I own a 1998 ford explorer xl 4 door model with 29744 original miles on it. The vehicle is in excellent condition and has never been involved in any kind of accident. The vehicle has been well maintained and was taken to the dealer for 3 different safety recalls, throttle cable, hood latch and drivers seat in the early part of my ownership. On september 21 2005 while driving the vehicle home from work the drivers seat fell backwards about 4-5 inches making me momentarily lose control of the vehicle and nearly caused and accident. Upon inspection of the seat when I got home it was apparent that the seat frame just in front of the hinge mechanism had broken and bent upward allowing the entire mechanism and the back of the seat to move rearward. The vehicle is now unusable due to this extreme safety defect. On september 22 2005 the vehicle was taken to south bay ford at 5100 w rosecrans ave. Hawthorne ca. 90250 and presented to the service adviser aaron estrada and asked if this was a result of the safety recall of the drivers seat. I was informed that this was not part of that recall and that ford was not responsible for this potentially deadly seat defect and other than selling me a new seat there was nothing they would do. I feel that this is a very dangerous safety defect that ford should be responsible for repairing. South bay ford said they wanted a minimum of $87 to even initiate a repair ticket to look at the defective seat. I now own a ford vehicle that looks to be in perfect condition but is in fact, the vehicle can not be driven or sold. I could never recommend this vehicle to anyone in good conscience knowing it could kill their family!.
1998 Ford Explorer seats complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 70, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The federal safety agency recall 03v281000; ford issued a high back seat recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall, but the seat reclined back, almost touching the second row cushion. Driver had to manually push the seat forward.
Defective bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to driver seat frame kept the seat from reclining. *bf campaign id number : 03v281000 the consumer received a recall letter which stated that drivers may experience looseness or noise in the seat and in extreme cases it could potentially cause one to lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals resulting in a crash. The dealer indicated that the consumer would have to pay $110. To have a component within the seat repaired so they could easily repair the recalled part. The consumer stated that she should not be made to pay for service that a recall was issued for. . *tc
Today, I was going to adjust my drivers seat and the lever that allows you to adjust the seat snapped off. I didn't use force or anything. Now my seat is unable to be adjusted.
While pulling up the seat lever driver 's seat would not move on its own. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the seat and lever needed to be replaced.
Drivers seat bolt broke, causing the seat to recline backwards. This occurred without any warning while vehicle was being driven. Dealership replaced the bolt, but not the seat.
Prior to receiving latch recall, the consumer experienced the defect and was told only the bolt would be replaced, not the latch. *ph
I was involved in an accident while driving a 1998 ford explorer. Due to black ice there was a loss of vehicle control. This resulted in a rear end collision with the concrete barrier at the side of the road. The drivers seat back collapsed, and the seat for aft adjusting mechanism failed. The seat back reclining mechanism had been fixed for the recent recall.
Dealership refuse to repair car parts that are important and have serious safty issues. Drivers car seat back collapse, accelerator pedal support bracket ell off the floor boad...needs to be welded back on.
On december 17,2003 the drivers side seat release on my 1998 ford explorer broke while I was trying to adjust the seat back. The steel that attaches the positioning lever to the mechanical part of the seat shirred off in a clean break and came off in my hand. My seat became stuck in a forward position while I was in the seat forcing me into a forward position. I had to drive in this position to the dealer where they used a large vice grip type wrench to release the seat back into a position so I could drive the car. At this time the seat is jammed in a static position while the remaining part of the steel is still in the reclining gear.
While driving 45 MPH seat reclined without warning. Dealer stated the reclining bolt cracked. No impact reported.
Driver's seat reclining lever broke. Had been bent for sometime. Will cost almost $200 to replace. Told by dealer that several people had been in with the same problem.
Consumer stated driver's side seat broke. When consumer received recall notice, he took vehicle to the dealer for repairs, and was told that since bolt did not break the recall did not apply to this vehicle. Consumer indicated that drivers' seat frame cracked, and he took it to the mechanic, and was told that this was a problem for the dealer. Also, consumer insisted that what the recall stated was exactly what happened to his vehicle.
Seat recliner mechanism failed on 1998 ford explorer.*mr the consumer received recall notice 03v-281000, related to the seat recliner mechanism bolt, after the vehicle's seat recliner mechanism fractured. The consumer wanted to know if his vehicle's failure was covered by the safety recall. The consumer took the vehicle to the nearest ford dealer to have the seat inspected by a technician. The consumer was informed that the recall only cover the replacement of the bolts, therefore the failure of the recliner handle would not be covered.
Consumer unable to take vehicle to have recall repair performed because consumer has been deployed to iraq.*mr consumer inquired as whether or not the repair would be free of charge when he returns home from iraq. The recall is on the reclining bolt that connects to the back of the seat.
While driving 20 MPH on a curve the reclining seat back lurched forward. This abrupt forward motion caused the recliner handle to break off. *ak *scc
The consumer was contacted regarding recall 03281000 related to the seat back frame. The vehicle seat never exhibited any symptoms of the recall prior to the vehicle being taken to the dealer. After the recall was performed the consumer noticed instability in the driver's seat. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer indicated that the repairs they performed did not cause the instability and that it may be the wearing of the truck that caused it. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that it sounded like the recall remedy failed and that they would send a complaint for. The consumer has not received the form. The warranty on the vehicle expired. Dealer stated nothing could be done. *ak
Vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall# 03v281000 repairs concerning high back seat failure. After the repairs were done, driver's seat back broke and fell all the way back. Dealer was refusing to do anymore repairs to the vehicle.
Dealership was not honoring the recall that has been extended to this year/ make and model vehicle. Vehicle had a broken seat. Dealership repaired the top bolt only. However, the bottom bolt needed repairs. However, the seat was still defective.
While driving 60 MPH on the highway and without warning driver's reclining seat broke in half. Driver was not hurt, but was concerned because the mechanic at the dealer was aware of the problem but would not fix it.
The consumer received recall # 03v281000 concerning the high back seats. The lever to recline the seats broke off before receiving this recall notice. According to the dealer, the lever was not included in the recall repair instructions. *ak.
While driving seat reclined without warning.
The bolt of my drivers seat broke on my way form vacation in navada, almost causing an accident. I fell into the back seat trying to maintain my balance I grabbed the arm rest which broke, and the bottom frame broke also. I took my car to southbay ford in torrance ca. To make the" recall ' repairs but they refused to fix or repair my seat. Stating, the broken seat was not part of the recall. I onformed the service rep., that the damage was due to the seat dropping backward. I called the number provided on the recall notice and made a complaint but was told the dealership had made a final decision. All I could do was to buy another seat and wait to see if another "recall" comes out and to try to get reinbursted . I had my family in my SUV with me when this bolt broke and we all could have been killed if traffic would have been heavier. Also I use my vehicle daily on my job as a mileage vehicle , having it propped up so I can drive is an hazard in itself. This vehicle is the fourth new ford product I have purchase, and the only time I have ever had a problem will make this the last one for me
Consumer received a recall letter concerning front assembly seat recliner from the manufacturer, but dealer indicated they did not have yet recall parts.
While driving driver's side seat reclined without warning.
The driver side seat back recliner lever broke off without being used. Consumer feels that the recall defective component for the high back bolt 03 v 281 000, is the possible cause of the lever breaking because it's part of the same structure.
Consumer received recall#03v281000 concerning front seat assembly recliner. Passenger's seat recliner lever broke. Passenger's seat had to be supported by two tennis rackets in order for the seat back to stay in the upright position.
Driver's side seat wobbles and is not sturdy. Dealer will fix the seat at owner's expense.
Driver's seat reclined without warning while driving down the road (heard a snap and then the seat fell back). Talked with the dealership - ended up having to replace the upper recline bracket bolt. The replacement of this bolt was not covered by extended warranty or safety.
The brake sensors were faulty, the driver seat bolt had broken and fell while driving, the driver door lock was defective, and the brake warning lights system was inoperative. Scc
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