2017 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

While the car seat was properly installed and being used under normal conditions, the top tether strap pulled free from the anchor point. This caused the car seat to no longer be safely secured. The top tether is a critical safety component intended to limit forward movement of the car seat. Once the tether pulled free, the child’s safety was put at risk due to loss of proper restraint performance. The car seat has not been physically inspected by the manufacturer or other parties. The incident was reported to the manufacturer, but the manufacturer declined to evaluate the failure.

NHTSA ID

11710519

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

The following is a letter I sent to Ford. I've yet to hear back from them. This is a picture of what happened in my 2017 Explorer on Thursday, June 5, 2025. As I unlocked and got into my car, I realized the seat was moving forward. I tried to get out of the seat, but it was difficult because the space was closing in. I managed to squeeze out of the space before it totally closed me in and pinned me between the seat and steering wheel. As you can see from the picture, the seat is as close to the steering wheel and console as possible. The steering wheel was 7 inches from the seatback and 7 inches from the seat bottom. The seat was 2 inches from the console. This is extremely dangerous. This is not the first time this has happened. This has occurred at least ten times. Sometimes it is when I get in the vehicle as happened June 5. One time I was pinned between the steering wheel and seat and my legs were jammed into the console. Fortunately, I was able to extricate myself with only a few scrapes and bruises. While it is happening, I try the side buttons that control the seat and other ways to stop it, but nothing I do stops the movement once it begins. The only way to avoid being pinned in is to get out while the seat is moving. Other times it has happened when I am not in the car. I unlock and open the door to get in and the seat has moved itself and is as far up to the steering wheel as physically possible. The first time this happened; I told the service desk at the dealer when I was having work done on the SUV. They checked and said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it.`

NHTSA ID

11671991

Incident

Jul 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while seated in the parked vehicle, the rear passenger’s side head restraint became unhinged. The contact stated that the exterior front driver’s side pin paddle had failed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the railings on the rear passenger’s side seats were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,208.

NHTSA ID

11670783

Incident

May 15, 2025

Mileage

99,208 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the front passenger’s side door failed to open as intended. The contact stated that after several attempts using the key fob to unlock the door, the door failed to open. In addition, the code to unlock the door failed to work as intended. The contact's daughter manually locked and unlocked the door. The contact stated that when the door was opened manually, the panic alarm activated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the rear driver's side door failed to open as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11669689

Incident

Nov 27, 2023

Mileage

70,000 mi

There is a constant drain on the battery and overnight the battery can go dead. I replace the battery every 6 months to a year and have been doing that ever since we purchased it. The dealership wants $250 to diagnose it. It's been a problem from day 1. Even when we took it to get serviced and they kept it overnight - the same thing happened at the dealership, but they just ignored it. That was when it was under warranty. I read on the internet that several people have this same problem. I feel this should be a recall. I have a 2017 Ford Platinum

NHTSA ID

11665069

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH, the contact heard a loud bang, and the "Door Ajar" message was displayed. The contact pulled over and noticed that the front driver's side keyless entry keypad had detached, exposing the wires from the door. The contact drove to her destination, but the rear liftgate failed to open as needed and the interior lights failed to turn off. The contact purchased and replaced the 10-amp fuse under the steering wheel, which resolved the failure with the rear liftgate and the interior lights; however, the front driver's side keyless entry keypad was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11596249

Incident

Jun 22, 2024

Mileage

80,000 mi

The driver side heated seat does not work at all the passenger side heated seat works just the driver side does not work

NHTSA ID

11580200

Incident

Jan 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contacted stated while reaching down between the driver's front side of the seat to retrieve an item, the sharp edge of the seat frame cut her hand. The contact also stated that several passengers had cut their hands while retrieving an item from the passenger’s side front seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V651000 (Seats) however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11566491

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

Mileage

34,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the rear driver’s side door failed to open as needed. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear driver’s side door latch to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the rear passenger’s side door latch experienced a similar failure. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear passenger’s side door latch to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11528055

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

Mileage

80,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front and rear passenger's side doors failed to open from the outside whenever the door was locked. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was a known issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11496645

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

Mileage

79,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 70 MPH, the door lock access panel on the driver's side started to loosen and almost separated from the door frame. The contact pulled off the highway and observed that the passenger’s side door lock access panel was also loosened. The contact stated that her husband used duct tape to secure the panels. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11484700

Incident

Aug 28, 2022

Mileage

87,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the front driver’s side the keypad on the door detached from the vehicle and was hanging on by a wire. The contact stated that the liftgate ajar warning light was illuminated however, she was unable to open the liftgate. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact also requested that the vehicle be serviced and the recalls associated with the VIN be repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

NHTSA ID

11452028

Incident

Feb 3, 2022

Mileage

112,000 mi

My driver-side seat has a hole beginning from the midway left side due to the stitching coming apart. My dealer service rep was made aware of this issue and has told me it's not covered under any warranty. I feel it will become a serious safety issue because it contains the side impact airbag system devices that are enclosed in the area where the stitching is coming apart. I was also told it would cost me money to fix it. I do not feel that I should bear the financial burden to repair this problem due to faulty stitching. My service rep told me that 3 other vehicles came into the dealership with similar problems. I am willing for a Ford Motor company district service rep to inspect it and give me an acceptable solution to this dangerous issue. There was no warning of this problem. My vehicle only has 27000 miles on it! I have owned other vehicles with high mileages on them and NEVER had a seat become unstitched.

NHTSA ID

11430016

Incident

Jul 14, 2021

MY 3 YR OLD TRUCK ALREADY HAS A LEAKING COOLANT LINE WHICH COME TO FIND OUT IS DRAINING INTO THE WATER LINE IN THE ENGINE. I CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 5MILES BEFORE I NEED TO REFILL MY COOLANT. IN ADDITION, THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HAS GONE OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUSE AND OF COURSE ITS SOMETHING MORE.

NHTSA ID

11386195

Incident

Dec 31, 2020

Mileage

73,400 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE. WHEN DRIVING AND TAKING A SHARP CURVE OR GOING OVER BUMPS THE SEAT SHIFTS.

NHTSA ID

11377271

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

Mileage

19,000 mi

I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS AND IT FELT AS IF MY DRIVER SEAT MADE A SLIGHT MOVEMENT. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY LOOKED AT IT THOROUGHLY AFTER 3 TIMES THEY DETERMINED THE BAR UNDER MY SEAT THAT BASICALLY HOLDS MY SEAT IN PLACE WAS BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF. NO EXPLANATION. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MI ON IT. THEY STATED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT CHARGED ME THE DEDUCTIBLE AND FIXED IT MY CONCERN IS THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND IF IT HADN'T NOTICED IT AND HAD AN ACCIDENT I FELT LIKE MY SEAT WOULD HAVE DETACHED. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY AND DISCONCERTING.

NHTSA ID

11374397

Incident

Oct 3, 2020

DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT NOT WORKING , TRUCK ONLY HAS 34624 MILES .DIAG CODE B1034:40 , DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY

NHTSA ID

11317559

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

Mileage

34,621 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND 19V651000 (SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RIVERTOWN FORD (1680 WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904, (706) 653-7420) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11287522

Incident

Jan 16, 2018

ON 09/11/2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 6PM, WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON WV SR2 NORTH APPROXIMATELY 2.5 TO 3.0 MILES NORTH OF THE SR2 I-77 INTERCHANGE. 2017 FORD EXPLORER WAS STOPPED, WAITING ON OPPOSING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, IN ORDER TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT OF CHURCH. VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK IMPACTING SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE 4 OCCUPANTS OF THE EXPLORER. THE DRIVER WAS A 39 YEAR OLD MALE. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS A 36 YEAR OLD FEMALE. IN THE SECOND ROW WERE THE OTHER 2 PASSENGERS. ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS A 4 YEAR OLD FEMALE, FORWARD FACING IN A GRACO EXTEND2FIT CAR SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS OCCUPIED BY A 7 YEAR OLD MALE IN AN EVENFLO BOOSTER SEAT. ALL PASSENGERS WERE WEARING APPROPRIATE RESTRAINING DEVICES. ALL PASSENGERS WERE SHAKEN UP, WITH EXTERNAL INJURIES TO BOTH DRIVERS SIDE OCCUPANTS. THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE INJURIES WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT BASE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FALL BACK ONTO THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER, STRIKING THE PASSENGER, AND THE HEADREST BENT AND PARTIALLY DETACHED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BACK WAS FULLY UPRIGHT AND THE SEAT WAS RESTING UPON THE LEGS OF THE JUVENILE FEMALE AFTER IMPACT. SHE SUFFERED CONTUSIONS TO HER LEGS FROM THE SEAT IMPACTING HER AND SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND LACERATION (REQUIRING 9 EXTERNAL SUTURES AS WELL AS SOME INTERNAL ONES) ABOVE HER RIGHT EYE, CAUSED BY EITHER THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER OR POSSIBLY THE HEADREST. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A LACERATION TO THE CROWN OF HIS HEAD REQUIRING 9 STAPLES TO CLOSE. THE DRIVER AND THE JUVENILE FEMALE WERE TRANSPORTED TO MARIETTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MARIETTA OH WHERE THEY RECEIVED TREATMENT AND WERE RELEASED. RESPONDING TO THE SCENE WAS THE WAVERLY VFD AS WELL AS THE WOOD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. JOSEPH'S AMBULANCE SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

11255262

Incident

Sep 11, 2019

Mileage

46,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT. EXPLORER WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE (DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK) TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHILE EXPLORER WAS AT A STOP, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE IMPACT WAS SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE DRIVER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER TO COLLIDE RESULTING IN LACERATIONS AND HEAD INJURIES TO BOTH.

NHTSA ID

11255143

Incident

Sep 11, 2019

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSTABLE AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN GOING IN THE LEFT DIRECTION OR WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A SHARP TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEBBER FAMILY MOTORS (1389 WENNER RD, DETROIT LAKES, MN) WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BOLTS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT WERE TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11111134

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

16,432 mi

BACK SEAT (MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE) BECAME UNLATCHED AND HIT ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11076501

Incident

Mar 4, 2018

EXTREMELY SHARP METAL TABS STICK OUT NEARLY 1" FROM THE INBOARD SIDE OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. TABS ARE INTENDED TO HOLD PLASTIC TABS ON SEAT COVERS HOWEVER BOTH OF MINE WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY OR HAD COME OFF IN THE 6 MONTHS WE'D OWNED THE VEHICLE. THIS TAB CUT MY HAND WIDE OPEN AND CUT TENDONS WHILE REACHING FOR MY KEYS THAT HAD DROPPED. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED. A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2016 EXPLORER CONFIRMED THESE SHARP TABS AS WELL. THIS SHARP METAL TAB IS LIKE A KNIFE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED FLEETWIDE (FILING DOWN THE EDGES WOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE FIX) TO ENSURE OTHERS AREN'T MAIMED LIKE I WAS. IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO SEE HOW SOMEONE COULD CUT A WRIST WITH A RISK TO LIFE.

NHTSA ID

11048841

Incident

Nov 23, 2017