Seven problems related to front seat recliner have been reported for the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph when a child passenger in the rear of the vehicle pulled on the driver seat to recline herself and the seat reclined backward and fractured. The contact stated that the bolt that held the seta in place fractured. The manufacturer was contacted in regards to NHTSA campaign id number: 03v281000 (seats: front assembly: recliner) but the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
This report concerns a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x4. Vehicle has 144,000 plus miles. Specifically this pertains to the front driver?s seat (non-power model). Over the last 5 years I have replaced the front drivers seat (bottom frame) three times. Each time the seat frame has broken in the same manner. The problem is that the frame metal rips/tears at the location of the mounting bolt for the recline lever. This tearing causes the seat back to recline without warning on the left side causing the driver to fall backwards away from the steering wheel. Ford has stated that they do not have any info on this. This is somewhat strange as they apparently directed dealerships approximately 2 yrs ago to replace this frame on all affected vehicles. The problem is very apparent and a very easy fix. The tearing occurs just to the front of the (front) bolt hole about 1/8 inch from the hole. There is a large spot welded plate inside the frame where the bolts for the recline lever insert into the frame. If this plate was extended about 4 inches or more past the frame holes this problem would not occur. I have detailed photos of this frame and problem area available for use to your office as well as the frame itself.
(1) driver's seat back latch broken (2) could not enter, or exit from, rear seat on driver's side (3) Ford dealer replaced latch total cost about $200.
Vehicle 1999 Ford Explorer Sport (2dr) VIN 1fmyu22e2xua73378 this involves a safety issue with the front seat recliner handles on the side of the seats. Ford has issued a recall (03s04) to replace the "driver seat recliner bolt. " however, my complaint involves the recliner handles which fell apart on the front passenger seat of our vehicle. On below date, my wife exited the front passenger seat and used the handle to move the seat forward so our daughter could exit the rear seat area. The handle fell apart in two pieces and the back part of the seat flew forward to the dash. The back part of the seat will not hold a position and freely moves back and forth into the rear seat and forward to the dash rendering the seat unsafe and useless. On 2/6/04, I took the vehicle to south bay Ford, 13900 hawthorne blvd, hawthorne, CA 90250 ph 310 644-0211 for the recall work. I also advised them that the passenger side seat had come free because of a faulty release handle. I was called later and advised it would cost over 400 dollars to repair the faulty release handles on both the drivers and passengers seats. The serviceman informed me the drivers seat release mechanism was also about to fail. It seems to me that Ford definitly has a safety issue here involving their seats in this vehicle. Ford has already addressed one safety issure involving the reclining seats with the recall involving the faulty bolt. The bolt was replaced in order to prevent exactly what is occurring with their faulty recliner release mechanism. The recliner handle fell apart when my wife simply touched it and the other, according to the serviceperson, is about to fall apart. I would hate to imagine if this were to happen while driving the vehicle. I believe this is a matter the NHTSA should investigate.
Recall repairs cannot be performed unless the reclining seat handle can be fixed. Although the initial recall problem caused the handle to be bent, the dealer wants the consumer to pay for it. Consumer feels he is being given the run around to get the vehicle fixed. Manufacturer has been notified.
When I was driving along, my seat reclined. I have not been able to make it recline to the upright position for safe driving.
My driver's seat made a loud "pop" and proceeded to recline. The plastic shield later fell off the reclining mechanism, revealing that the frame for the seat had failed at the weld and buckled. The seat will not sit upright.
| Front Seat Recliner problems | |
| Seats problems | |
| Mid/rear Seats Assembly problems |