Explorer, Passat Face Initial Defect Probes

U.S. regulators are investigating reports that driver’s seats in some Ford Motor Co. Explorer sport utility vehicles reclined unexpectedly and that air bags in some Volkswagen Passat sedans failed to deploy properly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigations are the first steps toward possible recalls. They cover Explorers from the 1998 to 2000 model years and Passats from 1998 to 2002.

A Volkswagen spokesman declined to comment, and a Ford spokesman could not be reached for comment.