FaultScore

2021 Ford Explorer seat problems

14 of the 554 complaints about the 2021 Ford Explorer are about the seats — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 77,000 miles.

D

14

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seats 13 92.9%
Mid/Rear Assembly 1 7.1%

Seats across every Ford Explorer year

1991 16 2.5%
1992 22 3.5%
1993 30 4.7%
1994 20 3.1%
1995 20 3.1%
1996 30 4.7%
1997 40 6.3%
1998 71 11.2%
1999 69 10.9%
2000 40 6.3%
2001 25 3.9%
2002 30 4.7%
2003 12 1.9%
2006 11 1.7%
2007 24 3.8%
2008 27 4.3%
2010 20 3.1%
2013 10 1.6%
2015 16 2.5%
2016 33 5.2%
2017 16 2.5%
2020 39 6.1%
2021 14 2.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 77,000 miles La Fayette, GA

SEATS

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 complaint #11747715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

San Antonio, TX

SEATS

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 complaint #11729928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

La Puente, CA

SEATS

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 complaint #11718923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Methuen, MA

SEATS

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

NHTSA complaint #11688856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Glasgow, KY

SEATS

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 complaint #11680757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Ocean Springs, MS

SEATS

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 complaint #11672046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Point Pleasant Boro, NJ

SEATS

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 complaint #11668763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,438 miles Edinburg, TX

SEATS

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 complaint #11571384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX 1 injured

SEATS

Front passenger seat overheated and caused 2nd degree burns

NHTSA complaint #11514005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,700 miles Antioch, CA

SEATS

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 complaint #11477441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hanahan, SC

SEATS

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 complaint #11464541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hanahan, SC

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

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 complaint #11464541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chehalis, WA Crash 1 injured

SEATS

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 complaint #11443819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hinesville, GA

SEATS

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 complaint #11429266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2021 Ford Explorer problems

← Full 2021 Ford Explorer report