Creak in driver seat

[merchjo]

Hi Guys

I have a 2014 Explorer XLT with cloths seats. Just recently I have this creak in my seat that happens with even the smallest bumps. If I take pressure of the back of seat (support my weight with my arms and steering wheel) it goes away. I am afraid if I take it to Ford they are going just tell me its nothing so I want to see if anyone else has had it.

Thanks
Joe

 

[FordService]

Hi Guys

I have a 2014 Explorer XLT with cloths seats. Just recently I have this creak in my seat that happens with even the smallest bumps. If I take pressure of the back of seat (support my weight with my arms and steering wheel) it goes away. I am afraid if I take it to Ford they are going just tell me its nothing so I want to see if anyone else has had it.

Thanks
Joe

Hi Joe,

I'd recommend going ahead and taking it in; feel free to demonstrate what you're experiencing to the tech so they can hear it. If you only experience it while driving, take them along for a test drive. Post when you've had your visit; I'll be here if you need help following your appointment.

Crystal

 

[Tony407]

My '15 Sport has a slight creaking/groaning sound when I varied the weight of my back against the seat back. Interestingly, my '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee did the same thing. It took about 4 visits to the dealership and about as many "fixes" that did nothing to fix it. They finally did fix it though. I'm so tired of taking my new vehicles to dealerships that I might just ignore it in my '15. *sigh*

Tony

 

[Explorer Pete]

My 13 does it on the passenger side. This only happens with my wife along, Yes, I know all of the jokes. It sounds like the trim strip around the seat is rubbing, or the supports are loose and rubbing. Is your sound like mine or not? Pete

 

[merchjo]

Mine sound is more like a metal to metal creak. I took it to the deal but they "did not hear it". Mine only happens if I put weight against the back of the seat, if I hold myself off the back no sound.

 

[rfs2005]

I've got the same problem. Anyone ever find a solution? Mine seems to get louder and louder. Its noticeable when starting/stopping or going over speed bumps, etc at low speeds.

 

[FordService]

I've got the same problem. Anyone ever find a solution? Mine seems to get louder and louder. Its noticeable when starting/stopping or going over speed bumps, etc at low speeds.

Have you had your dealership inspect, rfs2005? What's the mileage on your Explorer these days?

Crystal

 

[merchjo]

I have the truck back twice to the dealer and it still there. They have tried a number of things no luck. Right now I have 7500 miles.

 

[FordService]

I have the truck back twice to the dealer and it still there. They have tried a number of things no luck. Right now I have 7500 miles.

I'll escalate this to your regional customer service manager, merchjo. To make that happen, send me a PM with your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, current mileage, and servicing dealership. Leave the rest to me.

Crystal

 

[rfs2005]

[MENTION=157968]FordService[/MENTION] - Haven't taken it in yet. Based on my previous experiences at the dealership, if it's something simple I may just fix it myself. Current mileage is about 6,500.

 

[FordService]

[MENTION=157968]FordService[/MENTION] - Haven't taken it in yet. Based on my previous experiences at the dealership, if it's something simple I may just fix it myself. Current mileage is about 6,500.

Thanks for following up, rfs2005. Let us know what you decide to do.

Crystal

 

[rfs2005]

Right now I'm waiting to see what merchjo finds out. I really don't want to put my car in the shop again for them to hunt around to try and figure out the issue. Last time my car was in the shop, it was in for over a week. Not going through that again.

 

[merchjo]

rfs2005 Do you have cloth or leather seat, mine are cloth? Mine is doing the same thing as yours and for a week it did it every day when the temp went down below 70. Now its warm again so its coming and going. This is really annoying since the truck is so quiet.

The first time I took it to the dealer they would not work on it since they said they needed their frame and body guy to look at it and he was not there. The second time they had it 2 days and they said it was the seat fastening clip rubbing on the adjuster. The next day it started again.

To me its near the rear cross bar the seat is bolted too. Now that is been doing it so long I can also feel something in the seat when it creaks.

I also have a clunk in the seat frame when I get out of the seat.

My problem is my dealer is 15 miles in the opposite direction to me and I have to make special trip there just so they can hear it so I don't get "we don't hear it" or "its not doing" excuse.

I also have the creaking in the front fender area, of coarse they looked at it and said everything is fine but they would need it 2 days so they can put a device on the frame to listen too it. Each time its up to me to find a car because they don't offer loaners.

UGH!!!

 

[rfs2005]

I don't have the clunk, just the creak. It sound like it may be coming from the console on mine, but it's hard to tell. I'll probably go by the dealership next week. I can only hear it at slow speeds - starting, stopping, speed bumps, etc.

I've got cloth seats on a base model. I'm in Texas, so it's been 90-100 everyday.

 

[rfs2005]

I took mine to the dealership today. I noticed another issue with the steering that isn't related to this (rubbing sound). I have a need for a pickup truck this weekend, so I figured this was the best time to drop it off, and get a rental truck.

I drove with a Service Manager, who heard both the creaking noise we are experiencing, and also the rubber-on-rubber rubbing sound coming from the steering wheel (likely a clock spring). The SM did push down on the car to try and duplicate the creak, and it only barely did it when he was pushing pretty hard on the front of the car. I was able to duplicate the noise by stopping, and accelerating very slowly. He heard it, and thinks it may be the control arms.

 

[kuko]

I had this creak in the drivers seat, sometimes dealers are not very helpful with this kind of problems, it was very annoying so I decided to fix it my self here's how I did it, I have the cloth, seats, you just have to undo some plastic tabs at the bottom and then you can pull the back side up, the source of this creak is a plastic piece that has some small wire cable rubbing on it, I just spray some lithium grease on it and that was it, noise stop and hasn't come back hope it helps someone.

 

[merchjo]

Thanks for the info, I pass it to the dealer as it going on Thursday for a third time. The are also checking the creak in the front driver fendor area that happens when I turn the weel or drive over bumps. I made a specal trip last friday so I cal cause the noise just so they can hear it. I had a fusion and it never went in for work execpt service for the 6 years I owned it. This truck has been there 4 times since I bought it in April. Very displeased. 3 times for the seat and once to replace a depective weather strip. on both rear door windows.

 

[merchjo]

So the truck has been there since last thursday, they have replaced the seat motor, lower seat track and the rear seat mounting bar. I was told there is a service bulletin for the issues I had with the seat. I dont have it back yet since they are still looking for the creaking noise in the front driver side when I turn the wheels. I keep you guys posted when I get it back.

 

[FordService]

So the truck has been there since last thursday, they have replaced the seat motor, lower seat track and the rear seat mounting bar. I was told there is a service bulletin for the issues I had with the seat. I dont have it back yet since they are still looking for the creaking noise in the front driver side when I turn the wheels. I keep you guys posted when I get it back.

Thanks for the update, merchjo! If you need any additional assistance from my neck of the woods, just let me know.

Crystal

 

[merchjo]

Lets hope its fixed...I keep you posted.