2021 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear seat unlocked and flipped forward independently. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V393000 (Seats); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11747715

Incident

Jun 29, 2026

Mileage

77,000 mi

The third-row seat headrest in my 2021 Ford Explorer is stuck in the upright position and will not fold down, preventing the seat from fully collapsing. This affects rear visibility and cargo use, which may create a safety concern while driving. The issue appears to be a mechanical failure and has not been resolved despite repeated attempts to adjust it.

NHTSA ID

11729928

Incident

Apr 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V393000 (SEATS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11718923

Incident

Mar 15, 2025

Passenger second row (Captain's) seat is loose, shakes (sometimes violently) and rattles loudly when vehicle is moving (and seat is unoccupied).

NHTSA ID

11688856

Incident

Oct 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V159000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V393000 (Seats). The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11680757

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

Mileage

90,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V393000 (SEATS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear passenger’s seat moved forward unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11672046

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

The passenger 3rd row seat if the fold button is hit it can lock and pin a passenger. It wont release itself unless you try and hit the reset holding the 2 buttons simultaneously. Currently for safety reasons I taped that seats button and won't let anyone out in the 3rd row

NHTSA ID

11668763

Incident

May 3, 2025

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH down a hill and making a left turn, the hood was unintentionally released, swung open, and hit the front windshield causing it to shatter. There was an abnormal snapping or popping sound detected. The driver pulled over immediately since their view was obstructed. No warning lights were illuminated before the failure however after the hood shattered the windshield the "hood open sensor" light was displayed. The driver's pregnant fiancé was occupying the front passenger's side seat and sustained injuries and pain to her left side. There was glass in her lap, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 55,401.

NHTSA ID

11623430

Incident

Oct 18, 2024

Mileage

55,401 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the third-row seats were inoperable. The contact stated that the passenger’s and driver’s side seats were frozen in a semi-folded-down position and were not responding to the electronic control switch. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the seat control unit needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the seat failure was a known failure; however, the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,438.

NHTSA ID

11571384

Incident

Nov 10, 2022

Mileage

40,438 mi

Front passenger seat overheated and caused 2nd degree burns

NHTSA ID

11514005

Incident

Mar 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's and passenger's side rear seats inadvertently moved forward while his children were seated in the seats. The contact was concerned about the safety of his children while riding in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 14,700.

NHTSA ID

11477441

Incident

Aug 3, 2022

Mileage

14,700 mi

I am having major issues with the 3rd row seating on my Ford explorer getting stuck and not able to be moved. This is happening causing children to not have places to sit and seatbelts to secure themselves in for a safe commute. Each time the seats are stuck, they are not even able to be moved manually. The entire seat including the head rest becomes immobile and leaves the seat in either a half open/closed position or an open position with no headrest capability. While traveling out of town on January 23 with 6 people in my vehicle my 3rd row seats became stuck in positions where I was unable to safely transport 2 of the occupants of the car. I also had to travel home in an extremely unsafe situation where luggage had to remain in laps for a 4 hour car ride and could have been catastrophic had there been an accident. I reached out to the service department of Palmetto Ford on January 24th about this issue and they told me it would be 3 to 4 weeks until they could get my vehicle in to “look at it.” I reached out to my sales person who was able to coordinate with the service manager to get my vehicle looked at the next day. They did not have a loner for me to drive so they rented one from Enterprise and had me come back the next day to pick it up and began to repair my car. It took them about 2 days and they said they had to completely replace the computer brain of the 3rd row seating. When I left it was in working order. Two months later while once again out of town with 4 other people’s children to care for my 3rd row seating gets stuck again in an unusable position. This time I had no other alternative but to put these kids in seats together seatbelted in and pray that I did not get hit. When I got home on March 29th I called Palmetto Ford sales to let them know that my seats are once again broken and spoke to the sales manager Jake. I told him that I felt unsafe in the vehicle now and that I would like them to take it back. I told him I had more travel

NHTSA ID

11464541

Incident

Jan 22, 2022

The vehicle was involved in a rear-end collision. When the collision occurred, both front seats dropped into a fully reclined position and locked fully reclined.

NHTSA ID

11443819

Incident

Nov 26, 2021

Third row seat won't go up or down (it is an electrical seat for folding flat or to lift back up for seating). On Aug 12, 2021 took it to Ford dealership near me for any appointment to have fixed. In morning of Friday 13th dealership said still hadn't figured out the problem. By afternoon of 13th August dealership said it is either module or buttons issue and said they needed keep it over weekend. Dealership said they d call me by noon on Monday 16th August to let me know. Well, since I hadn't heard from then I called them again (as I have been doing since they dont seem to communicate with customers). Callie of Service dept said its the buttons/switches. That must order them; closest place had them is Tennessee she said. We are concerned for we had these exact issues with 2015 Explorer; started with 3rd row seat then all other electrical issues started happening. That explorer suv was in shop for several months.

NHTSA ID

11429266

Incident

Aug 10, 2021