Six problems related to seats have been reported for the 1996 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Drivers side seat belt receiver does not clasp seat belt. We are taking the vehicle to a local shop to replace the receiver at $100 for the part plus labor. A seat belt receiver should be built to last normal driving conditions. This vehicle has not been in any kind of accident. The driver's side seat collapsed in the recline position on 8/24/2011, fortuneately this occurred when the vehicle was not in motion. The recline mechanism does not work, and the seat does not stay upright. These two items are definitely safety issues.
Seat back failure drivers bucket seat, bolt fractured, seat back fell to recline, loss of control possible if at driving speed.
Seat frame failed.
Driver seat lumbar switch failed.
Driver's and passenger's sea rbottoms have missing spring/lumbar pumps located in wrong place under seats/insufficient padding under seats, combination results in disconfort.
Front passenger seat does not move.