Why, never a recall on piece of crap armrests?

[KLUTZ]

I still remember the cold winter day when I gingerly set my arm on the armrest in my 1998 EX. "CRACK", and it was toast. With the truck being only three years old, I went to the Ford dealer to see what could be done. Well, if I put out over $300.00, they would put in a new one. Couldn't just buy the broken part.
Why would anyone in their right mind, design somthing that sits three inches up, being secured by a 2x3 inch pad?
Going through EBAY listings, and used auto sites, almost every EX I see with these consoles have the same broken armrest.
Why wern't these recalled with being defective? Has anyone ever questioned or received an answer regarding this?
Has anyone ever had success getting one of these replaced?

Just a rant, I guess

 

[chris c]

i store my cd case on top of the console and fold the arm rest down on top of it. does not answer your ? but it keeps the arm rest from breaking....

 

[KLUTZ]

Originally posted by chris c
i store my cd case on top of the console and fold the arm rest down on top of it. does not answer your ? but it keeps the arm rest from breaking....

Ford could have made that another $400.00 option if they thought of it.

 

[mmsdrummer]

Most recalls are for safety or for some major vehicle part. They should have learned to get rid of those types of armrests from the 91-94 ex's, but they still included them in some explorers later on. If you're lucky, you can find a high series console to swap in.

 

[SiLenZe]

funny thing is about 50% of the time i open the center console the pins that flip up and down to secure the lid wont open. so the lid is up but cant be closed again. i have to use the key to pry them up and then close the lid.

 

[Stic-o]

It's a trait of all ex's I think.

I just put a tenis ball in between the rest and the door. Fits perfect! dose'nt move and you can use the rest now to rest your arm!

 

[sapogmxr]

silenze: I had the same problem. Try tightining the screws that attach the lid. that worked for me.

 

[old mechanic]

I just ordered a replacement metal bracket from E-Bay! But mine is 1st Gen. I don't know if yours is the same. A woman had my truck since 1992 and never broke it. It only took me a couple of weeks to break it.

 

[2000waexplorer]

When I bought my 2000 XLS last year I noticed the above mentioned bracket was broken and I made the dealer replace it before I took delivery of it. In the course of talking to the service manager there he mentioned it was just the bracket that needed to be replaced, not the whole armrest. SO, I guess you CAN buy just the bracket, but I dont haved the part number or price since I didnt have to pay for mine.

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

mine is also broke,(before it bought it) and someone rigged it with two "L" brakects. One on each side, and it works pretty well.

 

[KLUTZ]

Originally posted by 2000waexplorer
When I bought my 2000 XLS last year I noticed the above mentioned bracket was broken and I made the dealer replace it before I took delivery of it. In the course of talking to the service manager there he mentioned it was just the bracket that needed to be replaced, not the whole armrest. SO, I guess you CAN buy just the bracket, but I dont haved the part number or price since I didnt have to pay for mine.

The bracket was fine..... The bottom of the armrest , which is plastic, shattered when pressure went on it. They didn't just sell the armrest, you had to buy the entire console.......
I removed the bracket, and have the armrest laying on the console, with VELCRO holding it in place, now.

 

[bhults]

I'm having a hard time understanding how the arm rest breaks....does the flip up lid (the actual rest) break off at the hinge? Or do the pins on the underside (that keep it securly closed) break off? Mine isn't broken (yet), but I'm always gentle with it---having read all of these stories. I do, however, have to re-vinyl (or come up with something snazzy like Section) it since my pup helped himself to a chunk.