Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. While driving the vehicle, the driver's front seat was rocking and vibrating due to the seat failure, the contact was occasionally unable to reach the pedals. The contact stated that this failure was an accident waiting to happen. *ak the consumer states he wants to be reimbursed for repairs. Update 05/10/07
1999 Ford Explorer seats complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 67, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Every since I had my 1999 ford explorer worked on for the seat recliner recall I have had problems with my driver's seat moving like it was not properly secured. I finally was able to determine that the pin holding my drivers side seat to the rail that the side slides on, front to rear, had pulled out of the hole. This means that my seat was not secured to the vehicle. I have attempted to put the pin back into the seat rail but it will not stay in. The result is that the seat remains unsecured to the floor and will fall back if I lean back in it!
Here is the complaint(s) sent to ford motor co about my 1999 explorer: I have had repeated problems with the driver seat breaking. It yields an unsafe condition and should be recalled. I am very dissatisfied with this repeated problem. I have lost the use of my car and money on several occasions. It is currently in for the same repair again. I have brought this to your attention in the past and have not received any help. Please respond to this in writing and let me know my options. Thanks for your attention to this matter. I then called then and then emailed them this follow up:I called the number you requested and spoke with jason and am dissatisfied with answer he gave me. He did say he would report my case to the engineering department. I would encourage you to do that as I believe the structure of your driver's seats are not properly designed and are unsafe. My experience with them is that the adjustment mechanism bends and then the frame fractures and then the seat can possible snap off. Obviously this is a serious problem if this occurs while driving. I am a registered structural engineer by profession so I understand the basic principles of this issue. Your engineers should check their calculations and/or check the metallurgy of the seat components. There is no reason for a properly designed seat to break like mine has. Probably never buy another ford, primarily because of this and the lack of standing behind your product.
Dt*: the contact stated a popping noise was heard then the bottom of the driver's seat had broken. When the contact sits in the seat, the seat leans to the right side. The dealership has not been notified.
Dt*: the contact stated the driver side seat does not recline. If the seat is adjusted to lean forward, it will not go back. The dealership determined the seat needs to be replaced because the seat track is bent. Updated 2/24/2006 - the seat will recline but will not adjust. It is frozen on the track and as a result the consumer cannot reach the gas pedal .
1998 ford explorer developed problems with the front seat recliner.*mr the consumer received recall # 03v281000. The consumer stated the driver seat has not failed, however the passenger seat did.
I've received notice of a potential problem with the seat recliner bolt on my 1999 ford explorer indicating this would be repaired free of charge. When I contacted the service department of the dealer I purchased the vehicle from, I was told there was a possiblity the bolt could break off while they were making the repairs and they would need to have the vehicle over night. When I asked for assurance they provide a loaner car, they refused. In my mind, this does not constitute repair without charge. I would be glad to drop this off for repairs if I can be assured I can have my vehicale back that same day. Should they break the bolt and need to have it overnight would be their something they caused and should be responsible for, not the consumer. What is to stop them from intentionally doing this to make money on rental fees. All I ask is for some reassurance this repair will be made with charge to me. Ford motor company must take full responsibility for repairing and reassuring its customers this safety problem is repaired without cost and risk to its customers.
Consumer replaced front driver's seat (bottom frame) 3 times. Each time the seat frame has broken in the same manner. *bf the frame metal ripped/tore at the location of the mounting bolt for the recliner lever. The tearing caused the seat back to recline without warning on the left side. As a result the driver fell backwards away from the steering wheel.
Driver's seat was reclining backward while driving and was shifting towards the driver's door. The dealer was not notified at this time.
Passenger side seat recently flung forward as a result of a broken bolt. The dealer refused to replace bolt/latch indicating it is not covered under the recall. *bf the dealer replaced the driver's side bolt under recall 03v281000 but not the passenger side bolt.
While driving in reverse and applying the brakes to stop vehicle suddenly driver's seat back recliner broke. As result, the consumer lost control. *ak
Driver seat fell into the back seat. There was a recall for the seat. Vehicle was picked up and the seat fell again. Dealer stated that the seat was worn out.
On my 1999 ford explorer, the drivers seat frame broke. Sometime prior to the 2003 recall for the bolt failure of the seat recliner assembly, the frame also failed causing the seat to recline partially even thou the setting is in the top position. The seat also moves back and forth when holding the back rest, and pushing on it. The recliner release is bent, and the plastic cover on the bottom of the seat is now broken also because the seat is so bad out of position. But the recall bolt was replaced at the dealer, however they would not repair the broken seat frame.
While consumer was driving the frame at the base of the seat broke in two. *ak the metal bracket connected to the side of the side adjustment broke and caused the seat to fall back.
The passenger side seat recliner mechanism broke. There was a recall for something similar to this a year ago concerning the high back driver seat. *mr
While driving 55 MPH, consumer felt looseness and a "breaking" sound which left his seat in a reclined position. *ph recalls 03s04 and 03s03 were repaired on the vehicle, but the consumer was told that the seat was not remedied because it was not apart of the recall. The consumer was also not eligible for reimbursement. Recall# 1552880. *sc
While driving at an undetermined speed, the front passenger seat collapsed without warning. This caused the passenger to fall backwards into the rear seat. The consumer will contact the dealership. *ak
Recall# 03v281000 subject: high back seats. The dealer informed the consumer that the recall repair could not be done because they waited too long to bring the vehicle in for repair/replacement.
There was a recall for the driver's seat recliner bolt. After taking vehicle in 3 different times to get recall work done, after it was completed, the seat is still malfunctioning due to damage done in the interim between the malfunction and a year later getting the recall bolt fixed. The different brackets and bolts that support the seat broken. Driver is relying on steering column for support while driving, and also has back pain due to lack of support. The seat recliner lever is bent and exposed, which is tearing the fabric of the seat and also scrapes against the driver when entering and exiting the vehicle, causing bruises and pain on the back of the driver's leg. Attempts to work with ford motor company, the better business bureau, and the dealer have proved futile.
Vehicle's seat bolt recalled, and the seat back collapsed unexpectedly. *la the dealership informed the consumer that the problem he experienced with the seat was not the recalled part, but instead a sat back frame that broke.
The driver's seat back reclined while driving. The dealer replaced the bolt. The consumer stated after the vehicle was picked up, the seat back continued to recline.
Manufacturer's recall 03504 concerning seat recliner bolt: this vehicle is a part of a recall, but the dealer refuses to repair the problem. The dealer found that the recliner mechanism is damaged and wants the consumer to pay for repairing the mechanism. Consumer feels that because the bolt breaking is the reason that the mechanism is damaged in the first place, and refuses to pay for repairs.
The driver and passenger seat bolt failed. This caused the seat to collapse into the rear seats. Dealer has been contacted. *ak when getting in and out of the vehicle the handle that reclined the seat broke. *ts
Owner received a recall notice, and took the vehicle to dealership. To install bolts for the reclining seat mechanism, which was part of the recall. However, dealer declined to do repairs because vehicle was diagnosed with a broken seat frame. Owner was told he would have to pay for broken seat frame repairs.
Driver's seat suddenly reclined and could not return back to the upright position.*mr dealer notified.
While driving, the passenger seat reclined without warning.*ak. The consumer stated the passenger and driver seats mechanism was of poor quality. Ford had a recall on the drivers seat but not the passenger seat.
Passenger side high back seat bolt recliner mechanism broke, which caused the seat to collapse. Recall 03v281000 on high back seat, however the recall did not include the passenger side. Consumer said " the manufacturer felt one repair was liable". *ak
Drivers seat has started to recline. The latest recall replaces a couple of bolts but the dealer says that will not fix the problem. The seat leans extremely back making it hard to drive. I have to hang on to the steering wheel to keep myself upright. This has caused my wrist to become extremely painful now. I can barely hold more than 2 pounds before the hand lets go.
While driving driver's seat fell all the way back and injured the drivers' back. Consumer received recall notice 03v28100 for this problem after the incident. But dealer refused t0 honor recall.
When reclining front passenger side seatback reclining bolt disconnected from the seat. Dealer notified.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 Ford Explorer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history