The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·10V161000·Announced 2010-04-20

Ford Recalls 2010 Vehicles for Front Seat Recliner Defect

Ford is recalling specific 2010 models because front seat manual recliners may not meet federal safety standards, increasing injury risk in a crash.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (seat recliner) that increases the risk of injury in a crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2010 model year Ford Fusion, Ford Explorer, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Mercury Milan, and Mercury Mountaineer vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured between December 15, 2009, and February 3, 2010, and are equipped with front seat manual recliners.

The recalled vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202 regarding head restraints. The teeth on the recliner gear plate may be out of dimension specification, which could result in limited engagement between the pawl and the gear plate tooth. In the event of a crash, this defect could allow the seatback and head restraint to move rearward, increasing the risk of injury.

Dealers will replace the manual recliners for both power and manual seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before April 30, 2010. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
FORD, MERCURY FUSION, MILAN, MOUNTAINEER, EXPLORER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Category
Vehicle — Seat Assembly
Hazard
Affected units
33,256

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • FUSION
  • MILAN
  • MOUNTAINEER
  • EXPLORER
  • EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · FORD

Same manufacturer · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

See all →

Same hazard · injury risk

See all →