RoadVitals

2010 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Oct 27, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 115 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Interior & seats
Filed Oct 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILED TO RE-ADJUST FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID
10786535
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
84,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSHED THE OCCUPANTS HEAD FORWARD IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. SHE TURNED THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AROUND IN ORDER TO ASSUME A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE TRAVELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10519473
Incident
May 12, 2013
Mileage
45,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 29, 2012

THE HEADREST ON MY JUST PURCHASED 2010 FORD EXPLORER TILT SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE HEADRESTS WITH ADJUSTABLE ONES. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE? *TT

NHTSA ID
10445768
Incident
Jan 27, 2012
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 8, 2011

IF FORD EVER DECIDES TO RECALL THESE FORWARD LEANING HEADRESTS PLEASE PUT ME AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS. FOR MY SAFETY??? THEY HURT! THEY ARE SO UNCOMFORTABLE NO MATTER HOW I ADJUST THE BACK OF MY SEAT. PLEASE FORD SEND OUT MORE COMFORTABLE HEADRESTS OR AT LEAST MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT A REASONABLE COST. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID
10411475
Incident
Jul 8, 2011
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 6, 2011

THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE 2010 FORD EXPLORER PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHEN I SIT STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT. I CANNOT FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHERE THE "ACTIVE RESTRAINT" IS NOT ACTIVELY PUSHING MY HEAD FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY OF MINIMIZING SPACE BETWEEN THE HEAD AND RESTRAINT WHEN IN A REAR-END COLLISION, BUT CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE OVERCOMPENSATED, CAUSING SEVERE NECK PAIN FOR THOSE WHO SIT STRAIGHT IN THEIR SEATS. THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSES NECK PAIN BUT ALSO BECAUSE DRIVERS HAVE NO OTHER SAFE OPTION. THE OPTIONS ARE: 1) REMOVE THE HEAD RESTRAINT, 2) TURN THE HEAD RESTRAINT BACKWARDS, OR 3) BEND THE BARS SO THE RESTRAINT IS NOT ANGLED FORWARD AS DRAMATICALLY. PLEASE OFFER A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. OTHERWISE, THE RESTRAINT GUIDELINES WILL CREATE MORE SAFETY ISSUES THAN THEY WERE MEANT TO REMEDY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394450
Incident
Apr 5, 2011
Mileage
20,150 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 28, 2011

I HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADRESTS ARE PITCHED EXCESSIVELY FORWARD CAUSING EXTREME HEAD AND NECK DISCOMFORT. THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS STRESS IS TO RECLINE THE SEAT TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR HEAD DOESN'T CONTACT THE HEADREST. THIS PUTS STRESS ON YOUR NECK MUSCLES CAUSING STIFFNESS AND HEADACHES. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT MUST BE CORRECTED. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AT 4000 MILES I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME HE GETS LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. PERHAPS FORD CAN PROACTIVELY CITE A REPLACEMENT HEADREST FROM ONE OF ITS OTHER MODELS. I AM NOW TAKING MUSCLE RELAXANTS EVERY NIGHT TO RELIEVE THE STRESS ON MY NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384714
Incident
Feb 15, 2011
Mileage
4,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 25, 2011

THE HEADRESTS LEAN SO FAR FORWARD THAT I HAVE TO EITHER LEAN THE BACK OF THE SEAT WAY BACK OR PULL THE HEADREST OUT AS IT IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE I GET A NECK ACHE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10378631
Incident
Dec 27, 2010
Mileage
6 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 3, 2010

THE 2010 FORD EXPLORER HEADREST PITCHES YOUR HEAD UNCOMFORTABLY FORWARD. FORGET ABOUT WEARING A PONY TAIL, YOUR CHIN WILL TOUCH YOUR CHEST! PLEASE GET FORD TO REPLACE THE HEADREST! THIS IS NOT A COMFORT COMPLAINT, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10358946
Incident
Aug 17, 2010
Mileage
4,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 2, 2010

I RENTED A 2010 FORD EXPLORER YESTERDAY (1-SEPT-2010) WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED--I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT HEADRESTS ARE DESIGNED SO THEY LEAN FORWARD WAY TOO FAR, HITTING THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND PREVENTING ME FROM SITTING IN A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION. TOTALLY RIDICULOUS! GLAD I ONLY WILL HAVE IT FOR A DAY OR TWO; I WOULD NEVER BUY SUCH A VEHICLE, IT HURTS MY BACK AND NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353596
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
9,860 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 30, 2010

HEAD RESTRAINT FORCES HEAD INTO DOWNWARD TILTING POSTURE CAUSING MODERATE TO SEVERE DISCOMFORT AFTER ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF DRIVING. ONLY SOLUTION FOUND WAS TO REMOVE OR REVERSE HEAD RESTRAINT, OR TO RECLINE SEAT TO SEVERELY RECLINED POSITION. UNSATISFACTORY DESIGN FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH STRAIGHT POSTURE. VERY POOR DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352892
Incident
Aug 7, 2010
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 27, 2010

THE HEAD RESTS ON OUR 2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED HAVE SUCH A SEVERE FORWARD PITCH TO THEM THAT THEY MAKE IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. DEALER SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE. PRIOR TO PURCHASE WE TEST DROVE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPETITIVE VEHICLES AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS SAME ISSUE. AFTER 11 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND ALMOST 14,000 MILES IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR US. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING REMOVING THE HEAD RESTS AND DRIVING WITHOUT THEM. I HAVE TRIED OTHER WORK AROUNDS, RECLINING THE SEATS TO MAKE THE HEAD REST ANGLE MORE ACCEPTABLE, BUT THIS DEFEATS THE SAFETY OF THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. I'VE ALSO TRIED RAISING THE HEAD REST TO IT'S MAXIMUM EXTENSION, BUT THAT DEFEATS THE VALUE OF THE HEAD REST. WHAT FORD NEEDS TO DO IS REPLACE THE 2010 HEAD RESTS WITH ONE FROM AN EARLIER MODEL. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE HEAD RESTS AS HAZARDOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10345773
Incident
Sep 25, 2009
Mileage
100 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 14, 2010

THE HEADRESTS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE FORD EXPLORER 2010 PROTRUDE INTO THE BACK OF THE HEAD AT AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE ANGLE. I GET HEADACHES ALL THE TIME IF THEY ARE LEFT IN. THE HEADREST ANGLE IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. THIS IS AN AGENCY FLEET VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO RISK A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD BY DRIVING WITHOUT THE HEADRESTS IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343264
Incident
May 6, 2010
Mileage
154 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 12, 2010

THE FORD 2010 EXPLORER FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS AGGRESSIVELY PUSH THE DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD WHEN SEATED IN A NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION. NO SEAT OR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT IS AVAILABLE TO CHANGE THIS CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342720
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
Mileage
86 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 2, 2010

THE HEADREST IN MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER FORCES YOUR HEAD AND NECK FORWARD IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSTION. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THE POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10334195
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
1,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 16, 2010

THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330645
Incident
Apr 20, 2010
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 16, 2010

JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EXPLORER, TRADING IN OUR 2006. SINCE THIS IS OUR SEVENTH EXPLORER, WE DIDN'T BOTHER WITH A TEST DRIVE. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME, WE WERE BOTH VERY UNCOMFORTABLE - THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE ANGLED SO FAR FORWARD THAT WE COULD NOT GET COMFORTABLE. WE PRIMARILY USE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG TRIPS, SO THAT WILL BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I JUST SPENT A FEW HOURS RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A SOLUTION; AND IT'S NOT JUST A FORD PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE TO BE THAT WAY TO MINIMIZE WHIPLASH IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE ONES ON THE 2006 WEREN'T LIKE THESE, SO THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE OR DEFICIENT (NOTE TO ALL YOU 2006 OWNERS - MAYBE YOU CAN SUE FORD IF YOU GET A WHIPLASH INJURY) I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD A REAR END COLLISION, SO I'M GOING TO CHOOSE COMFORT OVER THE UNLIKELY CHANCE THAT I'LL NEED THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND EITHER REVERSE IT (THEN IT WON'T WORK) OR TAKE IT OUT!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10320279
Incident
Mar 11, 2010
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 15, 2009

THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295750
Incident
Nov 26, 2009

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .