2000 Ford Explorer Seats Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SEAT FRACTURED AND ROTATED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED TO THE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BECAME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,199. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/11/17*CN

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH MY CEO. WHEN I SAT DOWN THE SEAT FELL BACK AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT CATCH AGAIN. I TOOK MY LIFE INTO MY HANDS DRIVING HOME THAT EVENING. CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEY NEVER INFORMED US OF A RECALL. UNTIL EXPLORING THE INTERNET TODAY 10-25-2013 WE DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A RECALL AT ALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V281000/NHTSA ACTION #PE03020 OF AUGUST 5-2013. NOW WE CAN NOT LOCATE THE PART. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT, WITHOUT WARNING, RECLINED COMPLETELY. MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. CURRENTLY USING THE REAR SEAT TO PROP UP THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNTIL A REPLACEMENT SEAT CAN BE FOUND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS RECLINING FARTHER THAN NORMAL. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAT BACK, THE SEAT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR ON THE SEAT AND IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,924.

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BOTTOM FRAME FAILED IN A NON MOVING AREA. THIS CAUSE THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO FALL BACK AS THE HINGE FOR SEAT TILT CAME OUT OF THE TOP DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD A WRECK. STRUCTURAL STEEL IN A SEAT FRAME SHOULD NOT FAIL IN AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A WRECK ON THE SEAT ABUSED. THE DRIVER WEIGH 200 LBS OR LESS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED, AN UNEXPECTED VOLTAGE OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE SEAT AND STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A WIRING SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH BURNED THE FOAM PADDING OF THE SEAT. THE HEATING UNIT WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 12/30/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/05/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT (THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME) FRACTURED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOOT PEDALS. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V281000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER) OR RECALL NUMBER PE03020AND. FORD STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SEAT HAD ALREADY FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE DUE TO MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND, UPON RECOVERY, WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT COMPLETED IN A TIMELY FASHION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE FRONT DRIVERS' SEAT FRAME NEAR THE SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT LEVER BROKE WHILE DRIVING, FORCING THE DRIVERS SEAT-BACK TO PLUMMET BACKWARDS ALARMING THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE DRIVERS SEAT IN THE REAR. THEY COULD'VE BEEN CRUSHED. THE ONLY EVENT LEADING UP TO THE SEAT FRAME BREAKING WAS PUTTING ALL MY WEIGHT INTO THE SEAT, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT. *TR

TL*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 *TR

1) DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSE. 2) FORD ISSUED A RECALL CLAIMING A DEFECTIVE DRIVER SEAT BOLT 3) TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THE RECALLED BOLT IS BROKEN AND THE CAUSE OF THE SEAT FAILURE. FORD WANTS $460.00 TO REPLACE THE RECALLED BOLT. WHY DOES FORD EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR A RECALL. 4) SEAT WILL NOT STAY UPRIGHT AT ALL SINCE THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE INSPECTION. *JB

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. *JB

(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. *NM

THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BRACKET WELD BROKE FREE AND CAUSED MY SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE SEAT BACK RECALL. SOME TIME LATER I HAD NOTICED THAT THE SEAT FELT LOOSE. THE FASTENERS BROKE OFF THE END OF THE FRONT DRIVE ROD WHICH ALLOWED THE SEAT BRACKET TO SLIP OFF THE FRONT DRIVE ROD..WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER TO EVALUATE THE SAID THAT THE WHOLE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED A COST OF $586.00. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. I NOTIFIED FORD AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. *JB

LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKET WELD BROKE FREE AND CAUSED ME TO LEAN FORWARD UNEXPETEDLY WHILE MAKING A TURN. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT SOMETHING FEELING LOOSE DURING THE RECALL OF THE SEAT LEANBACK FASTENER(RECAL #03S04 A99).THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT TRACK AT MY EXPENSE. THIS WAS ON 10-9-03. I BELIEVE THE WELD HAD BROKEN FREE AT THE TIMES WHEN THE SEAT LEANBACK FASTENERS BROKE BUT DIDN'T COMPLETELY SLIP OFF THE BRACKET. OVER TIME AND USE THE BRACKET LOOSENED UP ENOUGH TO POP OFF THE SEAT BRACKET DRIVE ROD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUNSET FORD AND THE SERVICE TECH AND SERVICE MGR DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY JUST SAID IT'S TOO OLD AND HAS 83,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I FIND IT SAD THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM OR WHAT MIGHT HAVE LED UP TO OR CAUSED IT. THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS SAID FORD EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, BUT I THOUGHT SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THIS IF IT IS. THE AUTO BODY SHOP SPOT-WELDED THE BRACKET BACK IN PLACE FOR $74.10. I ALSO CALLED FORD'S !-800 # BUT THEY ALSO DENIED MY COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER HIGH BACK SEAT REPAIRED. THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND THE MANUFACTURED HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CONSUMER TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RESURFACING. DEALER STATED THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND LEANED AGAINST THE BACK SEAT.*AK *NM

FRONT SEAT HEATER BURNED PADDING MATERIAL AND LEATHER SEAT LINER. THE BURN HOLE WAS 2" IN LENGTH AND ABOUT 1/2" DEEP INTO THE CUSHION PADDING. *JB

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). *AK *NM

AUTO ACCIDENT, REAR ENDED AT A RED LIGHT, SUBSTAINED SURIOUS INJURIES, MY CAR 000 FORD EXPLORE DRIVER SEAT BROKE AFTER THE INPACT THE DRIVER SEAT. RECLINER BOLT BROKE. *AK

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. *AK

THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTENDED HEAD REST FOR THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATS. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS HEADS TO FLING BACKWARDS WITH FORCE WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. BOTH OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEATS SUSTAINED SEVERE SORE NECKS, AND HEADACHES. *AK *SC

CONSUMER HAD ALREADY DONE RECALL 03-V-281-000 REPAIRS. SENT DOCUMENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. AND WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. *AK

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. *AK FORD REFUSED TO FIX THE WARRANTED PARTS. *SCC *NLM

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.*AK

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. *AK

WHEN THE REAR SEATS WERE FOLDED DOWN, THE BUTTONS FAILED TO LOCK THE SEAT IN PLACE TO ENLARGE THE TRUNK AREA. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO BE AT LEAST 7 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THE SEAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO LOCK SECURELY INTO PLACE. *JB

WHILE BACKING UP SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

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 *AK

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.

THE SEAT FELL INTO A RECLINING POSITION. *TT

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ON MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER BROKE AND WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NLM

UPON ENTERING MY VEHICLE, SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND RESTINNG MY BACK AGAINST THE SEAT WHILE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE BACK OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED.THIS ALL OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING STARTED AND ENGAGED IN ANY GEAR, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ONLY REASON THE INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE SEAT, I DID SUSTAIN A BACK INJURY/STRAIN.

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EVENTUALLY BURNED, THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NLM

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT BROKE, AND BACK WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE SITTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. AND DRIVER WENT BACKWARDS TOWARD THE REAR SEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.JLG.

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*AK

CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER DESIGNED THE TETHER HARDWARE FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO TAILOR THE FRONT SEAT INSTEAD OF THE BACK. BY LAW IT IS RECOMMENDED CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER ARE TO BE BUCKLED IN THE BACK SEAT. THAT IS THE SAFEST PLACE. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS NOT OPERABLE FOR BACK SEAT OCCUPANTS. *JG

AFTER TAKEOFF DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL BACK, BOLT HAD SNAPPED.*AK *MR

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 MPH REAR END COLLISION, HITTING A TREE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. *AKJG

SEATBACK DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST WHIPLASH. FOR PEOPLE 6 FEET OR TALLER, VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ADJUSTABLE HEAD RESTS. *AK *JB

UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER CONSTANTLY GETS AN ELECTRIC SHOCK, THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SEAT MATERIAL IN THE VEHICLE. NLM

REAR SEAT LOOSE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR INSTALLATION OF A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX SAID IT WAS NOT A DEFECT OR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CHILD WOULD BE SECURED TO THE FLOOR. THE SEAT BEING LOOSE WOULD NOT EFFECT THEIR SAFETY.

OUR 3 YR. OLD DAUGHTER WAS PUTTING THE SEAT UP TO GET IN TO THE BACK AND WHEN THE SEAT CAME FORWARD THE TIP OF HER FINGER WAS CUT OFF BY SEAT SPRING MECANISM. THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MECANISM IS COVERED IN PLASTIC, BUT THE BACK SIDE IS OPEN. A VERTCLE PIECE OF FLAT BAR THAT IS MOUNTED STATIONARY TO THE SEAT MECANISM HAS A HOLE DRILLED THROUGH IT AND THE MOVING PART OF THE SEAT HAS ANOTHER PIECE OF FLAT BAR MOUNTED TO IT THAT SLIDES PAST THE STATIONARY PIECE WHICH HAS THE HOLE IN IT WHEN THE SEAT LEANS FORWARD FOR ENTRY INTO THE BACK SEAT. IT'S AT JUST THE RIGHT HEIGHT FOR SMALL CHILDREN TO REACH WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT UP. OUR DAUGHTER WAS USING HER RIGHT HAND TO RELEASE THE SEAT LATCH AND USING HER LEFT HAND TO SUPPORT HERSELF WHEN HER INDEX FINGER ON HER LEFT HAND WENT INTO THE HOLE AND WHEN THE SEAT RELEASED THE FLAT BAR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT SLID PAST THE HOLE, SLICING HER FINGER OFF. *AK