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Ford Authority

2022 Ford Explorer Lineup Ditches Multicontour Seat Option

Over the past several months, a host of Blue Oval models have faced production challenges – most recently, the 2022 Ford Fiesta, which is produced at the Ford Cologne Assembly Plant – while a variety of other nameplates have seen various options and features removed or delayed, including the 2022 Ford Focus – which is facing supply issues related to its larger infotainment screen, the 2022 Ford Expedition and its late availability multicontour seats, as well as the 2022 Ford Explorer, which is experiencing a number of issues at the moment. Now, the 2022 Ford Explorer is also ditching its multicontour seat option altogether, sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority.

Beginning today, all 2022 Explorer models equipped with multicontour seats – ST 401A series equipped with the Premium Technology Package (option code 65P, which also includes the 10.1-inch touchcreen and 14-speaker B&O Premium audio system), King Ranch, and Platinum trims – will be produced at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant without that particular feature in an effort to speed up customer deliveries. Models equipped with 65P will instead be specced with the Premium Technology Package (Less Multicontour Seats), or option code 65J.

Instead of the Multicontour seat, these impacted models will come equipped with a 10-way power driver’s seat and 8-way power passenger seat, which are identical in appearance to the Multicontour seat but do not have the Multicontour seat function. Additionally, ST 401A models equipped with the 65J package will receive a $300 credit, reducing the package price from $1,295 to $995. King Ranch and Platinum models will also receive a $300 discount, while both price reductions will be reflected on each impacted vehicle’s window sticker.

This is just the latest feature to be temporarily removed from the 2022 Explorer, which has already been offered with an auto stop/start removal option, while the crossover is also being produced sans rear-seat climate controls as Ford continues to battle supply chain shortages. As Ford Authority reported last month, this trend doesn’t figure to end anytime soon, and will also continue to spread to other models for the foreseeable future as well.

We’ll have more on the 2022 Explorer soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Explorer news and non-stop Ford news coverage.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. Soon my 1960 Falcon would have been better equiped than whats rolling out the door, these dsys. Anyone who buys a car today, that doesn’t absolutely have to, is nuts.

    Reply
  2. Agree. Going to use this article to convince my wife to not purchase this until Ford can deliver a completed vehicle. Removing an unwanted-to-begin-with auto start/stop, be my guest. Removing rear seat climate controls and massaging seats from trims where these features were supposed to exist, just so Ford can attempt to sell an incomplete vehicle, unacceptable.

    Unfortunately though, there are too many dumb people in the world buying these incomplete vehicles, hence, the manufacturers being able to get away these shenanigans.

    Reply
  3. The vehicle I ordered has these features on my original order that is taking months to get. If these features are eliminated on my finished ordered explorer I will not purchase it . I ordered those features and want them . I will not pay a higher price for a vehicle that is of less quality than the previous year.

    Reply
  4. What a disappointment, ordered an ST four months ago and the multi-contour seats were a selling point. First they omit rear climate & heated seats, now this with a mere $450 in total credits back for options that cost thousands. Shame. As they take away little upscale features like this the vehicle is starting to feel like an XLT with black wheels and a six, to the tune of a $20,000 premium. Anyone know if the multi-contour seats will be offered to be retrofit?

    Reply
  5. I am so bummed to read this. I was at the dealer, ready to order an Explorer today until I realized this option was no longer available and I wanted to do more research. A $300 credit isn’t enough consideration for the value lost on this feature.

    Reply
  6. It is clear that Ford has made the decision to screw over all of us who have not bought the F150 Lightening. That truck takes 100’s more chips than an ICE vehicle so Ford had decided to cut premium features from non-electric vehicles to support the Lightening launch. This is not Ford being a ‘victim’ of supply chain issues.

    Reply

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