The defect
PM CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE SPRING COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING AN IN-PROCESS TEST AND THE OCCUPANT MAY NOTICE A CHUCKING, OR PERCEIVED LOOSENESS OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK, OR THE SEAT BACK COULD UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINE.
The risk
IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE SPRING FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 2001 |
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 2001 | 1,761 | 7 |
Other seats recalls in 2001
12 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the seats; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 01V383000 13 Dec 2001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V341000 1 Nov 2001 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 01V269000 26 Aug 2001 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 01V208000 5 Aug 2001 | A. GIRARDIN INC. |
| 01V244000 31 Jul 2001 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 01V235000 5 Jul 2001 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 01V234000 5 Jul 2001 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 01V102000 26 Mar 2001 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001