Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
3,476 NHTSA complaints about seats:front assembly:recliner issues across 41 makes and 420 models.
The seats:front assembly:recliner is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 3,476 filings from 41 manufacturers and 420 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 869 crashes, 6 fires, 1,177 injuries, and 24 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 190 filings, followed by CHEVROLET BLAZER and SATURN SL. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD EXPLORER | 190 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 139 |
| 3 | SATURN SL | 128 |
| 4 | CHEVROLET S10 | 123 |
| 5 | DODGE CARAVAN | 101 |
| 6 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 77 |
| 7 | DODGE INTREPID | 72 |
| 8 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 68 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 67 |
| 10 | CHRYSLER CONCORDE | 60 |
| 11 | SATURN SC1 | 48 |
| 12 | HONDA ACCORD | 48 |
| 13 | GMC SONOMA | 45 |
| 14 | DODGE DAKOTA | 44 |
| 15 | DODGE SHADOW | 43 |
| 16 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 41 |
| 17 | FORD RANGER | 39 |
| 18 | FORD EXPLORER SPORT | 37 |
| 19 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 35 |
| 20 | SATURN SC | 33 |
| 21 | FORD MUSTANG | 31 |
| 22 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 31 |
| 23 | HONDA CIVIC | 30 |
| 24 | GMC JIMMY | 30 |
| 25 | GMC SIERRA | 29 |
| 26 | FORD F-150 | 29 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 29 |
| 28 | FORD ESCORT | 28 |
| 29 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 28 |
| 30 | CHEVROLET C1500 | 27 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while adjusting the driver's seat, the control was making an abnormal buzzing sound. The contact stated that the seat was not moving
My automatic seat recliner is stuck and hasnât worked for quiet sometime now. Also The motor stopped working as I was driving home, So I took it to a mechanic to assess the situation and was told th
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, she noticed that the front passengerâs side seat back had completely lowered down and was lying
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the driver's side seat would inadvertently lower without driver input. The contact stated that the failure recurred several
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the lever located on the headrests of both the front driverâs and passengerâs seats failed to recline as needed. The contact stated t
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD REST WAS UNABLE TO BE REPOSITIONED AND WAS TILTED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH FRONT SEATS WE
MY 1999 300 M HAS THE FOLLOWING ISSUE: ******* RECALL ID # 57541 - SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINERPLUSHIDE DETAILS RECALL DATE: FEB 05, 2003 MODEL AFFECTED: 1999 CHRYSLER 300M SUMMARY: ON CERTAI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH FOR THE FRONT SEAT FAILED TO OPERATE CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAC
I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH MY CEO. WHEN I SAT DOWN THE SEAT FELL BACK AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT CATCH AGAIN. I TOOK MY LIFE INTO MY HANDS DRIVING HOME THAT EVE
2002 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A BOLT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT THAT CAN BREAK CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH *TGW THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE, EV
MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP OUR KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINING BACK GAVE WAY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY. I LOOKED UP A PREVIOUS RECALL SATURN HAD FOR THE YR,
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINER RETENTION BOLT HEADS SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO FALL BACK AGAINST BACK WALL OF TRUCK CAB. ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVOIDED AS HANDS MOMENTARILY CAME
2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN RELATED TO TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED AT 28,232 MILES. HOWEVER, THE CON
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V035000 (SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: RECLINER) IN 2003 AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK AND WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAT FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CA
1995 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES SEAT BACK FAILURE IN REAR -END COLLISION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. UPO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A CHILD PASSENGER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE PULLED ON THE DRIVER SEAT TO RECLINE HERSELF AND THE SEA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP COMMANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY TURNING THE KEY BAC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AS HE SET IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE BACK LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED. HE HAD NOTICE BEFORE THE SEAT COLLAPSED THAT THE SEAT W
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.