Ford Explorer 2016–2019 — technical service bulletin
Bulletin SSM 48431 · NHTSA communication 10170919 · issued Jan 7, 2020
Technical service bulletin
communication type
Seats
component
2016–2019
model years
4
vehicle entries
Official summary
Some 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit a heated front seat that does not operate properly after turning the ignition on after a remote start event. The seat back heats properly while the lower seat cushion does not. To correct the concern, reprogram the driver seat module (DSM) using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part 14C708 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
What a TSB means. Technical service bulletins are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls, and repairs are not automatically free (warranty extensions are an exception worth checking). The full document is available via NHTSA’s vehicle lookup.