Seat complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Took vehicle in to have NHTSA action number pe03020 - bolt replace due to back of seat falling backwards during driving. Bolt broke allowing the seat back to fall backwards. Was informed by airport Ford (dealership) that due to the broken bolt that the seat frame was damaged and I would have to pay $350 to get the frame fixed. Ford dealer indicated that they could not replace bolt due to damage to seat frame - which was caused by the bolt breaking. Called Ford motor co and they said that as far as they knew the damaged seat frame caused the bolt (which was on the recall) to break. So the dealer returned the vehicle without replacing the bolt with the seat is still broken. Wording from dealership "inspect- found unable to replace bolt-sheered off inspec condition of mounting area into seat bottom frame seat back are both damaged. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. While driving at an unknown speed, the left side of the driver's seat detached from the base, causing the contact to fall back against the rear seats. Prior to the failure, he noticed that the seat would only recline in one vertical position. There was no crash involved and the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 85,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 30 MPH, the passenger side seat reclined without warning. The passenger grabbed the driver, causing the driver to swerve and hit the curb. The front passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the recliner assembly needed to be replaced.
John killen was driving his 2001 Ford Explorer Sport truck, when the driver's seat completely reclined. Apparently the seat had broken. The bolt connecting the top portion of the "high-back" seat to the assembly recliner had split in half. The seat can not be put back into the upright position without having to be propped up. John had talked to a neighbor about the problem, the neighbor stated that there had been a recall. Upon further investigation, there was the recall on the internet. John had called Ford to inquire the recall, and to state that the seat in his truck had broken. The customer service rep. Stated that there was no recall. John called a second time and a different customer rep stated that his truck had already been fixed. …
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.
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.
This bolt was replaced on my vehicle in jan 2004 as part of the recall. The new bolt that was installed fractured creating a very serious crash risk. Ford says they will only replace once. Auto recall date: aug 05, 2003 vehicle component: seats:front assembly:recliner estimated vehicles affected: 1552880 model affected 1999 Ford Explorer 1999 Ford Explorer defect summary: on certain Sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back May recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion. …
Was driving around the city when I reach into my pocket to get my phone and hear a loud thump coming from the seat and the next thing I notice is the seat reclining all the way back. I was able to bring it back up by folding the exterior passenger seat to provide some sort of support. When I arrived home I tried inspecting what the issue was and saw a large fracture right next to the reclining mechanism. This is potentially a hazard that can one day cause a severe accident. I was lucky enough to have been driving slow but if I were to be in the freeway then it might have been something more serious. This large fracture seems to derive from a poorly designed seat that weak metal of some sort.
Related recalls (2)
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt.
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt.
NHTSA investigations
Front seat back recliner attachment
By letter dated August 4, 2003, Ford notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V281) involving certain model year (my) 1998-2001 Ford explorer / Mercury mountaineer 4-door, my 1998-2000 Ford explorer 2-door and my 2001-2002 Ford explorer sport and sport trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.complaints allege that the driver's seat back reclined without warning.a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer Sport years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (15), 1998 (14), 1999 (14), 2000 (9) and 2002 (8) model years. Seat complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer Sport seat problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 06V-114 (recliner, Apr 10, 2006); 03V-281 (recliner, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Explorer Sport seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles; 7% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (37 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (2).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.