FaultScore

Ford seat problems

Owners have filed 3,098 complaints with NHTSA about the seats on Ford vehicles — 1% of everything reported about the brand, across 86 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the Ford Explorer, worst in 1998.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

3,098

Complaints

1%

Share of all Ford complaints

349

Crashes

130

Fires

Which Ford models have the most seat problems

Explorer 686 22.1%

Worst in 1998

F-150 341 11.0%

Worst in 2001

Mustang 180 5.8%

Worst in 1994

Taurus 142 4.6%

Worst in 1987

Fusion 142 4.6%

Worst in 2010

Focus 139 4.5%

Worst in 2000

Ranger 125 4.0%

Worst in 1994

Freestar 122 3.9%

Worst in 2004

Windstar 100 3.2%

Worst in 1999

Expedition 98 3.2%

Worst in 2003

Escape 96 3.1%

Worst in 2005

Edge 83 2.7%

Worst in 2013

Escort 80 2.6%

Worst in 1993

Crown Victoria 68 2.2%

Worst in 1992

Explorer Sport 68 2.2%

Worst in 2001

Contour 63 2.0%

Worst in 1998

Bronco 42 1.4%

Worst in 1990

Aerostar 38 1.2%

Worst in 1994

F-250 37 1.2%

Worst in 1995

Transit 33 1.1%

Worst in 2020

Thunderbird 31 1.0%

Worst in 1993

Tempo 31 1.0%

Worst in 1991

Flex 26 0.8%

Worst in 2011

Fiesta 25 0.8%

Worst in 2011

Worst Ford model years for seat problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2001 Ford F-150 89 6% 59,975 B
2004 Ford Freestar 87 5% 116,542 A
1998 Ford Explorer 71 3% 85,056 D
1999 Ford Explorer 69 4% 70,000 C
2015 Ford F-150 44 2% 1,000 F
1997 Ford Explorer 40 2% 95,000 D
2000 Ford Explorer 40 3% 60,535 F
2020 Ford Explorer 39 2% 35,000 B
2000 Ford Focus 36 1% 50,750 B
1998 Ford Contour 35 3% 112,000 F
2010 Ford Fusion 35 0% 65,000 A
2016 Ford Explorer 33 1% 47,500 C
1993 Ford Explorer 30 3% 96,500 F
1996 Ford Explorer 30 2% 130,000 B
2002 Ford Explorer 30 1% 53,400 D
2008 Ford Explorer 27 12% 71,000 B
2013 Ford Fusion 27 1% 49,000 C
2020 Ford Transit 27 25% 559 D
1994 Ford Mustang 25 5% 107,500 F
2001 Ford Explorer 25 5% 81,500 F