it is not as cost effective as just to fix a few as they appear. However, this is not a wear and tear.
- M P., Fairfield, NJ, US
click to see larger images
I noticed the split in my drivers side armrest about 7 months ago. The dealership stated that the entire door panel would have to be replaced. This seems to be an issue with the quality of work rather than wear and tear. My vehicle is 3.5 years old (under 3 yrs when the issue arose) and should not have an issue like this already. I've been quoted $800 to have this issue repaired since my platinum extended warranty does not cover it.
- cg1908, College Station, TX, US
First had the driver's side replaced and most recently had to also replace the passenger side. Fortunately both panels were covered under the 3 year warranty
- siala, Ottawa, ON, Canada
The seam on the interior driver side door is splitting. When I called the dealership, they said they would have to replace the whole door. When I asked if this was covered since this was not due to wear and tear, just poor workmanship, they said no.
- Kristie G., Perrysburg, OH, US
MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL HAS STARTED TO SPLIT ALONG THE SEAM. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2011 THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY ENDED IN SEPTEMBER. THE BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANT WE PURCHASED THE PREMIUM WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER TRIM ITEMS.
- Marilyn W., Oklahoma City, OK, US
click to see larger images
This happen when my car was fairly new. I take care of the leather. And when I got the estimate to fix it was absurd. It’s extremely frustrating and it’s unsightly. It really brings the car down a whole level.
I love my Explorer but all the interior issues (ie the vents in the rear ceiling, the covers to the outlets, the arm rest and the center console) all having such issues is really a serious deterrent from purchasing another one.
- Courtney T., Naugatuck, US