The defect
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
The risk
THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V281).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer Sport | 2001, 2002 |
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 Explorer Sport | 2001 | 188 | 5 |
| Ford Explorer Sport | 2002 | 133 | 3 |
Other seats recalls in 2006
12 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the seats; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 06V479000 21 Dec 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V443000 20 Nov 2006 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 06V374000 27 Sept 2006 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 06V304000 7 Aug 2006 | GLAVAL BUS DIVISION |
| 06V283000 27 Jul 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V228000 23 Jun 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V215000 15 Jun 2006 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 06V197000 7 Jun 2006 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006