# NHTSA recall 03V281000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 03V281000
- Manufacturer's number: 03S04
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 2003\-08\-05
- Owners notified: 2003\-08\-29
- Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
- Units potentially affected: 1552880

## What is wrong

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE.  IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.


## What can happen

THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT.  IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT.  OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003.    OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 03S04.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1998 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [1999 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/1999/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [2000 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/2000/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [2001 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/2001/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT](/makes/ford/explorer/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-09\-24 to 2002\-08\-16. Listed as a series or trim of this model.
- [2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT](/makes/ford/explorer/2002/recalls.md). Built 1999\-09\-24 to 2002\-08\-16. Listed as a series or trim of this model.
- [2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC](/makes/ford/explorer-sport-trac/2001/recalls.md). Built 1999\-09\-24 to 2002\-08\-16.
- [2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC](/makes/ford/explorer-sport-trac/2002/recalls.md). Built 1999\-09\-24 to 2002\-08\-16.
- [1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER](/makes/mercury/mountaineer/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [1999 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER](/makes/mercury/mountaineer/1999/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER](/makes/mercury/mountaineer/2000/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.
- [2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER](/makes/mercury/mountaineer/2001/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-13 to 2000\-12\-24.

## Investigated as PE03020

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE03020: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2003\-05\-21, closed 2003\-09\-05. FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT. SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V281000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V281000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [05416](/bulletins/10014664.md), 2005-05-05, Service bulletin
- [16090](/bulletins/636106.md), 2002-11-05, Service bulletin
- [15329](/bulletins/630241.md), 2002-04-15, Service bulletin
- [15230](/bulletins/625780.md), 2001-12-03, Service bulletin
- [15055](/bulletins/621052.md), 2001-09-06, Service bulletin
- [14881](/bulletins/620207.md), 2001-07-20, Service bulletin
- [14352](/bulletins/618611.md), 2001-04-18, Service bulletin
- [11809](/bulletins/615306.md), 2001-01-12, Service bulletin
- [11759](/bulletins/615261.md), 2001-01-10, Service bulletin
- [4701](/bulletins/615241.md), 2001-01-10, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V281000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V281000)

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