Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 Explorers because the second row seat center recliner mechanism was not build to specification and may not fully comply with federal seating guidelines. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
The recall affects approximately 1,658 Ford Explorers built from July 15, 2010 through December 13, 2010 at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant.
The company said that the defect was noticed after the second row 60% seat made a noise while on the assembly line. An internal company review found that the “sector plate to guide plate gap in the manual recliner mechanism was out of dimensional specification,” according to Ford’s recall filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A sub-supplier to Lear Corporation, the seat supplier to Ford, was found to not have maintained adequate dimensional controls when stamping the guide plates during production.
Ford will notify owners beginning February 14, 2o11. Ford dealers will replace second row 60% seats with manual recliner mechanisms at no charge.
Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
