- Ford is recalling 1,658 2011 Explorer vehicles because of defective seatbacks that might not provide the required strength in a crash, according to NHTSA.
- Ford dealers have been told to stop demonstrating or delivering the affected vehicles until they are repaired.
- The recall is expected to begin on February 14.
WASHINGTON — Ford is recalling 1,658 2011 Explorer vehicles because of defective seatbacks that might not provide the required strength in a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ford dealers have been told to stop demonstrating or delivering the affected vehicles until they are repaired.
The affected vehicles are equipped with second-row "60 percent seats with manual recliner mechanisms that may have components that are out of dimensional specification," said the NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "In the event of a crash, the seatback may not provide the required strength, increasing the risk of injury."
In other documentation filed with the federal government, Ford said its dealers have been notified to stop demonstrating or delivering the affected vehicles until they are repaired. The automaker said it is "not aware of any reports of this condition on vehicles in customer service."
Ford said the problem was discovered on December 14, 2010 at its Chicago Assembly Plant when a 2011 Explorer was identified as having a noise in the second-row 60 percent seat. "This seat was removed from the unit and returned to the seat supplier," Ford said. "Upon inspection of the returned seat, there was unexpected observable movement of the center recliner/seatback during manual forward loading."
Ford dealers will repair the seats. The recall is expected to begin on February 14. Owners can contact Ford at 866-436-7332.
Inside Line says: If you own the aforementioned 2011 Ford Explorer, have it checked out ASAP with your dealer. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
tbone85 says:
07:12 PM, 02/11/2011
One person dying is too many if it touches you directly, but stating that "many" people died in Pintos can't be statistically supported. 27 deaths were attributed to the Pinto. An average of 73 people die by lightening strikes each year.
Of course we aren't rational on this subject; we suffer significant intrusion into the privacy of our wives and children in airports to decrease the threat of terrorism-- which is only a tiny fraction as dangerous as abusing prescription drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, or food. On these far more dangerous activities we would never even consider allowing the government any semblance of the intrusion into our lives that we permit in airports.
So yeah, creating even a loose linkage of seat problems on current vehicles to fires on vehicles from 30-40 years ago doesn't really add up.
tdiluv says:
06:42 AM, 02/09/2011
Oh, "zoomzoom" made me think, back in the day when my kid brother was in college he bought a new PINTO, then the rearend collisions started causing the gas tanks under the trunk floor to be crushed and the fuel exploding into the interior. Many people died very tragically in those cars. My Dad traded him out of that thing real fast !!
tdiluv says:
06:33 AM, 02/09/2011
You can see Mullally in the THUNDERBIRD conferance room meeting on this with all the VIP'S. He will probably have the seats rigged so when he thinks someone is lying he presses a button and their seatback falls off !
Being serious about this it is not good for a product that has had many bad things happen to it in the past. All new models usually have some issues but the engineering on this seat is apparently lacking !
zoomzoomn says:
04:50 AM, 02/09/2011
Wow. Anyone old enough to remamber the eighties will find this bit of Ford deja-vu funny. Think 80's Escort/Lynx. I mean, really? Most likely a supplier issue and kudos for them jumping right on it, but com'on Ford!
93aero says:
05:20 PM, 02/08/2011
"But brothers....really! Ford cannot compete with Toyota...yes, they make boring cars for sure guys..and the most recall by far..but still number one!"
Reading this makes me think there are two people in your head...who aren't currently on speaking terms. (having the "most recalls by far" only makes them number one in...most recalls.
zoolander1 says:
04:03 PM, 02/08/2011
@FANTASTIC: And what's your point about Toyota being number 1? What does that mean for me, the consumer? GM was number 1 globally yet it was probably their darkest years in product quality. VW is very close to becoming #1 global automotive. Is that going to turn VW into number 1 in quality? Will achieving number one will make my 2009 A4 Quattro become a better car?
dgmail says:
01:49 PM, 02/08/2011
I see Recall Motors(Toyota) is having a little competition.
Ford = 1658
Recall Motors (Toyota) = 3 Million +
fantastic says:
11:52 AM, 02/08/2011
But brothers....really! Ford cannot compete with Toyota...yes, they make boring cars for sure guys..and the most recall by far..but still number one!
smilez says:
10:23 AM, 02/08/2011
fantastic -
You might want to think about your argument. Ford recalled 1,658 Explorers. Do we need to get the numbers for Toyota recalls?
There is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge difference in the total number of vehicles recalled between the two companies.
greenpony says:
09:31 AM, 02/08/2011
It took them from Dec 14 until now to determine that something was out of dimensional spec and issue a recall for it?