I called Customer Service at Ford they said to take to my dealer to check it. Took to my dealer and they said needs replaced and normally costs $1000.00 for panel but they would do it for $828.43. Called Customer Service. They said car out of warranty and it is not a recall item. I could keep checking the website to see if in future it would become a recall. By then the whole arm rest could split. I have never had a car that this has happened to. Arm rest is splitting right on the seam which looks like it is a defect in the manufacturing and the foam rubber is showing. I thought it would be an easy solution to fix and Ford would stand behind it because it isn't wear and tear on the arm rest. I bought this as my retirement car and keep very good care of it and have it serviced at my dealership.

A friend of mine who has the same year Explorer had the same thing happen on theirs so I believe there are more owners of these cars out there that are having this happen but have not complained. I was devastated that the whole panel would have to be replaced at the above cost. The dealer also told me they had a person that it happened on their car but after they found out what it would cost they said, " Forget it!"

There is no reason that an arm rest should have split when the car has not been used very hard and the cost to repair is ridiculous. How many people can afford this? They can barely afford the cars in retirement? I am very disappointed in the Ford Motor Company not standing behind their manufacturing of their cars when there definitely has to be a defect in regards to this issue. I don't think Ford is listening to people's complaints who are middle class and have worked hard to purchase a car like the Ford Explorer. Otherwise, they would stand behind their customers in situations like this.

TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER, THE SHOP MANAGER TOOK PICTURES OF THE SPLIT ARMREST, WHICH WASN'T EVEN SEWN IT HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY GLUED, AND SENT THEM TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE CLAIM WAS DENIED SAYING IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD IF WE HAD IT FIXED WE SHOULD KEEP THE BILL IN THE EVENT FORD DECIDED (OR GOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM) AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED.. MY HUSBAND AND I USED GORILLA GLUE TO SEAL IT. IT LASTED FOR AWHILE BUT AGAIN SPLIT. SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. THIS PROBLEM ISN;T SOMETHING NEW ON FORD VEHICLES AND YET THEY DON;T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT CORRECTING IT.