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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2005 and earlier

3348 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2011 at 3:14 PM

You are in the Ford Explorer Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, SUV

Messages Page 243 of 335

#2419 of 3348 2003 Leather Seat Quality by jodar96

Apr 18, 2005 (2:27 pm)

I bought an 03 XLT Sport with leather seats with 34K miles that was put in service in Nov 2002.
 
The driver side seat bottom has a little hump/ bulg on the left side of the cushion. It feels like foam under the leather is folding/bunching. The right side has the same feel but to much lesser extend. I feel it is a defect. The dealer says that Ford is very particular about seat defects ( they must have replaced a lot of them, if they are getting SENSITIVE now!) My 96 Toyota Camry has leather seats, and does not have the problem, My wife's 2001 Lexus RX 300 has leather seats, and does not have the problem either. So what is up with Explorer leather?
 
As soon as I bought, I took it to our local dealer to check on a whining noise that I tought it was the rear axle, and to fix a leak where drive shaft meets the rear axle. The left front bearing was bad making the noise, and the seal to rear axle was also bad and was replaced.
 
I bought an Explorer because it is better looking than Toyota 4runner, and can pull better. But under warranty, the truck appeared to have a few things that needed fixing. Right before its 36K miles, I bought the 5 years/75K miles drivetrain warranty. I hope I never need it. My 93 Ranger with 148K miles with 4.0L engine that have owned since 99, has given me ZERO problems.
 
I like the look of the Explorers, and hope mine stays trouble free. It gets 20.8mpg on the highway, and pulling a 2800Lbs camper, it got 17.5mpg driving to Florida.
 
Joe

#2420 of 3348 Re: 2003 Leather Seat Quality [jodar96] by chuck1

Apr 18, 2005 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: jodar96 (Apr 18, 2005 2:27 pm)
"The driver side seat bottom has a little hump/ bulg on the left side of the cushion. It feels like foam under the leather is folding/bunching. The right side has the same feel but to much lesser extend. I feel it is a defect."
 
Yea. mine is doing the same thing. These seats are garbage and Ford knows it. The leather they speced is WAY TOO THIN- and what ever the seats are made of underneath isn't that good either. If they do fix it, their solution is another leather seat cover. Do yourself a favor and take it to a good upholstery shop!

#2421 of 3348 nvbanker - 2006 Mountaineer? by lateralg

Apr 18, 2005 (4:17 pm)

I see your fleet includes a 2004 Mountaineer. In view of the major changes for 2006, are you tempted to upgrade?

#2422 of 3348 Re: 2003 Leather Seat Quality [jodar96] by nvbanker

Apr 20, 2005 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: jodar96 (Apr 18, 2005 2:27 pm)
Not sure what to tell you on the seat, Joe - I had an 02 Mountaineer and have an 04 Mountaineer, neither had a problem with the Leather seats, and they should be very much the same. Have never heard of this complaint before either. I would think yours therefore, is indeed, defective. But if you're over the 36,000 miles, it's gonna be hard to press Ford to adjust it now. Any car company resists stuff that is non-mechanical after the original factory warranty is up being claimed. They expect it to be a "wear item". It gets kind of subjective, you know, our opinion vs. theirs. I did have a leather steering wheel go bunchy on my 97 Explorer inside 2 years - really rare, never seen another one do that, but I just turned it in on a 98 and forgot about it. Don't know what would have happened had I pressed them about replacing it. Frankly, it could have been my grip on the wheel, but I've never done it to another car either. I think it was defective.

#2423 of 3348 Re: nvbanker - 2006 Mountaineer? [lateralg] by nvbanker

Apr 20, 2005 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: lateralg (Apr 18, 2005 4:17 pm)
Am I tempted to upgrade to a 2006? Not really, because my lease isn't up until 2007 - then we'll see. But frankly, we really like the 04 a lot. If it performs long term as well as it has so far, it could be a keeper like the 94 Explorer was and stay in the "fleet". I tend to lease most new vehicles, and if we love them, buy them out of the lease, if we aren't in love with them, turn them back for new ones. My 02 Mountaineer was a fine vehicle - but I never really loved it because of the 4.0L engine in it. The 04 we got with the 4.6L V-8, which makes all the difference to me. This one, we love. Then again, once we SEE the 06 or 07.....things could change......

#2424 of 3348 2006 Mountaineer by lateralg

Apr 21, 2005 (8:08 am)

* 292 HP
* 3-valve, variable cam timing.
* 6-speed auto transmission
* Floor shift
* Increased fuel economy
* Reduced NVH
* Auto-retractable running boards
* True fold-flat load floor
* Other stuff

#2425 of 3348 Forum activity?? by lateralg

Apr 22, 2005 (11:18 am)

Is this forum dead, or what?

#2426 of 3348 Re: Forum activity?? [lateralg] by steve_ HOST

Apr 22, 2005 (11:28 am)

Replying to: lateralg (Apr 22, 2005 11:18 am)
They all have occasional lulls. Did you have a question?
 
Steve, Host

#2427 of 3348 Re: Forum activity?? by lateralg

Apr 22, 2005 (6:12 pm)

No question. I just expected more activity on a forum of the best-selling SUV. On active forums, there's usually discussion about current model features, speculation & fact about future models, descriptions & discussions about modifications, complaints and praises about the manufacturer ...
 
Maybe I'm on the wrong board.

#2428 of 3348 The Quietness by jcat707

Apr 22, 2005 (6:15 pm)

I guess that there's not much to say. The board will probably get more active closer to the arrival of the redesigned 2006 Explorers/Mountaineers

Messages Page 243 of 335

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