2001 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WAS HARD TO RECLINE UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THREE TIMES TO SHAKER'S FAMILY FORD LINCOLN (831 STRAITS TURNPIKE, WATERTOWN, CT 06795) FOR THE RECALL. ON THE FIRST DEALER VISIT, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE UPPER BOLT AND INSTALLED A NEW BOLT HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE DEALER DAMAGED THE SEAT IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING THE NEW BOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT NO LONGER RECLINED AND NEEDED THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS TO KEEP IT UPRIGHT. ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,800.

NHTSA ID

11415270

Incident

May 20, 2020

Mileage

143,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY FOLDED FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS. THE SEAT WOULD NO LONGER HOLD ITS UPRIGHT POSITION AND HAD TO BE PROPPED UP BY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELD ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,500. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ A BOLT WAS REPLACED IN THE SEAT BACK. UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10794727

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

66,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD SUDDENLY UNLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS WOULD MOVE FORWARD WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND HATCH DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,694.

NHTSA ID

10780714

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

166,694 mi

CPSC#I12A0111A. 2001 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT A DAY AFTER SHE BROUGHT THE CAR IT BROKE DOWN. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, AS WELL AS A HOLE IN GAS TANK, WHICH HAD RUSTED OUT, THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TIRE WERE DRY ROTTED, AS THEY KEPT GOING FLAT, THE DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT LOCK, THE REAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT OPEN AT ALL, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE WAS BROKE, THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE, AND MOST OF THE TIME IT HAD TO BE SLAMMED SHUT.

NHTSA ID

10481761

Incident

Aug 5, 2012

MY 4 DOOR EXPLORER IS EQUIPPED WITH RECLINER HIGH BACK SEATS. ABOUT A 2 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND THE SEAT ON THE FRONT LEFT HAND (DRIVER SIDE) IT RECLINE WITH OUT WARNING UNTIL IS CAME IN CONTACTED WITH THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION. I WENT TO A FORD DEALER SHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR SUCH PROBLEM. I HAVE SEND AND MADE CALLS AND SEND LETTERS TO FORD, BUT THEY HAVE FAIL TO ANSWER ANY OF MY LETTERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240307

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

96,500 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER HOOD FLEW OPEN AND BROKE THE HINGES. *TS THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND HINGES, WIPER BLADES AND COWL AREA (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

NHTSA ID

10146465

Incident

Sep 3, 2005

DT: THE FRONT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVERS' SEAT SEVERED OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

10122120

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES THAT SMOKE COMES FROM THE DASH WHERE THE HAZARD LIGHT IS. IT GIVES OFF A UNPLEASANT SMELL, AND THEN IT GOES A WAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10111701

Incident

Oct 5, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE BOLT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THREE MONTHS LATER THE POPPING NOISE STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE BOLT WAS FINE BUT THAT THE LEVER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE LEVER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099242

Incident

Jul 13, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

THE DRIVER SEAT LOOSE, SEAT TRACK BROKE. REPLACED SEAT TRACK. *BF THE WELD ON THE SEAT TRACK HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

NHTSA ID

10101808

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

DRIVER SEAT RECLINER BOLT, THE SEAT BACK/RECLINE/FORWARD BROKE, REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *BF THE OIL FILTER HAD COME WITH A HOLE TOO LARGE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HANDLE BROKE, THE TIRES BLEWOUT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10101009

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

AT TIMES MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHEN ENGAGED DOESNT WORK AND AT THIS TIME I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERING COLLUMN,THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH PRESSING THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES WHEN I DEPRESS IT WORKS THEN GOES OFF WHEN PRESSING A SECOND TIME, ALSO DISPLAY ON STEREO WORKS PART TIME ONLY MAYBE ONE OUT OF EVERY TEN DRIVES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074863

Incident

May 9, 2002

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK KEPT FLYING FORWARD WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP. T HE CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10048634

VEHICLE IS IN THE REMEDY SCOPE FOR RECAL 03V281000 SUBJECT: HIGH BACK SEATS. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034380

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEATS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034331

Incident

Aug 11, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING 45-50 MPH THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPAIRED SEAT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN. *AK THE PIN ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE THE SEAT BACK ATTACHED TO THE PIVOT WITH THE SEAT BOTTOM HAD SNAPPED TWICE WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSED BACKWARDS 6-8 INCHES. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10021949

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

Mileage

24,000 mi

VEHICLE IDLES TO LOW AND CAUSES IT TO CUT OFF. TOOK TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK, ALSO CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POOR GAS MILEAGE.. *YH

NHTSA ID

8012724

Incident

May 26, 2002

REAR SEAT LIFTS UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN SEAT TO ALMOST BE THROWN TO FRONT OF VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009938

Incident

May 10, 2002

REAR BENCH SEAT IS NOT STATIONERY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009932

Incident

Feb 23, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007017

SEAT DOES NOT RELEASE TO LET BACK PASSENGERS OUT OF TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SECOND SET OF SEAT PROBLEMS. I OWNED AN EXPLORER SPORT IN 2000 AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK AND IF SOME THING HAPPENS TO ME UP FRONT, THEY ARE TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. SEEMS TO BE A SEAT MECHANISM PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. THIS IS ACTUALLY A LIFE/SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

759664

Incident

Mar 11, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH SEAT BACK LATCH MECHANISM FOR SECOND ROW OF SEATS FAILED, ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002237

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

THE REAR SEATS IN THE EXPLORER FLIP FORWARD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THEM WHEN STOPPING FAST. THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK DOWN IN ANY WAY. THIS IS HOW THEY ARE BUILT. TRIED TO RETURN THE EXPLORER 1 WEEK AFTER THE LEASE FORD TOLD ME IT'S A DESIGN FLAW, CAN'T BE FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID

752578

DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE BACKWARDS ON REAR IMPACT FROM A TRUCK. *AK

NHTSA ID

752132

Incident

Sep 7, 2001

THE REAR SEATS DO NOT LOCK DOWN, CAUSING THE TOP OF SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN SOMEONE EXITS THE BACK SEAT. WHEN THE SEAT COMES FORWARD IT OPENS A PINCH POINT THAT HAS PINCHED THE HANDS OF 3 THAT HAVE RIDDEN IN THE BACK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL AGES BUT ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN!*AK

NHTSA ID

745169