Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. While driving 55 MPH, the seat fractured and rotated backwards. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 03V281000 (seats). The failure mileage was 153,000.
(1) backing up. We accidentally hit a pole in a parking lot. (2) drivers seat back slipped backwards and will not stay in position now...keeps slipping backwards with minimal pressure on it...cannot lean on it fully (3)will have to be disassembled and repaired..not sure what yet.
The vehicle didn't come equipped with an extended head rest for the driver/passenger side seats. This caused the occupants heads to fling backwards with force when vehicle was rear ended. Both occupants in the front seats sustained severe sore necks, and headaches.
Front seat will not stay up. They recline out of nowhere. I believe it's just old wore out parts.
Left front driver's side seat bracket weld broke free and caused me to lean forward unexpetedly while making a turn. I had complained about something feeling loose during the recall of the seat leanback fastener(recal #03s04 a99).they told me they couldn't find anything wrong but they could replace the entire seat track at my expense. This was on 10-9-03. I believe the weld had broken free at the times when the seat leanback fasteners broke but didn't completely slip off the bracket. Over time and use the bracket loosened up enough to pop off the seat bracket drive rod. I took the vehicle to sunset Ford and the service tech and service mgr didn't even look at the problem. They just said it's too old and has 83,000 miles on the vehicle. I find it sad that they didn't even look at the problem or what might have LED up to or caused it. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. While driving less than 20 MPH, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat (that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame) fractured. The contact lost control of the steering wheel and foot pedals. She received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 03V281000 (seats:front assembly:recliner) or recall number pe03020and. Ford stated that the recall repairs would not be performed because the seat had already failed. The contact was unable to have the repairs done due to medical conditions and, upon recovery, was informed by Ford that the recall repairs would not be performed because they were not completed in a timely fashion. The failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 80,000.
2000 Ford Explorer went up in flames. Reported it right away to Ford and was given a case number. They told us to take it to a Ford dealer in the area. After months and months and months of getting no response we kept getting the run around then told that it had nothing to do with any defect. We recently got a recall letter from Ford for the exact thing that happened to this car causing it to go on fire and Ford will not respond. They say that the claim has been closed and that the original decision (which we never received) stands and they will not respond to us any longer. How can this be acceptable. See Ford safety recall #05s28 it is exactly what happened to the Explorer.
We took our 2000 Ford Explorer into santa margarita Ford for maintenance. We were told that the vehicle was subject to recall 03s04, replacement of a seat bolt. The dealer requested authorization from Ford to do the repairs. Ford said that they would not pay for repairs. The dealer said that there was apparently somee damage to the driver's seat. I contacted Ford customer service and all they offered was to pay $100. I was unable to speak with any individual who made the decision to not completely pay for the needed repairs. $100 is unacceptable; I expect Ford to pay for any and all repairs.
The left front seat bracket weld broke free and caused my seat to lean to the right. I had brought the vehicle in for the seat back recall. Some time later I had noticed that the seat felt loose. The fasteners broke off the end of the front drive rod which allowed the seat bracket to slip off the front drive rod..when I brought this to the dealer to evaluate the said that the whole seat track assembly would have to be replaced a cost of $586.00. After some investigation I find that this problem appears to be common with these vehicles. I notified Ford and am waiting a response from them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the driver side seat collapsed to the rear seat. The contact discovered that the driver side seat became unstable. The contact sustained unknown injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03V281000 (seats). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,199. Updated 4/15/15 updated 9/11/17
Related recalls
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…
Seat complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2000 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the seats of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 4% of the model year's 952 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › recliner (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Explorer seat problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-281 (recliner, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Explorer seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.