2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Interior & seats Problems

RE: 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. IT APPEARS THAT THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, HAS FRACTURED AND THE SEAT BACK IS PERMANENTLY IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THIS MAKES DRIVING VERY CUMBERSOME SINCE I HAVE NO BACK SEAT SUPPORT WHILE I AM DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LUCKILY, AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. I JUST DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I CONTACTED FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 AND ENTERED THE RECALL ID 03S04 AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE RECALL ID DID NOT EXIST. CAN I STILL GET MY SEAT FIXED VIA THIS RECALL? NOTE THAT THE DATE SUBMITTED FOR THE INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE.

NHTSA ID

11252562

Incident

Jun 6, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES STOPPED WORKING AND THE CONTACT COULD ONLY GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH ON ALL DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN DOOR MODULE FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/13/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. 3 OUT OF 4 HANDLE FAILED. 2 OUT OF 4 INSIDE DOOR HANDLES FAILED. UPDATED 6/29/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10694804

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED INTO THE BACK SEATING AREA CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND INSPECTING THE SEAT, THE FRAME OF THE DRIVERS SEAT FRACTURED CAUSING THE BACKREST TO SEPARATE FROM LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAT AND OVERRIDE THE RECLINER HANDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468339

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

152,000 mi

2002 FORD SPORT TRAC 8 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE DOOR HANDLE WHEN TRYING TO OPEN DOOR WITH CHILD LOCK ON. 5 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE THE OTHER DOOR HANDLE THE SAME WAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THESE HANDLES ARE NOT HEAVY DTY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT THAT IS FORCED ON THEM WHEN TRYING TO OPEN EVEN WITH THE CHILD LOCK OFF. THESE AUTOMAKERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO STOP USING THE PUBLIC AS GUINEA PIGS TO FIND OUT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND THEN NEVER ISSUE RECALLS. THEY JUST MODIFY IT ON THE NEXT MODEL AND BLOW OFF PRIOR OWNERS. THE HANDLES ACTUALLY CUT MY DAUGHTERS HAND WHEN IT BROKE. IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. ALSO THE BRAKES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER ON THE PASS SIDE TWICE AND THEY EAT BRAKE PADS UP LIKE MAD. IT IS NOT DRIVING HABITS THAT CAUSED THIS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. NO WONDER THEY WENT TO 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES( ANOTHER WAIT AND MODIFY ROUTINE) I'M SURE THIS WAS THEIR FIX FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THEY AVOIDED ANOTHER RECALL. WE PAY THOUSAND OF DOLLARS FOR THESE VEHICLES THEY SHOULD PAY THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR ENGINEERING AND QC DEPARTMENTS LACK OF DETAIL WHEN TESTING THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR ANYONE CARING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359608

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

38,000 mi

REAR INSIDE DOOR HANDLES SNAPPED OFF WHEN PULLED BY 2 YEAR OLD WHILE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255296

Incident

Jul 9, 2008

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHEN I WOULD MAKE A SHARP LEFT HAND TURN AND USE THE BRAKES THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK RIGHT AWAY. IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT HAD HIT ICE AND ITS WAS THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. IT WOULD STILL MOVE ABOUT A FOOT. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD HE GETS ALOT OF FORD'S THAT DO THIS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. THE SHOP REPLACED THE PART IN THE HUB OR WHEEL NOT SURE AND NOW ITS FINE BUT IT COST ME OVER 500.00 AND I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW THAT PARTS WEAR BOUT BUT THIS WAS A FAILURE OF A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD. ALSO THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BUTTON IN THE TRUCK STOPS WORKING, THE OPEN SECTION WORKS BUT NOT THE LOCK BUTTON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241635

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

NO DECERNABLE EVENTS LED UP TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. THE REMOTES CEASED TO FUNCTION. REPLACING BATTERIES DID NOT HELP. REMOTE CAPABILITY TO LOCK DOORS FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE CEASED AT APPROXIMATELY 45K MILES. KEYPAD CEASED TO DUNCTION AT SAME TIME. DEALER WANTS $75/HR TO 'LOOK AND SEE; WHAT PROBLEM MIGHT BE. I SUSPECT ABRASION IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONTAINED WITHIN DRIVER'S DOOR. *CN

NHTSA ID

10216257

Incident

Aug 17, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD SPORT TRAC WITH APPROX 42K MILES. BEGAN WITH RAPID FLASHING OF LEFT TURN SIGNAL. REAR TURN AND BRAKE LAMP WERE INOPERABLE. REPLACING BULB HAD NO EFFECT. FOUND POSITIONING STEERING COLUMN TO A HIGHER TILT POSITION CORRECTED MALFUNCTION. REMOVED STEERING COLUMN COVER AND FOUND 4 WIRES PULLED OUT OF CONNECTOR ON MULTI-FUNCTION (TURN SIGNAL SWITCH). WIRES MOVE IN AND OUT AS COLUMN IS MOVED THROUGH TILT RANGE. WIRES OUT AT BOTTOM OF TILT AND IN AT TOP OF TILT RANGE. REMOVED CONNECTOR PART # E6DB-14489-DA. 3 CONNECTOR PIN RETAINERS FELL OUT AND WERE RECOVERED. A FOURTH WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE CONNECTOR BUT NOT RETAINING IT'S PIN. CONNECTOR MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ALSO THE WIRING HARNESS IS SECURED ABOVE THE TILT PIVOT POINT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I BELIEVE THE HARNESS IS SECURED WITH INSUFFICIENT SLACK TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE CONNECTOR AT THE LOWER POSITIONS OF THE STEERING COLUMN TILT RANGE. I BASE THIS ON THE FACT THAT THE 3 PINS WITH BROKEN RETAINERS ARE ON THE TOP ROW OF THE CONNECTOR AND WOULD BE THE MOST STRESSED IN A LOWER POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO I HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS EXPERIENCE AS AN AVIONICS TECHNICIAN AND FULLY UNDERSTAND PROPER WIRE ROUTING PROCEDURES. DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE CONNECTOR ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181543

Incident

Jan 3, 2007

Mileage

42,500 mi

BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLE WERE IN CHILD LOCK POSITIONS AND BROKE WHEN PULLED TO OPEN. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN THE DRIVER SIDE. THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS BROKEN BY THE DEALER WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BOLT RECALL. OF COURSE THEY SAY THEY DIDN'T BREAK IT. THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT WAS ALSO BROKEN DURING THE BOLT INSTALLATION. I ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK BUT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEY WANT $300 PER DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS A "DEATH TRAP', AS YOU CANNOT EXIT THE BACK SEAT IF THE POWER IS NOT WORKING ,AS YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT DOWN A WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IF THE ELECTRIC IS OFF. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THE PLASTIC HANDLE BREAK! I NEED TO KNOW IF ANY RECALLS ARE OUT REGARDING BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. FORD SAYS "NO" *JB

NHTSA ID

10180921

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

37 mi

PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EXCEPT FOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172976

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

1 AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH VEHICLE WENT INTO A SLIDE RIGHT REAR AXEL BROKE OFF CAUSING A ROLLOVER THIS OCCURRED ON WET PAVEMENT ! 2 DRIVERS SEAT WENT INTO THE RECLINING POSITION, EJECTING THE DRIVER INTO THE REAR SEAT CAUSING HIS HEAD TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR GLASS , BRAKING BONES IN HIS LEFT HAND ,CONTUSIONS AND SEVERE TRAUMA TO HEAD AND NECK MEDICAL RECORDS AND PICTURES AVAILABLE ! 3 THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS . I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED SEAT IT WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT FORD MOTOR CO NOTIFIED THERE HAS BEEN NO PERSONAL CONTACT BY THEIR REP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146007

Incident

Oct 17, 2004

THE REAR AUTOMATIC DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE THE CONSUMER HAS CHECKED THE CHILD LOCKS, AND THEY ARE NOT ON. THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER STATES NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES FROM THE DEALER AND REPLACED THEM. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10113041

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

Mileage

63,500 mi

DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT RECLINER BOLT BROKE. BRAKES SQUEALED CONSTANTLY. REPLACED LEFT REAR AXLE AND SEAL. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE IN THE BED AREA FROM THE BRAKES ON PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE TOO TIGHT. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10106894

Incident

Aug 30, 2002

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STALLING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED. ALSO, RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, AND DOOR COULDN'T BE OPENED EXCEPT FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071621

Mileage

19,900 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BLACK SMOKE WOULD CAME FROM THE TAIL PIPE. CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. .*AK DRIVERS REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOLDING IS FALLING OFF. CENTER DUCT LOOSE ON DASH. DRIVERS SEAT CUSHION LOST ITS FORM. *TS

NHTSA ID

10042339

Incident

Sep 29, 2003

Mileage

16,573 mi