Ford Explorer Seat Quality Ranked Third In 2024 Study

August 16, 2024 12:22 pm

Of the many studies that it releases on a regular basis, the J.D. Power U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study focuses on one specific (and rather obvious) area – the quality of seats present in new vehicles. Each year, this study polls purchasers and lessees of new model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, after which J.D. Power tabulates the results and measures seat quality based on the number of problems and level of satisfaction experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100). This year, the 2024 Ford Explorer ranked rather high on the list, too.

The 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study polled 99,144 users, and found that the 2024 Ford Explorer and its seats – which are produced by Lear Corporation – ranked third in the mass market mid-size/large SUV segment with a score of 7.2 PP100, which places it behind only the Chevy Traverse (6.3 PP100) and Nissan Murano (6.6 PP100). The 2024 Ford Explorer also made the cut as one of the top picks in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study earlier this year, but now, it joins the Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Bronco as Blue Oval models cited for seat quality and satisfaction over the past couple of years.

Overall, this year’s study found that seat comfort and headrests are two of the top four problem areas for consumers. Headrests, in particular, have remained one of the most commonly cited issues for the past five years, though manufacturers have made strides in terms of seat quality and functionality. Regardless, the presence of good headrests had a large impact on scores, as customers who cited them as a problem area led to a sharp increase in PP100 scores – six times, in fact.

“Headrest adjustability needs to be prioritized by seat manufacturers as it does have an effect on overall seat experience,” said Ashley Edgar, senior director of automotive benchmarking at J.D. Power. “As much as manufacturers can address many of the other aspects of seat quality, overall comfort is lost without a proper headrest.”

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

By Brett Foote

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.