35 of the 43,182 complaints filed about the Ford Explorer are about the child seat — 0% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
35
Complaints
0%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
We have a onefit. Our seat cover will not cover part of the head rest and he is able to pick and scratch at the Styrofoam. Even caught him trying to eat it. This has happened on several occasions. We have had to stop using the seat.
NHTSA complaint #11739984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
my son is rear facing and puts his arm in the forward facing belt path then can not get his arm back out. he starts screaming and crying and i have to pull the car over to the side of the road to help him get his arm out and even i struggle getting his arm free. no sooner than i start driving again, he puts his arm back through and it’s the same cycle. i have contacted britax and have unfortunately not gotten any solution for this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11727292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
my son is rear facing and puts his arm in the forward facing belt path then can not get his arm back out. he starts screaming and crying and i have to pull the car over to the side of the road to help him get his arm out and even i struggle getting his arm free. no sooner than i start driving again, he puts his arm back through and it’s the same cycle. i have contacted britax and have unfortunately not gotten any solution for this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11727292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)
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 complaint #11710519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
We bought this in 2022 from clek, and a few months before we were transferring our daughter from the infant seat to a convertible seat, our infant seat became stuck on the base. Absolutely impossible to get off and my husband and I both tried many times. I reached out to Clek because I was very concerned that in an emergency situation it would take much longer to unstrap and get baby out instead of just grabbing the seat and going. I mean in a car fire, if we went in any body of water- anything it’s extremely concerning to me that this could happen. I have bought cheaper car seats than this for our other children and never once had this issue. They ended up emailing me with a video showing me to break the base, pull a strap and remove the seat from the base - that’s great besides it still won’t detach and you could never do this in an emergency. They also said this happens often which clearly it does if they have a video showing how to remove it. The car seat has been inspected by the hospital and police prior to this and we have had other friends/ family who are in those professional fields who were very concerned. We actually were told by Albee baby to report clek because they said they should refund us. They aren’t even offering us a new seat and we are due in less than 2 months with baby number 3. We have no seat and to be truthful I don’t want one like this where it may get stuck again. They also told me in an email, police and ems could help save my child- sometimes you can’t wait for that- that’s a horrible excuse to me. I should be able to save my children myself and I will never rely on anyone else.
NHTSA complaint #11664184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
No accident, I noticed strap fraying when inspecting the car seat. The lower car seat straps have fraying on them, rendering the car seat unsafe and unusable. My child will not be safe if a car crash would occur, she could potentially be released from the seat. It was reported to evenflo with pictures. They are claiming it is our fault and my 3 year old did it with something sharp. You cannot see the back of the straps as they enter the car seat. We do have photos of the proof. We also know there is an ongoing investigation into evenflo for this very reason.
NHTSA complaint #11610242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)
I have had to re-install the seat multiple times in the last 2-3 weeks because it keeps coming loose in rear facing mode. I installed the seat in early to mid-March. I first noticed it was loose on 4/26/24. I had it installed with the seatbelt at that time. I re-installed with the seatbelt and continued checking it daily until I noticed it being loose again within about a week. I again re-installed with the seat belt so it was secure and moving less than 1 inch side to side and front to back and continued checking for excess movement. I attended a CPST training the week of 5/6/24 and had my seats looked at by an instructor who told me it was done correctly. For the sake of practice, I installed it with LATCH instead and had an instructor confirm it was correct. That was all on 5/9/24. On 5/13/24 I had to re-install it yet again as the latch had loosened. I used the seatbelt that time and submitted a complaint to Graco. Today, 5/15/24, I had to re-install twice, first with seatbelt and then with LATCH (around 6 pm) which at the time of this writing (8 pm) has held. The seat has repeatedly become loose after a proper install, putting my child at risk because of the seat moving more than one inch side to side which does not meet Graco or CPST installation requirements. The remedy supposedly provided by Graco to others is to use LATCH. However, in my situation that has not helped and in general that is not a long term solution since LATCH has weight limits. I’ve also heard from others that Graco just tells them their seatbelt or vehicle is incompatible and nothing can be done. From what I can tell, it’s a known issue that Graco hasn’t acknowledged.
NHTSA complaint #11588997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
It is extremely difficult to tighten the harness on this seat. As we have used the seat more, the harness has gotten nearly impossible to get snug enough to be safe. I am a CPST, so I am sure the seat was adjusted properly for my child. I also talked to a CPST at Britax to make sure I wasn’t missing something that could help. I was sent a new harness to see if it would help, but it did not make any difference. We have since stopped using this car seat and replaced it.
NHTSA complaint #11548550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
I PUT OUR BRITAX DIPLOMAT CAR SEAT IN MY WIFE'S FORD EXPLORER. I ATTACHED THE SEAT BELT AND THE EXTRA LONG STRAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE CAR SEAT THAT GETS HOOKED TO A HOOK ON THE SEAT. THE EXCESS STRAP WAS HANGING OUT THE DOOR AND WE DID NOT REALIZE IT WHEN WE DROVE AWAY WITH OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE STRAP WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND VIOLENTLY PULLED THE CAR SEAT TOWARDS THE DOOR, THEN THE STRAP BROKE. WE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE CAR SEAT WAS BASICALLY LAYING SIDEWAYS ON THE BACK SEAT. OUR DAUGHTER WAS SCREAMING, AND WE THINK SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SMACKED INTO THE DOOR WHEN THE STRAP GOT PULLED UNDER THE TIRE AND YANKED THE CAR SEAT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. MAYBE HAVE A SELF RETRACTING STRAP IN THE FUTURE, SO IT DOES NOT JUST HANG THERE (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2009, MAKE=EXPLORER, MODEL=FORD).
NHTSA complaint #10413224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
CARSEAT WAS INSTALLED REARFACING, IN BOTH OUTBOARD POSITIONS, WITH LATCH, NO TOP TETHER, IN A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. (2ND ROW) CARSEAT WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY BY MYSELF, A CPST, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH LITTLE TO NO MOVEMENT AT THE REAR FACING BELTPATH. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, RANGING FROM A FEW HOURS TO DAYS, THE SEAT WILL LOOSEN BEYOND THE ALLOWABLE 1 INCH OF MOVEMENT AT THE BELTPATH. MANY TIMES WHEN CHILD HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE SEAT. THERE IS NO IDENTIFIABLE REASON FOR THE BELT TO LOOSEN OTHER THAN THE BELT SLIPPING THROUGH THE TIGHTENER. THE TIGHTENER SLIDES EXTREMELY EASILY ON THE BELT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND IT TAKES MINIMAL, IF ANY FORCE TO RELEASE THE SILVER TAB AND LOOSEN THE LATCH BELT. I HAVE SEEN THIS SEAT LOOSEN ABOUT 5 TIMES IN MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT LET MY CHILD RIDE IN IT WHILE INSTALLED WITH LATCH FOR THIS REASON AND I CANNOT USE THE SEAT TO ITS FULL CAPACITY IF THE LATCH BELT IS DEFECTIVE. I CONTACTED SUNSHINE KIDS AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND AM WORKING WITH THEIR COST TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO REPLACE MY CURRENT LATCH BELT WITH ANOTHER, HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO MY LATCH BELT ALONE. THEY WILL BE REPLACING WITH THE SAME PRODUCT. FOR THE TIME BEING I HAVE DECLINED THE NEW LATCH BELT SO THAT I CAN WAIT TO SEE IF IT IS REPAIRABLE, OR RECALLED. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2007, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=EXPLORER).
NHTSA complaint #10366879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
SUNSHINE KIDS RADIAN 80SL CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. WHEN INSTALLED REAR-FACING WITH LATCH, THE ADJUSTER MECHANISM ENDS UP ON THE EDGE OF THE BELT PATH, PREVENTING THE BELT FROM STAYING TIGHT, EVEN WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE. IT CAN CAUSE A PERSON TO THINK THAT THE SEAT IS TIGHTLY INSTALLED WHEN IT IS NOT. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL WITH THE SEAT BELT. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2006, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=EXPLORER).
NHTSA complaint #10351632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER AND A 2008 GRACO SNUG RIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 7FEMA3, MANUFACTURED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2008. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10-15 MPH; THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY SECURED IN AN "INFANT" CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT. THE CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. WHENEVER MAKING A TURN THE RESTRAINT SEAT AND BASE TILTED TO THE REAR CENTER SEAT WITH THE OCCUPANT IN IT. THE CHILD SEAT WAS TAKEN TO A CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN FOR INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED WITH NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. BL
NHTSA complaint #10281876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS CLIP CRACKED, AND ALSO THE HARNESS BUCKLE WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, WHICH ALLOWS THE CHILD TO GET OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10161846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT:HARNESS:STRAP/WEBBING
I WAS FOLLOWING UP ON THE DEATH OF A 1 MONTH THAT WAS EJECTED FROM A COSCO CHILD SEAT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE TRAIN ACCIDENT. WHILE FOLLOWING UP ON THE DEATH, I WAS LOOKING AT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY. I NOTICED THERE WERE NO PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAR SEAT OR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TRAIN HAD STRUCK THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE IMPOUND LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STORED AND MET THE FATHER OF THE DECEASED CHILD. HE WAS COLLECTING PROPERTY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE SHOWED ME A STROLLER AND THE CAR SEAT. THE STROLLER HAD BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS DAMAGED AND THE CAR SEAT WAS STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR SEAT AND STROLLER ARE SOLD AS A SET FROM K-MART AND HAD BEEN PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 IN HUTCHINSON KANSAS. UPON LOOKING AT THE CAR SEAT WHICH WAS REAR FACING IN THE VEHICLE AND STILL STRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BY THE SEAT BELT. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS TRAINED TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS SAID THE SEAT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. MY CONCERN OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE STRAP THAT WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE CHILD WAS COMPLETELY UNDONE FROM THE LATCH ON THE BACK OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE STRAP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY UNDONE AND I PHOTOGRAPHED THE ROUTING OF THE STRAP BEFORE REMOVING THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER OF THE SEAT GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OFF OF THE SEAT. MODEL # 22-300-SWB; 11/10/04 GBIB. REG NO PA-25334(CN) PERMIT # 1780-333 DOREL JUVENILE GROUP INC. FROM THE IMPACT OF THE TRAIN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR 1/4 PANEL OF THE 20-03 EXPLORER, THE CHILD WAS EJECTED FROM THE CHILD SEAT AND DIED 3 HRS LATER FROM HEAD INJURIES. FROM THE INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LATCHING AND HOLDING ABILITY ON THE BACK OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10156539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
WHILE PLACING THE CHILD INSIDE THE CAR SEAT THE BOTTOM OF SEAT SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE BOTTOM BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR. THIS PUT THE CHILD IN DANGER.
NHTSA complaint #10091844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP. THE PADDED SHIELD OF THE SEAT BROKE AND EXPOSED A LARGE SPRING. THE BABY WAS IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. *NM
NHTSA complaint #10057379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
THE CONVERTIBLE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISCONNECT FROM THE LATCH IN THE CHILD SEAT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONSUMER HAD CHECKED ON THE CHILD TO FIND THE CHILD NOT SECURED IN THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10041982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK SEAT AS FAR AS NOT HAVING THE TETHER POINTS WHERE BOOSTER SEAT COULD BE SECURELY FIT INTO THE SEAT(S). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ANY SOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE ONLY THING THAT THEY COULD SUGGEST WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10029778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT
WHILE PLACING THE CHILD INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ARM OF THE CAR SEAT BROKE OFF. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHILD SEAT:HANDLE (INFANT)
REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT TO WOULD BE HARD TO KEEP CHILD SEAT LOCKED IN PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8015714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.