2003 Ford Explorer Body & Structure Problems

Your liftgate has developed a crack down the middle and has been unlocking and opening on its own, sometimes even while you're driving. One of the two hinges holding the glass has now broken, leaving the rear window hanging by just one hinge, which creates a safety risk—the glass could fall out while driving, and cargo could spill out of the open liftgate. Fixing this will likely require replacing the liftgate hinges and glass, and possibly realigning or replacing the entire liftgate.

Your car's body mounts—the rubber and metal connectors that attach the vehicle body to the frame—have deteriorated and crumpled. This is causing the body to sag down onto the frame, which results in an uneven, bumpy ride and poor handling.

REAR WINDOW LOWER PANEL PLASTIC CRACKING UP, REPLACED THREE TIMES, STILL CRACKING DUE TO NO SUPPORT AND BENDING TOO MUCH, I CALLED FORD DOES NOT CARE IF CONTINUES CRACKING UP, IT LOOKS UGLY ALSO PANELS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO OTHER CARS GETTING INTO THEIR WINDSHIELDS LOOSE PARTS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NOT FIXING IT.

AWOKE THE MORNING OF MAY 10, 2017 TO FIND THE ENTIRE BACK LIFTGATE AND WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARDS AND INWARDS OF OUR FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOME, WE ARE RURAL, SO NO EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE PURPOSELY BREAKING IT. OUR SHERIFF IN CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA, STATED IT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING INTERNAL PROBABLY THE LIFT STRUTS EXPLODING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM AS STATED ON MANY ONLINE SITES, AND MANY FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS PARTICLAR MODEL VIN NUMBER DID NOT SHOW UP AS RECALLED, ALTHOUGH WE SIT HERE LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. WE WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS, AS IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS VEHICLE WERE BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS EXPLOSION OCCURED. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS ASAP.

THE BACK LIFT GATE HAS A CRACK. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON PRACTICALLY EVERY OTHER EXPLOER OF THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS A DEFECT THAT WAS NOT A DANGER THEY WOULD NOT RECALL OR REPAIR IT.

THE REAR PANEL OF MY 2003 EXPLORER CRACKED TODAY FOR NO REASON. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I "GOOGLED" THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD ONCE ADDRESSED.

THE REAR LIFT-GATE HAS A CRACKED PANEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE LIFT GATE TO REMAIN UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2003 FORD EXPLORER SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW IN 2003. IT CURRENTLY HAS 70,009 MILES AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND NOT DRIVEN OFTEN OVER 13 YEARS. WITHIN TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFT GATE UNDER THE GLASS. I TALKED TO TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT ADVISED IT WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT MY FAULT FOR GLIDING THE GLASS TO HARSHLY. I HAD NOT USED THE GLASS OFTEN AND HAD NEVER SLAMMED IT.M SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THE EARLY TO MID 2000S WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. TODAY I WAS BEHIND FOUR DIFFERENT EXPLORERS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND ALL HAD THE SAME CRACK. I CHECKED ONLINE AND REALIZED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WITH SOME DRIVERS STATING THE BACK GLASS BURSTS WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPAIRED IT. ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH THROUGH ONLINE IMAGES TO SEE IT US A HUGE PROBLEM AND A DEFINITE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WITH THE BACK GLASS BLOWING OUT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEEN SO FOR 3 HOURS. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60 DEGREES. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR OTHER DEFECTS. WAS WITNESSED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. DID NOT JUST CRACK OR BREAK. IT SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OR PIECES. WAS NOT BEING OPENED OR CLOSED. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STATIC

THE BRACKETS CONNECTED TO THE LIFTGATE RELEASED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED AND BLEW THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL OUT ALONG WITH SHATTERING THE GLASS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCESSING THE POWER LIFTGATE, THE HINGES FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO ABRUPTLY CLOSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LIFTGATE WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED AND PLACED IN THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BODY MOUNT EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I USED MY KEY REMOTE AND POPPED OPEN THE BACK HATCH AND WHILE THE HATCH WAS UP THE HINGE SNAPPED DROPPING THE HATCH ON MY HEAD NEARLY KNOCKING ME OUT COLD.

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THAT THE LIFTGATE BOTH HINGES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE BOTH HINGES AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER,THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. JS

I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS LATER MORE PAINT HAS DISAPPEARED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN AND THE HINGES THAT OPENED THE GLASS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND TILTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE FIBERGLASS WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL OF THE LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT'S FINGERS TO BECOME PINCHED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HINGES FRACTURED ON THE LIFTGATE. THE HINGES WERE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NOTICED UPPER PART OF REAR TAILGATE UNDER GLASS NEXT TO FORD EMBLEM IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. *TR

A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2003 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THE HINGES ON THE BACK WINDOW TAILGATE. THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER BROKE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CATCH THE GLASS BEFORE IT SNAPPED THE OTHER HINGE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD AFTER SEEING THE RECALL NOTICE ONLINE, I WAS TOLD MY FORD WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND IT WAS NOT LISTED THERE EITHER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF EXPLORERS OF THE SAME YEAR ARE RECALLED AND MY HINGE BROKE, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH A LARGER RANGE OF EXPLORERS THAN LISTED. *TR

THE BACK PANEL ON THE HATCH IS CRACKED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK HINGES FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

CRACK IN REAR LIFTGATE BODY PANEL. MAY FAIL DURING OPENING/CLOSING AND CAUSE INJURY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2002-2005 EXPLORERS. FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COVERED IT UP. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PROGRESS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WINDOW BECAME DETACHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIFTGATE DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY AND IT DEVELOPED A CRACK AT THE BOTTOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFT GATE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,002.

PAINT "BUBBLED UP" ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD A FEW YEARS AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS CONTINUED TO FLAKE AND PEEL OFF. APPLE VALLEY FORD SERVICE REFUSED TO FIX THE PAINT PROBLEM WHEN REPORTED IN APPROXIMATELY 2006. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES LINES, FUEL TANK COVER, DOOR LOCKS AND THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE ALSO CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,372. RK

ON FEBRUARY 18TH I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE MOLDING OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REAR APPLIQUE. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH I REALIZED THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD MOTOR CO. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OFFICIALLY. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS DEFECT. ON APRIL 25TH 2014 I OPENED THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE REAR CARGO AREA. UPON CLOSING THE GLASS LIFT GATE THE ENTIRE WINDOW SHATTERED INTO MANY PIECES AND ACTUALLY PUT THREE CUTS ON MY ARM. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER'S, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER'S AND LINCOLN AVIATOR'S ALL HAD THIS CRACKING OF THE REAR APPLIQUE. ALSO FOUND OUT WHETHER OR NOT A CRACK WAS VISIBLE MANY PEOPLE HAD THE REAR GLASS SHATTER UPON THEM WHILE CLOSING THE GLASS LIFT GATE. RIGHT NOW I MUST PAY FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET, INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER IT SINCE THEY SAY I HAVE A $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE COST FOR THE GLASS WAS QUOTED AT $495.25 PLUS TAX. I ALSO WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR APPLIQUE WHICH COVERS A PORTION OF THE GLASS WINDOW AT AN ADDITIONAL COST. NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT COVERED BY FORD SINCE THE WINDOW SHATTERING CAN CAUSE INJURY AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL GET THIS FIXED AND KEEP MY RECEIPTS FOR ALL REPAIRS AND HOPE ALL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE GET SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. BEFORE I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I RAN INTO A STORE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I FAILED, AS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT. I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 WEEKS. THE USED DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. SHOULD THEY? I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MAR. 3,2014 AT OC AUTO EXPO IN WESTMINSTER, CA. *TR

BOTH REAR DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AFTER BEING USED ONLY A FEW DOZEN TIMES EACH. THE CAUSE WAS THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE (PLASTIC) BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS MEANS THAT REAR SEAT PASSENGERS CANNOT EGRESS THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING OPENED BY SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY FORD VEHICLES USING THIS DOOR HANDLE - THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED YEARS AGO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TOP PORTION OF THE LIFTGATE ON THE VEHICLE OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE FRACTURED CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL AND HANG BY ONLY ONE SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE COMPRESSION ROD WAS BENT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE COMPRESSION ROD HAD TO BE REMOVED AND THE LIFTGATE HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY FASTENED WITH HARNESSES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AND BECAME CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE REAR LIFT DOOR HINGE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR CAUSED THE MISALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW REAR LIFT DOOR AND THE DOOR WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,273.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LIFT GATE OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HINGE TO BECOME FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE COMPRESSION ROD WAS ABNORMALLY BENT. THE CONTACT MADE A TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT TO THE LIFT GATE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

ON THE MORNING OF 1/29/14 I WAS AT THE MARKET ,CAME OUT TO LOAD MY ITEMS INTO THE VEHICLE , OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE AT ABOUT THE 1/3 OPEN POINT THE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES . WHICH IN TURN SENT SHARDS OF GLASS INTO MY FACE ,HANDS , HEAD AND EYES . THEY WERE MINOR INJURIES BUT I'M STILL EXTRACTING GLASS FROM MY HEAD AND HANDS AND THERE IS STILL GLASS EMBEDDED IN MY HANDS . I HAVE AN APT WITH MY DR ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS GLASS IN MY EYES. MY MOTHER WAS WITH ME BUT SHE WAS AT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO SHE DIDN'T GET NAILED .I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDOW EXPLODE LIKE THIS, THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE , THE POWER OF THE FLYING GLASS WAS UNREAL SOME OF IT WENT THROUGH 3 -12 PACKS OF SODA WITH EASE. ALSO I HAVE NO RESOURCES TO GET A NEW WINDOW AS THEY ARE AROUND 700 DOLLARS . SO THIS IS WHAT I GET FROM FORD FOR BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER ? *TR

PLASTIC REAR PANEL BELOW THE REAR GATE GLASS CRACKED DIRECTLY BESIDE THE FORD OVAL. THE PANEL IS NOW SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. CONTACTED FORD DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (VIA EMAIL) AND FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE FAILURE OF THIS PANEL. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH EXPLORERS AND FORD HAS NOT EVEN AS MUCH AS TRIED TO HELP THE CUSTOMER WITH REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW BECAME CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HITCH WAS CRACKED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC DID NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TR

I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DEFECT IN THE TAILGATE PANEL ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IT IS CRACKED AND AS A RESULT WATER GETS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE PANEL AND LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BITTER COLD DAYS HERE IN THE NORTHEAST OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY WHICH IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO SHORTED OUT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT EFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE LOOSE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REAR GLASS WINDOW SO IT WOULD NOT FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

LEFT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FAILED/BROKE; LIFTGATE GLASS ALMOST FELL OFF COMPLETELY (BUT WAS STILL PARTIALLY ATTACHED VIA RIGHT HINGE). THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF "WEAR AND TEAR"; LIFTGATE HINGE HAD BEEN USED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MANY OTHER NHTSA REPORTS LIST THIS DEFECT (04V442000). FORD ISSUED A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO (04S20), BUT IT ONLY COVERS A VERY SPECIFIC AND LIMITED RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS; MINE WAS EXCLUDED. MANY OTHER 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM OR COMPENSATE THE AFFECTED OWNERS FOR THEIR LOSSES. I HAD TO PAY "OUT OF POCKET" AT A LOCAL PRIVATE SHOP TO GET MY HINGE REPAIRED. *TR

WINDOW FEEL AND SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. AFTER CONTACTING MY INSURANCE TO HAVE THE GLASS REPLACED I FOUND OUT THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HINGE. I WAS TOLD BY THE GLASS COMPANY THAT THE HINGE FAILED DUE TO ELECTROLYSIS (TWO DIFFERENT METALS REACTING WITH EACH OTHER). I FEEL THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAPPENED WITH FORD RECALL MANUFACTURER CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04S20, HOWEVER MY VIN DOES NOT PULL UP THIS ISSUE CODE AND THEREFORE I AM NOT RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM FORD WITH THIS MANNER. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE OFFICIALLY ADDRESSED AS I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY GLASS FELL, BUT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. OTHERWISE I AM 100% POSITIVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DOOR HINGE WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE DOOR TO HANG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOR EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE ENGAGED THE LIFTGATE AND THE HINGES FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF UPDATED 09/24/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS HINGE CORRODED AND FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH OF THE HINGES WERE CORRODED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF CAR WENT TO OPEN HATCHBACK GLASS ONE DAY TO LOAD GROCERIES AND DROPPED LOW ON MY HEAD BECAUSE HINGE HOLDING THE GLASS DOOR CAME LOOSE. HAD TO EASE IT BACK UP IN PLACE , HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN GLASS DOOR SINCE FOR FEAR OF IT FALLING AND BREAKING TO PIECES. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THE HATCHBACK DOOR IS CRACKED UNDER THE FORD EMBLEM AND TO THE SIDE . I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME EXACT CRACK AS MINE. THEY HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED!!!! FORD ONLY RECALLED EXPLORERS UP TO I BELIEVE THAT WERE MADE UP TO FEBRUARY 2003. MY CAR AND OTHERS I HAVE SPOKE WITH THEIR AND MINE WAS MADE IN 8/2003 SO WE WERE NOT COVERED!!! THAT IS BULL!! FORD SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE LIFT GATE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A FRACTURE ON THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR UPDATED 5/24/13 *CN UPDATED 06/12/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONCERNS WITH UNSTABLE REAR GLASS, ABILITY OF HATCH TO REMAIN CLOSED AND OPERATION OF REAR WIPER. GLASS INSTABILITY A CONCERN WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN USING LIFTGATE. PRIOR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. *TR

A CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH NEXT TO FORD EMBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE FRACTURE UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS NEAR THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM. THE FRACTURE WAS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES LONG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE LOOSE AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR GLASS WINDOW WOULD FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE HAD CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/18/2013 *JS

2/14/2007 I NOTICED THERE IS A FRACTURE/CRACK BETWEEN THE TAILGATE DOOR OPENER AND THE WINDOW. THE FRACTURE/CRACK BECOMES MORE/LESS WIDER DEPENDING ON HOW HOT OR COLD IT IS OUTSIDE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WOULD CAUSE ME BETWEEN $400-$800 TO GET IT FIX AND THE WHOLE AREA WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE MUCH PROBLEM UNLESS SOMEONE HITS THE BACK OF MY CAR OR I CLOSE THE TAILGATE NOT SOFT ENOUGH, WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE WINDOW. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL EXPLORERS THAT I SEE HAVE THE SAME FRACTURE/CRACK ON THE TAILGATE DOOR ON THE SAME AREA LOCATION. I ALSO HAVE SEEN MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS CAUSING THE FRACTURE ON THE TAILGATE DOOR BELOW THE WINDOW. THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY IF THE WINDOW BREAKS OR THERE IS ISSUE WITH THE DOOR OPENER HINGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD LOOK FURTHER INTO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE TRIM THAT HELD THE REAR WINDOW IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. ...UPDATED 12/17/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE HINGES AND CRACK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DOOR WAS STILL CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP THE RECEIPTS IN CASE OF ANOTHER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE HAD NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HINGE FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,308.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE BACK LIFT GATE FRACTURED AND ALLOWED THE GLASS TO BECOME DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) 8 YEARS PRIOR AND PROVIDED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE HINGES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.....UPDATED 10/11/12 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HINGES FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GLASS FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE HINGES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED SINCE THE RECALL WAS ONLY ISSUED FOR THE 2002 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

RCALL WORK WAS DONE ( FORD # 04S045 ) SINCE THAT TIME THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE ATTACHED TO THE TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED WHICH HAS ALLOWED WATER TO RUST OUT THE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LATCH AND WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE WIDOW NO LONGER CLOSES SECURELY AND THE WINDOW LATCH IN-OPERABLE. HAS THIS BEEN ADDRESSED IN AND OTHER RECALLS? I HAVE OBSERVED THAT 9 OF 10 EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS ALSO HAVE CRACKED TRIM PIECES. AS A RESULT OF THE RUSTING BRACKET I FEEL THAT THE WINDOW COULD SUDDENLY OPEN AND/OR SHATTER. REPAIRS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE ALSO DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SHATTERING THE WINDOW CAUSING INJURY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,793.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO LARGE CRACKS BELOW THE REAR LIFTGATE, LOCATED NEAR THE MANUFACTURER'S EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE REAR DOOR PANEL. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE HINGES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL WAS CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE DEALER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,543 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ

LARGE CRACK APPEARED ON HATCH DOOR BELOW WINDOW. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET WITH SAME PROBLEM. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD HINGE WAS CROOKED AND THE PANEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE HINGES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH DEVELOPED A CRACK AND THE HINGE WAS BENT DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WERE PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONNECT THE REAR TAILGATE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH BOTTOM MOLDING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR GLASS HATCH HOUSING WAS CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FRACTURE IN THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ UPDATD 04/20/12. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK AT THE REAR HATCH BACK UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS BECOMING WIDER WHEN THE HATCH BACK WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 03/21/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR PANEL CONNECTED TO THE BACK REAR WINDOW CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW AND HAS WEAKENED THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE SEAL HAS ROTTED OUT DUE TO WATER SEEPING INTO THE DEFECTIVE CRACKED PANEL. UPDATED 04/09/12 WATER SEEPED INTO THE CRACKED PANEL AND CAUSED CORROSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. UPDATED 05/07/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BODY MOUNT FRACTURED AND WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. . UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF UPDATED 04/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL GATE DOOR DEVELOPED A CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

BACK GLASS HATCH HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBELM. JUST SUDDENLY APPERARED, AFTER NO IMPACT. *TR

I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH TRIM PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW OUT OF NOWHERE. ALSO, THE PAINT ON MY HOOD AND QUARTER PANELS HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF IN HUGE CHUNKS. IT WOULD SEEM THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS SHIELD CRACKED AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,079.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR GLASS GOING DOWN TOWARD THE MANUFACTURER'S EMBLEM. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS BOLT BRACKETS DETACHED FROM THE HINGES, CAUSING THE GLASS TO DETACH. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO THE BUILD DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE WHICH SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE HINGES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACKED REAR PANEL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY AND FORD REPAIRED IT AT NO CHARGE. THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT. I WAS TOLD IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $300.00 AND IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CRACK DEVELOPS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

BODY MOUNTS PREMATURELY DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING. BODY RIDES LOOSE ON FRAME, WHICH CAN IMPACT SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND HANDING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL BODY MOUNTS FOR THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED AND FALL APART TO THE TOUCH. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS A BODY ON FRAME DESIGN, FAILED BODY MOUNTS CANNOT KEEP THE CAB FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. APPARENTLY THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED WAS DETECTIVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER, RAN TO THE STORE LAST NIGHT TO BUY GROCERIES. LOADED THINGS INTO MY TRUCK, CLOSED THE DOOR AND THINGS WERE FINE. ARRIVED HOME TO REMOVE THE GROCERIES AND THERE WAS A 6 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY TRUCK RIGHT BESIDE THE FORD LOGO AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. I TAKE PRIDE IN MY VEHICLE AND KEEP IT CLEAN AND THE OUTSIDE BODY IS PERFECT; UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I CALLED FORD AND THERE IS NO RECALL IN REGARDS TO THIS, BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER AND SO HAS BY FAMILY SINCE THE EARLY 1980S. I WILL PROBABLY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ISSUE THAT FORD WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS OPEN THE HINGE FAILED CAUSING THE GATE TO FALL ON THE CONTACTS HEAD. THE DEALER WAS STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER: 04V442000: STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

DEAR MAYZEL, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE, BUT I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM MORE THAN A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED (AND CONFUSED). I AM READING FORD EXPLORER RECALL #04V442000, "FORD RECALLS 2002-2003 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES FOR LIFTGATE GLASS" (SEE BELOW), AND IT SEEMS TO COVER MY MODEL YEAR AND MY SITUATION EXACTLY. THE LIFT HINGE HAS STRIPPED OUT THE BOLT THREE TIME, LEAVING THE GLASS TO HANG FROM THE OTHER HINGE (AND STRUTS). CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS RECALL WOULD NOT APPLY? SINCERELY, BILL DASCOMB DEAR WILLIAM, THIS IS MAYZEL FROM FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE READ YOUR EMAIL REGARDING THE BACK HATCH GLASS CONCERN OF YOUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I AM TRULY SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE PERSONALLY CHECKED OUR RESOURCES AND VERIFIED THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS OR CSP'S AT THIS TIME. MANY FACTORS ARE USED TO DETERMINE THESE SUCH AS WARRANTY STATUS, VEHICLE HISTORY, CUSTOMER CONTACTS, DEALERSHIP COMMENTS AND SO FORTH. I HAVE REVIEWED IF ANY AVAILABLE COVERAGES MAY ASSIST IN YOUR REPAIR REQUEST. THERE IS NOT ACTIVE ESP TO COVER THE PART OR THE REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF ANY APPLICABLE WARRANTY. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOUR VEHICLE BE INSPECTED BY A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF ANY SYMPTOMS YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE EXPERIENCING. ONCE YOU HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU KEEP THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE REPAIRS, SO THAT IN CASE A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED IN THE FUTURE, THESE RECEIPTS MAY BE REVIEWED BY YOUR DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER FOR A POSSIBLE REFUND. THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING FORD. SINCERELY, MAYZEL CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY

I BOUGHT 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN 2008, USED, AND IN 2011 I OPENED MY BACK GLASS AND THE HINGE SNAPPED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE GLASS STARTED FALLING, AND THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED THE GLASS FROM BREAKING WAS THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE HELD. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT INSPECTED, BUT THERE WAS NO SAFTEY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IN 2004 THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFTGATE, EXTENDING UP TO THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WINDOW SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COSMETIC AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,130.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPENING THE REAR HATCH THE LIFT GATE HINGE FAILED OFF CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO HANG ON BY ONE HINGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE HINGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE HINGE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE LIFT GATE COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK HAD A CRACK FROM THE END OF IT TO THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE FRACTURED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW SEAL. SHE NOTICED WHEN THE DOOR WAS AJAR THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AS IF SHE HAD OPENED THE DOORS. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSING THE REAR LIFTGATE WHEN THE REAR GLASS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GRAB HOLD OF THE GLASS TO PREVENT IT FROM SHATTERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

THE BACK PANEL ON MY EXPLORER CRACKED BY JUST CLOSING THE GLASS. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 65 SO CONSIDERING THE MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURES WE HAVE SEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA WAS DID IT CRACK ON THAT DAY? *TR

THE TAILGATE CRACKS DOWN THE CENTER. *TR

CRACK IN REAR PANEL OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

PAINT ON HOOD BUBBLING WITH CORROSION UNDER HOOD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFTGATE FROM THE TOP OF THE MANUFACTURERS EMBLEM UP TO THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FRO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS SPORTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE HATCHBACK LIFTGATE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL BUT DID NOT BRAKE. HE STATED SOMEONE CAUGHT THE GLASS. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. HE REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,100.

ALMOST EVERY OLDER MODEL FORD EXPLORER THAT I SEE ON THE ROAD HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR GLASS ON THE LIFTGATE. FOR A WHILE I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM CLOSING MY BACK LIFT GATE. THERE SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LATCH. I LATER REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (#04S20) ON (WHAT I THOUGHT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRACKED PANEL) LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND BALL STUD BRACKET. RIGHT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE BY THE DEALER ON MY VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2011, I REALIZED THAT THE LIFTGATE WORKED PERFECT. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFTGATE CLOSING CORRECTLY.....WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PANEL.....WHICH RESULTED IN THE CRACK.......FORD HAS DONE A RECALL ON WHAT HAS RESULTED IN THE CRACK BUT THEY HAVE NOT STEPPED FORWARD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT.....IT IS UNFAIR FOR US TO HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR DAMAGES DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.......PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE AS APPROPRIATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD DEVELOPED ON THE LIFTGATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE PANEL HAS CRACK AND IT EXPANDS DURING COLD WEATHER AND IT AFFECTS REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SECURITY AS REAR LIFTGATE FLIES OPEN WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT WHEN DRIVING. *TR

I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG AND I HEARD A POP NOISE AND THE PANEL UNDER THE BACK WINDOW WAS CRACKED. *TR

REAR HATCH CRACKED NEAR THE FORD LOGO. *TR

I HAVE 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND AFTER 7YEARS A CRACK HAS FORMED FROM THE REAR WINDOW DOWN TO THE FORD LOGO ON THE REAR PANEL OR TRUNK DOOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED UNDER THE TAIL GATE WINDOW. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAILGATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE TAILGATE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR R HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 04/25/11

METAL CRACKED INTO FROM LIFTGATE WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF LIFTGATE. JUST WENT TO WORK ONE DAY AND CAME HOME TO FIND THIS HUGE CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE DOOR. I HAD NOT OPENED THE LIFTGATE THAT DAY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND PERSONALLY WITNESSING OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW HINGE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,634 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PANEL HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED. UPDATED 04/28/11 UPDATED 06/13/11 *BF UPDATED 01/04/12 *LN

CRACK IN PANEL BELOW REAR GLASS OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER. PANEL JUST CRACKED FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT. WENT TO TRADE IN FOR NEW EXPLORER AND DEALER EVEN COMPLAINED ABOUT DAMAGE. *TR

CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR HAS FRACTURED UNDER THE GLASS. SHE NOTICED THE FRACTURE ONCE THE TEMPERATURE BECAME COOLER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE THAT EXTENDED ACROSS. THERE WERE ALSO THREE OTHER SMALLER CRACKS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW LOOKED AS IF IT WOULD EXPLODE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

THE BACK HATCH CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SUV. *TR

IN TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE A NEW RATTLE WAS COMING I HEARD ON THE WAY HOME, I NOTICED THE REAR GATE GLASS HINGE HAD BROKEN OR BECAME DISLODGED. WHEN TRYING TO SECURE IT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THE GLASS SLIPPED AND CUT DEEP GASHES INTO THE BODY. I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME AND HAD IT FALLEN OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IT GOOD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED IT TO WEAR AND TEAR EVEN THOUGH I HAD PREVIOUSLY ONLY OPENED THE GLASS LIFT GATE TWICE DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I WAS CHARGED A FEE JUST TO REPLACE THE HINGE. I DID NOT GET HE BODY WORK REPAIRED. THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER EXPLORER'S MADE DURING THE SAME PERIOD MINE WAS MADE, BUT I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. (FORD RECALL NO. 04S20 AND A CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V442000 AND SAFETY REPORT #10266375 AND #10266836). *TR

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE HATCH BACK OF THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A CRACK DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE. THIS DEFECT CAN BE SEEN AROUND MANY OTHER 2003 FORDS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE HATCHBACK PIECE IS RATTLING AND SEEMS LIKE IT WILL COME OFF. *TR

THE FORD EXPLORER'S MOST FREQUENT PROBLEM - IS IT CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THIS OCCURS ON EXPLORERS FROM MODEL YEARS 2002, 2003 & 2004. WITH MOST AFFECTED EXPLORERS NOW PAST THE STANDARD WARRANTY PERIOD, MOST OWNERS WILL END UP HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. BECAUSE THE CRACKED PANEL IS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF A RECALL. FOR A SHORT TIME IN LATE 2006, FORD STARTED A "SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM" FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY EXPLORERS, WHERE FORD PAID FOR ALL BUT $100 OF THE ~$450 REPAIR COST. HOWEVER SINCE JANUARY 2007, PEOPLE CALLING FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BEGAN TO REPORT BACK THAT APPARENTLY FORD HAS ENDED THE BRIEF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE HATCH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RENT A TRAILER FROM U-HAUL, THE COMPANY WOULD NOT RENT TO ANYONE WITH A FORD EXPLORER WHICH SHE BELIEVED TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000-

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BUCKLING AND CHIPPING IN LARGE AREAS. THE FAILURE BEGAN AT SPREAD TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE REAR LIFT GATE UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

ONE OF THE TWO HINGES THAT SECURE THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE RECENTLY BROKE. UNDER THE NHTSA'S GUIDANCE, FORD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL DESCRIBING AND ADDRESSING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, FORD CLAIMS THAT MY TRUCK FALLS OUTSIDE THE BUILD DATES FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE, SO IT APPEARS THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO THE LATER BUILD DATES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW, THE HINGE FOR THE WINDOW BROKE AND THE GLASS BECAME DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

MY 2003 EXPLORER CRACKED FROM THE BACK WINDOW TO THE FORD EMBLEM. FORD TOLD ME ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO RECALL INITIATED. I HAVE 3 OTHER FRIENDS WHO ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS IT IS BY NO FAULT OF THE OWNER AND APPARENTLY IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS TO FALL AND SHATTER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDINGLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,950 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION CRACK IN LIFTGATE BELOW THE GLASS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT AND TO REPAIR IT MYSELF. *TR

OPENED THE REAR WINDOW (HATCH) AND THE RIGHT SIDE FLEW UP - THE HINGE HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. LOCATED ON NHTSA.GOV #04V442000 WHICH COVERS THE SAME PROBLEM - WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL (04S20) AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO I AND A FRIEND CAME OUT OF A GROCERY STORE TO DISCOVER THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I DROVE RIGHT OVER TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. I DO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND I WAS DENIED REPAIR. I WAS TOLD I COULD PAY $1,000.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED OR PUT CAULKING ON IT TO HELP TO SEAL THE CRACK. I PUT THE CAULKING ON IT AS I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME. OVER THE COURSE OF TIME THE CRACK WIDENED CAUSING THE PANEL AND WINDOW TO SHIFT TO THE LEFT. ON MONDAY 4/12/10 I OPENED THE HATCHBACK WINDOW TO PLACE A FEW ITEMS INSIDE AND THE WINDOW CAME CRASHING DOWN ON MY HEAD ALMOST DRIVING ME INTO THE GROUND. THE HINGES BROKE AND HAD A FRIEND NOT BEEN THERE WITH ME I COULD NOT HAVE LIFTED THAT WINDOW. HE AND I WORKED FOR 45 MINUTES TO GET IT PLACED BACK TO WHERE IT WAS NOT HANGING AND HAD TO PUT BUNGY CORDS ON TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAVE HAD A HEADACHE FOR 3 DAYS NOW. I DROVE RIGHT OVER TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK MY INFORMATION AND CONTACTED THE WARRANTY COMPANY WHO GOT BACK TO HIM AND STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HINGES. I TOLD HIM THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! THIS CRACK HAS WIDENED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THE HATCHBACK HAS SHIFTED TO THE LEFT. REPLACING THE HINGES IS A TEMPORARY FIX. LIKE PUTTING A BANDAID ON A COMPOUND FRACTURE! I THINK THE ENTIRE HATCHBACK HAS WEAKENED AND IF THE BIG DOOR FALLS ON ME I COULD BE KILLED. AT THIS POINT I AM UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE HATCHBACK AT ALL AND MUST CLIMB OVER THE BACK SEAT TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING BEHIND IT. *TR

THE UPPER PANEL ON THE BACK LIFT GATE, CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT HAS 2 CRACKS STARTING FROM ONE SINGLE ONE. IT HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER, SO WATER MUST BE ABLE TO GET IN UNDER THE SEAL AND FREEZE AND CRACK THE PANEL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME CONDITION. THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE PANEL ITSELF TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

REAR APPLIQUE "REAR LIFTGATE PANEL" BELOW THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED IN HALF. NO IMPACT INVOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS DETACHED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

THE TRUNK, ON THE HALF PART KEEP ON CREAKING I REPLACE IT ONCE OUT OF PACKET COST BECAUSE FOR D DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND WAS CLOSING THE WINDOW OF THE BACK HATCH WHEN THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE FAILED AND BROKE AND THE WINDOW BECAME DISLODGED AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. MY SON WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME AND THANKFULLY THE WINDOW DIDN'T FALL OUT COMPLETELY AND LAND ON HIM! I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, YOUR AGENCY DID NOT IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE AS BEING AFFECTED AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT AT THEIR COST. AGAIN, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE YOUR AGENCY DID NOT IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE AS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE WINDOW IS HANGING BY THE STRUTS AND THE LEFT HINGE. FURTHER, I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND SEEN THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD'S RECALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THAT WINDOW COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AND LANDED ON MY SON! THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED MORE EXTENSIVELY. I THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT A WINDOW OR A DOOR IS NOT GOING TO FALL OFF A HINGE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY. SAFETY IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CLOSING THE REAR LIFT GATE THE HINGE BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT AND FAILED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

THE REAR LIFT GATE CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER. EVERY FORD EXPLORER LIFT GATE I SEE HAS A CRACK DOWN THE CENTER. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE GATE. THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE CRACK IN THE BACK PANEL NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND IT WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY FROM THE WINDOW SEAL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER THAT FORD GAVE ME TO CALL AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE PART. THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. THE LOCAL BODY SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN FORDS DESIGN OF THE PANEL. THEY HAVE ZERO REINFORCEMENT NEXT TO THE EMBLEM TO CLOSE THE DOOR WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR, WHERE NORMAL PEOPLE PUSH TO CLOSE IT. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE EXPLORERS FROM 02-03 IS VERY WELL KNOWN AND QUITE POSSIBLE OVER TIME COULD CAUSE A WEAKENING IN THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE AND EVENTUALLY LOSE IT'S SUPPORT AND FALL. *TR

TL-*THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT PORTION ON THE LIFTGATE HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES JUST UNDER THE GLASS. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER VEHICLES WHOSE REAR GLASS HAS BROKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE BACK HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW IS CRACKED. I'VE SEEN MANY WITH THE SAME DEFECT IN PARKING LOTS. ONE WOMAN I SPOKE WITH SAID HERS FLEW OFF INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF A MINIVAN & CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I E-MAILED FORD MOTOR CO. THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WITH SO MANY VEHICLES SO EASILY FOUND IN PARKING LOTS WITH THE SAME DEFECT IS CONCERNING ME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED RIGHT NOW WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER , 70,000 MILES REAR LIFT GATE CRACKED IN MIDDLE SPLITTING OFF IN "Y" SHAPE THERE WAS NO IMPACT DONE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. HEARD LOUD POP TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING & I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. SHE STATED WHILE UTILIZING THE REAR LIFTGATE TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT, THE REAR LIFTGATE FELL CAUSING THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALTHOUGH THE EXACT SAME FAILURE OF HER VEHICLE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000- STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS AS A RESULT OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04045, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE WHICH INCLUDES A PLASTIC PART JUST BELOW THE WINDOW. THE FORD MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND HE SHOULD CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 2/26/10 *CN UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB

THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. IT CRACKED WHEN THE REAR DEFROSTER CIRCUIT WAS ACTIVATED. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, POSSIBLY AFFECTING 10-20% OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED. IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM. FORD, IN IT'S INFINITE WISDOM, GLUED THE LARGISH PLASTIC TRIM PIECE DIRECTLY TO THE REAR GLASS. IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN THE DRIVER ACTIVATES THE REAR DEFROSTER, THE GLASS EXPANDS AND THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE, STILL EXPOSED TO THE COLD DOES NOT. THIS UNEQUAL THERMAL EXPANSION RESULTS IN THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE PIECE CRACKING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY FORESEEN BY DESIGN ENGINEERS. IN TALKING WITH LOCAL FORD BODY REPAIR SHOPS, THE STAFF ADMITTED THAT THE ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. THE REPAIR COSTS ABOUT $500. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE REAR APPLIQUE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS TO THE LIFTGATE. AFTER CONTACTING MY DEALER, I WAS TOLD TO EMAIL FORD, AS THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT. AFTER DOING SO, FORD TOLD ME THAT ALTHOUGH THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE, THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO DO SO. IF THE CRACK GETS WORSE, I WILL HAVE TO PUT IN A CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. UPON GOING ONLINE AND GOOGLING FORD DEFECTS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD VEHICLES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, HOW TO GET A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE/APPLIQUE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE WHICH CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, ALSO KNOWN AS A CRACKING FRACTURE OF THE PANEL. RECALL NUMBER 04V442000, STRUCTURE, BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT EXPECTS THE MANUFACTURER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE DAMAGED/CRACKED - SERVICE PROCEDURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR WINDOW PANEL HAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FORD MANUFACTURER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THIS FAILURE AS A DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,700.

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I JUST NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PANEL UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW OF MY EXPLORER. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT. I NOTICED OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS. DIDN'T THEY GET BAIL OUT MONEY FROM UNCLE SAM?!

OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A STRESS CRACK ON THE PLATE BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW, NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. I'VE SEEN DOZENS OF EXPLORERS SINCE THIS HAPPENED WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS DEFECT, YET I AM TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT PAY TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART, AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. *TR

I OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS GETTING READY TO GO ON A TRIP WHEN I NOTICED THAT A VERTICAL CRACK HAD FORMED IN THE MIDDLE UPPER LIFTGATE PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSE. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS TO THE SAME DEFECT THAT OTHERS ARE DESCRIBING IN THIS SAME MODEL. AT THE TIME IT WAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FORD NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

I JUST NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PANEL UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL & THERE IS NOT. I CAME UPON A WEBSITE, WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM & NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AS MINE IN THE SAME MAKE & MODEL & AROUND SAME MILEAGE. I CONTACTED FORD TO LET THEM KNOW MY PROBLEM, REFERENCED THE SITE I FOUND & HOW TO INITIATE A RECALL OR FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM THE MAIN DRIVER & I CAN BARELY CLOSE THE HEAVY TRUNK SO I AM SURE I DID NOT DO CAUSE THE CRACK & IT IS A DEFECT. I HAVE TRIED TO USE THE TRUNK AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE CONCERNED A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANY REPAIRS SINCE I WANTED TO SEE IF FORD WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. OUR CAR WARRANTY WILL ONLY COVER THE REPAIR IF IT IS A DEFECT SINCE THE CRACK WAS NOT CAUSED DURING AN ACCIDENT OR EXCESSIVE USE. I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY YOUR SITE TO FILE THE COMPLAINT TO SEE IF I CAN GET A RESOLUTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE PURCHASED HER VEHICLE THE HINGE ON THE BACK OF THE WINDOW WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT COULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER LATER ADVISED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. LAST YEAR THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE BROKEN HINGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129000.

TAILGATE IS SPLITTING. *TR

JUST HAPPEN DON'T NO WHY THE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE LIFT GATE HAS TWO CRACKS AND IM AFRAID THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS THE GLASS MAY FALL OFF THE FRAME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THANKS HOPE WE GET HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS PEELING PAINT ON ITS HOOD .THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT STARTLED ME. IT WAS DARK AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE NOISE WAS. I EXAMINED THE CAR AND A VERTICAL CRACK HAD APPEARED IN THE BACK LIFT DOOR PANEL THAT IS JUST BELOW THE BACK LIFT WINDOW. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED OTHER 2003 FORD EXPLORES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT STATES WITH THE SAME FLAW. THE FLAW OCCURS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM OR RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT. THE FLAW SEEMS TO OCCUR IN OTHER MERCURY MODELS AS WELL, WITH THE SAME ENGINEERING DESIGN. I BELIEVE THIS CRACK IS DUE TO STRESS AND AN ENGINEERING FLAW. I REPORTED IT TO FORD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AS I CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE FRACTURED AND ALMOST CAUSED THE GLASS TO DISENGAGE AND CAUSE INJURY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUTS BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED. ONE OF THE GLASS HINGES THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY REPLACED HAD FAILED. THE HINGE PIN FOR THIS HINGE HAS BEEN SHEARED OFF IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL HINGES COVERED UNDER THE ABOVE REFERENCED RECALL. MY FORD DEALER AND FORD ARE ENTIRELY UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL, STATING THAT THEY HAVE MET THEIR OBLIGATION. SINCE THE 'REPLACEMENT' HINGE HAS FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL I AM LEFT WITH ONLY TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS. THE 'REPLACEMENT' PART IS SIMILARLY FLAWED OR THE PART USED IN THE RECALL WAS NOT THE REPLACEMENT PART. REGARDLESS OF THE EXPLANATION, A SAFETY ISSUE REMAINS WITH THE GLASS LIFTGATE ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE ABOVE RECALL. THE LIFTGATE GLASS HAS NOT (YET) FALLEN, BUT WITH A FAILED HINGE SUCH A ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR. *TR

ON 5-14-09 AT ABOUT 7:15AM I GOT MY CHILDREN'S DIAPER BAG OUT OF THE BACK OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER MY HATCH DOOR WAS FINE. I THEN WENT TO WORK AND IT WAS A WARM DAY BUT NOT HOT. AT ABOUT 6:10PM THE SAME DAY I WENT OUT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK AND I SAW IT. THERE IS 2 CRACKS THE UPPER PART OF THE HATCH IN TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. ONE STARTS AT THE WINDOW AND GOES DOWN THE OTHER STARTS AT THE BOTTOM AND GOES UP. AT THAT POINT I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THEM TO LOOK AT. THE SERVICE GUY SAID HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE MADE THIS HAPPEN. HE STATED HE COULD TELL IT HAD NOT BEEN HIT OR ANYTHING AND THAT IT WASN'T A FLEX POINT. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED APPLE FORD (LYNCHBURG VA) ON 5-15-09 AND WAS INSTRUCTED THEY HAD SEEN MANY CASES OF THIS BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL FORD PUTS OUT A RECALL. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS INSTRUCTED THEY WILL NOT FIX IT BUT TO HAVE A DEALER LOOK AT IT. MY CONCERN IS IF THE WINDOW FALLS OUT BECAUSE OF THIS WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO TO MY 1 YEAR OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT OR THE PEOPLE IN THE CARE BEHIND ME ON THE ROAD. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT IS A DEFAULT FROM THE COMPANY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND VIA GOOGLE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME. IF WATER GETS DOWN THROUGH THE CRACK IT COULD VERY WELL RUST THE LATCHING MECHANISM AND MAKE IT FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS LOOSE AND THE HINGE WAS FAILING. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY CATCH THE GLASS BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND OR HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,250.

THE BACK REAR PANEL OF THE HATCHBACK CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IT HAS A CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL UNDER WINDOW OF LIFTGATE I HAD IT REPLACE BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM NOW FORD REFUSE TO FIX THE CRACK SAYING THE HAVE NO RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

HORIZONTAL CRACK IN LIFT GATE RUNNING FROM TOP OF PIECE (BOTTOM OF WINDOW) TO BOTTOM OF PIECE. *TR

THE PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY WIFE'S 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED FORNO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL COST $800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR PLUS A BODY SHOP EXPENSE (PAINT). I'VE NOTICED ON MANY FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS IT! *TR

WE HAVE OWNED THE SUBJECT 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE HOLDING THE REAR GLASS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FAILURE IS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA RECALL #04V442000. FORD INFORMS ME THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS CONTINUING SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THEY REPLACED THE HINGE ONCE BEFORE IN 2006. I HAVE NO RECORD OF SUCH A REPAIR, NOT DO I AGREE THAT FORD'S POLICY OF ONLY PERFORMING ONE REPLACEMENT IS VALID. EVEN IF THEY DID REPLACE IT ONCE, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND THE SAFETY ISSUE STILL REMAINS. I WOULD EXPECT NHTSA TO DIRECT FORD TO PROPERLY FIX THE PROBLEM, RATHER CAUSE ME TO PAY FORD FOR YET ANOTHER REPLACEMENT FOR THE INEFFECTIVE ONE THEY PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. *TR

LARGE SPONTANEOUS STRESS CRACK APPEARED, BISECTING THE UPPER LIFTGATE BODY PANEL ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. FORD REFERS TO THIS PART AS LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE. *TR

REAR HATCH BELOW WINDOW HAS CRACKED FROM TOP OF PANEL TO BOTTOM THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO COLD WEATHER BUT I'M READING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THESE CRACKS HAPPENING IN ALL PROVINCES AND STATES. WHEN IS FORD GOING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THIS IS A DEFECT AND MAKE A RECALL? *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE TO INCLUDE IN OUR CITY ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. THIS HAPPENED IN WINTER. I SEE IN CAR STATS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THERE TOO. *TR

REAR TAIL GATE HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS FROM THE WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR

THE HOOD ON MY VEHICLE IS BLISTERING AND BUBBLING OFF IN MANY AREAS. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. *TR

A CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM ON 2003-2005 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS ISSUE SO THEY KNOW IT EXISTS AND YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE IS JUST ONE OF A FEW OUT THERE REGARDING THIS MATTER... HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED FROM THE BACK GLASS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EMBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. *TR

AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH FIBERGLASS & ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. BELOW THE REAR WINDOW A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE FIBERGLASS AFTER CLOSING THE WINDOW DURING COLD WEATHER. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, I BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BODY SHOP OWNERS ARE INFORMING THEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THAT MODEL. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY FORD. MY DEALER HAS SAID FORD HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED? IN ADDITION, THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS NOW SHOWING BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT, AND THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF THE HOOD. IT IS APPARENT FORD HAS EITHER HAD SOME DEFECTIVE PAINT DELIVERED TO THEIR PLANTS, OR THEIR IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT ALONG WITH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE OWNER, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE PROBLEM SOURCE. AFTER REVIEW BY FORD'S ZONE MANAGER HE CONCLUDED FORD HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH FORD DENYING ITS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=489142&PAGE=2 HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T489142.HTML HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/FORD_EXPLORER_CRACKED_PAINT.HTM HTTP://CBS5.COM/CONSUMER/FORD.PEELING.PAINT.2.755918.HTML HOW CAN FORD ISSUE 'SERVICE BULLETINS' ON THESE ISSUES, BUT FAIL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS? IT IS THEREFORE QUITE OBVIOUS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT FAILING TO ADDRESS THEM SATISFACTORILY. THEY THEN LEAVE THE DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM OF INFORMING THE CUSTOMER OF THEIR DECISION AND TAKING ALL THE 'HEAT' FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW AND THE FORD LOGO WAS CRACKED. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED IT ON A MAJORITY OF 2002 - 2004 EXPLORERS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS AND OTHER WEBSITES DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND A REFUSAL BY FORD TO REMEDIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE HINGE BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GLASS WAS WEDGED INSIDE THE ROOF. IF THE HATCH HAD NOT BEEN WEDGED, THE GLASS WOULD HAVE SHATTERED ONTO HER FEET OR CAUSED INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,555 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 74,575. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB

THE PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND IS ACTIVELY PEELING OFF OF A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE HOOD OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. ACCORDING TO LEMONLAW.COM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING A MAJOR PAINT DEFECT IN MANY 2000-2005 FORD, LINCOLN, AND MERCURY CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THAT USE ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. THE BULLETIN FURTHER STATES THAT, "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BUBBLING OR BLISTERING UNDER THE PAINT ON ALUMINUM BODY PARTS". I AM NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS IS A CLEAR BREACH OF ALL EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BODY PARTS AND/OR PAINT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START SINCE THE BULLETIN STATES THAT FORD RESEARCH ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM IRON CONTAMINATION WITHIN THE ALUMINUM BODY PART PRIOR TO BEING PAINTED. I REGISTERED MY COMPLAINTS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ASKING FOR FULL REMEDY OF THE SITUATION. THE ONLY OFFER THEY MAKE IS A DEAL ON A NEW CAR! I HOPE THAT FILING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP THE CONSUMER WHO HAS BEEN CLEARLY HURT AND IS EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC LOSS DUE DIRECTLY TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS SITUATION REMEDIED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008, BUT MY COMPLAINT CONTINUES TO BE PUSHED ASIDE. I BELIEVE THEY HOPE ALL OF THE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY QUIETLY. *TR

LIFT GATE FRAME CRACKS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS TOLD BY CORTESE FORD IN ROCHESTER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS DEFECT AND THEY BELIEVE IT HA SOMETHING TO DO WITH HOW THE FRAME IS PUT TOGETHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED ON HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT DISAGREES AND BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT AND WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,300. UPDATED 03-04-09 *BF THE BACK OF THE LIFTGATE PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW CRACKED. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB

PLASTIC BODY PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFT GATE HAS CRACKED. *TR

REAR TAILGATE/LIFTGATE DOOR PANEL CRACKED IN TWO PLACES VERTICALLY WHILE IN GARAGE PARKED. *TR

WE HAD COLD WEATHER THE LAST FEW DAYS (-11 BELOW) AND NOW THERE IS A CRACK IN BODY, JUST BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH. IT EXTENDS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW TO THE END OF THE HATCH. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE FOR MY EXPLORER AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED BY ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE GLASS, THE HINGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,773.

I HAVE A 2003 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER. LAST NIGHT, WHEN MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS DOOR, THE HINGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF. THE GLASS LIFTGATE IS PRESENTLY BEING HELD UP BY THE OTHER HINGE AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THAT ONE BREAKS ALSO. I SPOKE WITH AN ANDREA AT FORD 1-800-392-3673 AND SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, I TOLD HER THE DESCRIPTION OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO OWNS A FORD EXPLORER AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SINCE HIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS IN HAVING IT REPAIRED. YOU WONDER WHY SO MANY PEOPLE BUY JAPANESE CARS AND TRUCKS. HERE IS ONE OF MANY REASONS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS OBVIOUSLY ATTEMPTING TO SAVE MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR SAFETY. *TR

APPLIQUE UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED NEXT TO EMBLEM WITH NO IMPACT. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DAWN AND HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE (IT WAS THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION). I THOUGHT THAT A TIRE MAY HAVE BLOWOUT, WHICH WAS STRANGE SINCE THE CAR HAS A SET OF NEW TIRES AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHANGES IN THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED THE CAR USING A FLASH LIGHT. I SAW NOTHING. LATER THAT DAY WHEN I WENT TO GET GASOLINE, I SAW A CRACK IN THE PANEL THAT CONTAINED THE FORD LOGO, ABOUT 2 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE LOGO THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL TO THE BOTTOM. IT WAS JUST A CLEAN CRACK ON THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THIS HAPPENED ON A COLD NIGHT (19 DEG. F). FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND READ IT SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FACT THAT A PLASTIC PART IS GLUE TO A METAL PART WITH A DIFFERENT COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION. THE CAR IS A FORD EXPLORER XLT 2003. ALTHOUGH THE CRACKED PANEL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT, THE DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE LOUD BANG NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND STOPPING IN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE CLEARLY PUT ME AND MY FAMILY AT RISK. MOREOVER, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE REAR WINDOW PANEL MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AT SPEED, BEING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR

FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH DEFECT, CRACK IN HATCH, FORD HAS RELEASED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT SAYS IT IS AN OWNER RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. AS A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH BASICALLY THE SAME ANSWER FROM FORD. *TR

2003 FOR EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL UNDER THE REAR GLASS HAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. NO KNOWN CAUSE. THERE APPEAR TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH JUST SUDDENLY CRACKED... IT WASN'T HIT OR ANYTHING, IT JUST CRACKED. *TR

TRIM PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF REAR HATCH WINDOW DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK UNEXPECTEDLY. CRACK IS VERTICAL FROM WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF LIFTGATE GLASS. *TR

PLASTIC BODY PART BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS CRACKED. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER PAINT PEELING. *TR

THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO OUR DRY WEATHER, THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT OCCURRING IN OTHER STATES. I TRAVEL BEYOND COLORADO FREQUENTLY AND HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER/FORD DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

FACTORY PAINT BLISTERING ON HOOD. VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 44,000 MILES. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON A LONG LIST OF INTERNET SITES. FORD IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS AFFECTING 2000-2005 VEHICLES. *TR

BUBBLING AND PEELING PAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BUTTON ON HER KEY FOB TO OPEN THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT, ONE OF THE TWO HINGES FRACTURED AS THE WINDOW WAS OPENING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE GLASS, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS MISALIGNED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND DEBRIS FELL ONTO THE CONTACT AND THE GROUND. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COVERAGE DATE FOR THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO PERSONALLY PETITION TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER ON HER BEHALF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,600.

THERE IS A CRACK ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION LIFT GATE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME SPOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE WAS DAMAGED AND CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILED COMPONENT, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB

PAINT PEELING OFF MY CAR. *TR

VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2003 JUST BELOW THE GLASS AND GOING DOWN. *TR

THERE IS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT JUST APPEARED IN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND THIS TRUCK IS RARELY DRIVEN. IT IS ALSO PARKED IN OUR GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN THIS TRUCK. OUR "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT AND WARNING REGULARLY INDICATES THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. IT HAS EVEN FLUNG OPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE HAVE THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN THIS MODEL AND KEEP MY TWO 5 YEAR-OLDS IN THAT SEAT. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER SUDDENLY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS DESIGN WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THOSE IN THE VEHICLE OR AROUND YOU SINCE THE HATCH OPENING OUT OF NO WHERE IS STARTLING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE HAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AND, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT, THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT SHUT CORRECTLY. THE HINGE SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF HE ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE GLASS WILL SHATTER. HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

THE BACK LIFT GATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD THE CRACK FOR APPROX. 2 YEARS. THE CRACK HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID " THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL CASES SUCH AS THIS, BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL" I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THIS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD DEFECT. *TR

JULY OF 2007 THE REAR WINDOW ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAD BROKEN AT ONE OF THE HINGES AND THE WINDOW SAGGED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL, (04V44200). WE THEN CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. NOW 10 MONTHS LATER WHILE THE AUTO WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE WINDOW SHATTERED WITH NO ONE AROUND. THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR WORKING IN THE YARD WHO WITNESSED THIS HAPPEN. GLASS WAS BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER A WEEK OF PHONE CALLS WITH NO LUCK, I WAS FINALLY IN TOUCH WITH A ONE OF THE PARTS GUYS AT FORD WHO SAID THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HE WAS AWARE OF. HE EVEN STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED THE HINGES AND NOT THE GLASS WHICH IS KNOWN TO SHATTER. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY ON THE HINGES (EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE AS WELL) AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP US OUT. WELL IM NOT PAYING $1,600 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT FORD KNOWS HAS A PROBLEM AND DOESN'T BACK UP THERE WARRANTIES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE LIFTGATE, THE RIGHT HINGE SWUNG OUT AND BECAME DETACHED. THE HINGE NEARLY STRUCK HIS CHILD. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL ON HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF THE FAILURES ARE THE SAME, HIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

CRACK IN PANEL ON REAR HATCH I SEE SAME CRACK IN SAME SPORT ON ALL SAME VEHICLES. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACK IN REAR DOOR PANEL (CARGO DOOR) WE NOTICED THIS CRACK AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IT WAS NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK DOOR. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A DEFECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY,AND EXPECT THEM TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE US WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE ALSO READ MANY OF THESE SAME STORIES ABOUT THE CRACKED REAR DOOR ONLINE. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING, IT'S A SHAME THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR

AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AND AM SURE COUNTLESS OTHERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE REAR OF THE 2003 EXPLORERS. IS ANYTHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT? I HAVE TALKED TO FORD AND TO DEALERS AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. MY CONCERN BECAME LARGER THEN COSMETIC TODAY WHEN I LEFT THE CAR WASH. NOW NOT ONLY IS THERE THAT HUGE CRACK BUT ALSO THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDOW IS FALLING OUT AND WATER IS GETTING IN. IF THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN I WONDER NOW IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE WINDOWS START TO FALL OUT??? DOES FORD REALLY NEED ANOTHER HUGE LAWSUIT WHEN WHAT I SEE STARTING TO HAPPEN TO ME STARTS WITH OTHERS IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. WILL FORD JUST WAIT FOR REAR WINDOWS TO FALL OUT GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE CAUSING WRECKS, OR WILL THEY FINALLY OWN UP TO THE THOUSANDS OF 2002-2004 EXPLORER OWNERS THAT THEY MADE AN ERROR IN PRODUCTION. NO ONE IS PERFECT BUT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS. *TR

THE BACK PANEL OF MY 2003 EXPLORER IS CRACKED. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AT LIBERTY FORD IN RANDALLSTOWN. THEY ADMIT AS WELL AS THE FORD CORP. OFFICE THAT THE PANELS ARE CRACKING BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE SAYING THE PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN THE INVESTIGATION STARTED OR WHEN THEY THINK IT WILL END. THEY ARE ONLY SAYING THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PARTICULAR REASON THAT THESE PANELS ARE CRACKING THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THEM. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PANEL JUST BELOW THE VISIBLE GLASS OF THE HATCH. THIS CRACK ENCOMPASSES THE REAR FORD LOGO. THIS CRACK OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

CRACK DEVELOPED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE IN PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. I'VE NOTICED THIS IN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS OF SIMILAR YEARS. *TR

REAR DOOR HATCH HAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH. *TR

I HAVE A 03 EXPLORER. AND MY HATCH CRACKED IN 07. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SEEING OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART AND IT COST ME ROUGHLY $800.00 TO FIX. I FEEL AS THOUGH FORD SHOULD RECALL THE PART AND REFUND ALL THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAD TO SPEND $$ TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORE XLT CRACKED IN 3 SEPARATE PLACES. THE VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY HOUSED IN A GARAGE. I CALLED FORD TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT FULLY COVER THE DEFECT. THEY WOULD "HELP" SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THE CRACKS ARE A FLAW IN MANUFACTURING OR PRODUCT DESIGN. THEY SHOULD BE COVERED ENTIRELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

REAR DOOR CRACK IN THE MIDDLE ON FORD EXPLORER, BELOW THE WINDOW, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE MATERIAL THE FRAME IS MADE OF IS JUST PLASTIC. I KEEP SEEING PEOPLE IN MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THERE IS A FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED. THIS IS NOT JUST A COSMETIC PROBLEM, BUT A SAFETY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE DOOR WINDOW GETS OPEN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO OWN A FORD EXPLORER AND WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE PANEL JUST BELOW MY BACK WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT WHICH HAS OCCURRED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SOME AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT ABOUT 99% OF THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST $400 TO DO SO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ONCE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AT THAT TIME I ASK TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR AND WHEN SPEAKING WITH HER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. (WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE 3 DEALERS HAVE NOW TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM.) MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF I DO NOT FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY THAT I WILL LOSE THIS PIECE AND IT WILL END UP HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

CRACK IN BODY OF TAILGATE WITH NO CAUSE; CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND RUNS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC PANEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOW DEFECT, BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ! IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF MY CAR. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. FIRST, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE CRACK SPREAD THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE APPLIQUE AND THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 75,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THIS CRACK HAPPENED AT 78,000 MILES. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NO RECALL ON THEIR END. *TR

BODY PANEL BELOW REAR GLASS ON LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I NOTICED THIS ON MANY EXPLORERS OF THE SAME APPROX. AGE WHILE SHOPPING FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HATCH HAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC UNDER THE GLASS, WHICH HOLDS THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WINDOW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SUDDENLY BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE, BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE GAS IN THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE TOP PORTION OF THE REAR HATCH CAN EXPLODE WHEN COLD WEATHER IS A FACTOR. UPDATED

REAR TAILGATE MOLDING BELOW WINDOW CRACKED. APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT FLAW BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH. CALLED FORD AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM HOWEVER WERE NOT PLANNING TO RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE PRIOR RECALL OF REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AS THIS PART WAS NEW POST RECALL. *TR

PANEL BELOW GLASS ON LIFT GATE DEVELOP A CRACK. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR TRIM PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHILE FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPS EVEN AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. TODAY THE REAR HATCH LEFT LATCH BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW TO NEARLY FALL OFF. THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED DUE TO THE EARLIER CRACK CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS TO SHIFT, PLACE TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE LEFT LATCH. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE BROKEN LATCH, WINDOW MOLDING AND REAR HATCH STRUTS, UNDER AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN BUT STILL WILL NOT REPAIR THE PREVIOUS CRACKED TRIM PANEL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF FORD'S FAILURE TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR TRIM PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHILE FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPS EVEN AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. TODAY THE REAR HATCH LEFT LATCH BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW TO NEARLY FALL OFF. THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED DUE TO THE EARLIER CRACK CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS TO SHIFT, PLACE TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE LEFT LATCH. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE BROKEN LATCH, WINDOW MOLDING AND REAR HATCH STRUTS, UNDER AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN BUT STILL WILL NOT REPAIR THE PREVIOUS CRACKED TRIM PANEL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF FORD'S FAILURE TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR HATCH WITHOUT IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COLDER THAN NORMAL. THERE ARE TWO VERTICAL 1/4" CRACKS THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY BELOW THE REAR HATCH LIFT GATE WINDOW. WE HAD NOT USED THE BACK LIFT DOOR OR THE LIFT GATE WINDOW IN SEVERAL DAYS. *TR

CRACKED HATCH ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WORRIED THAT PANEL WILL FALL OFF. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND COUNTRY HAVE SAME PROBLEM NO MATTER WHAT CLIMATE IS. FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PANEL FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CREATING AN ADVERSE INCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY. *TR

REAR GLASS APPLIQUE UNDER REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED TWICE, FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND TIME IT IS NOT COVERED. *TR

I PURCHASE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN THE SAME YEAR. LAST YEAR MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND NARROW IN WIDTH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERS BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER " THAT I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN ALL OF FORDS SUV'S INCLUDING THE LINCOLN AND MERCURY MODELS. IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND ONE THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL". HE GAVE ME A ESTIMATE OF $350 AND ADVISED THAT I GO TO THE DEALER AND TALK TO SOMEONE THERE. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WERE 2 REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR FOR ME. THE 1ST IS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE 2ND WAS THAT I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM, I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A DEMO FROM ANOTHER DEALER. I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER TO CONTACT FORD WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE REGIONAL REP FROM FORD CONTACT ME WHENEVER HE WAS IN TOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME THEN HE WOULD FIX THE CAR FOR HALF PRICE THE COST. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALER SAID, THIS IS A FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF AND WILL NOT RECALL. MY CAR NOW HAS 3 CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE AND I LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. WE ARE DESPERATELY SEEKING HELP FROM SOMEBODY IN HOLDING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THANK YOU! *TR

CRACK IN LIFTGATE OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER; NOTE: 2ND TIME IT HAS CRACKED, AFTER REPLACEMENT ONCE...NOW ABOUT 25,000 MILES LATER, SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW LIFTGATE. CRACK JUST "APPEARS". *TR

WHEN I GOT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK REAR PANEL OF MY '03 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER SERIES HAD CRACKED FROM BETWEEN THE WINDOW TO THE LATCH - RIGHT UNDER THE FORD EMBLEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT - NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. LUCKILY THERE ARE ONLY 51K MILES ON THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER IS WILLING TO FIX WITH A $75 DEDUCTIBLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML THE LINK ABOVE IS BASICALLY WHAT I EXPERIENCE - A CRACK IN MY BACK BODY PANEL - NO WRECK - NOTHING TO CAUSE IT - JUST SITTING THERE! FORD WILL NOT REPLACE - THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY - AS IF A BODY PANEL SHOULD CRACK BY ITSELF! *TR

BACK HATCH SPLIT ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH BAD RECALL REPAIR WORK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WRONG. HE STATES THAT THE HINGES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS AND HINGES. *KB WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED THE FIRST TIME HE WAS TOLD THE STRUTS LOOKED FINE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HINGE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AND THE WHOLE LIFTGATE SUBSEQUENTLY SHIFTED; THE GAP BETWEEN THE LIFTGATE AND THE BODY WAS NO LONGER SYMMETRICAL BUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DECREASED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE LIFTGATE NO LONGER LATCHED OR WOULD ONLY LATCH WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE APPLIED WHEN CLOSING IT. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE TWO HINGES AT THE TOP OF THE REAL HATCH GLASS SECTION THAT ATTACHED TO THE ROOF OR BODY OF THE VEHICLE THAT WERE BROKEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIFTGATE LATCH, TRIM PANEL AND THE REAR TAILLIGHT WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HINGE AND SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT CHARGE. RECALL# 04V442000 *JB

2003 FORD EXPLORER, AFTER HAVING SERVICE COMPLETED , JAN '07 NOTICED AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS VERTICAL CRACK ON REAR HATCH PANEL RIGHT OF FORD EMBLEM. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE THERE WAS ROAD SALT COVING THE BACK HATCH AND I COULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.HOWEVER THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARKS. I HAVE NOTICED A NUMBER OF OTHER SAME YEAR EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME VERTICAL CRACK. IWILL TRY TO PURSUE WITH FORD. *CN

IN JULY 2006, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED A HAIRLINE CRACK ABOVE THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE BACK WINDOW/LIFTGATE PANEL. WITHIN 1 WEEK, THE CRACK HAD GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LIFTGATE. IN HOT WEATHER, THE CRACK IS BARELY VISIBLE (BECAUSE THE PLASTIC SEEMS TO SWELL); IN COLD WEATHER, THE CRACK IS AT LEAST 1/8-1/4" WIDE. I'M CONCERNED OF WEAR ON REMAINING COMPONENTS SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA IF WATER/SNOW JUST GO THROUGH THE CRACK OR GET INSIDE THE PANEL ITSELF. IS THERE A FIX OFFERED BY FORD FOR THIS SINCE IT IS APPARENTLY A DESIGN/COMPONENT FLAW?*CN

2003 FORD EXPLORER- THE TRIM PIECE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED VERTICALLY FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, BUMPED, OR SLAMMED. THE CRACK SIMPLY APPEARED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.*CN

WENT OUT TO LOAD SOME THINGS IN THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR LIFTGATE UNDER THE GLASS. IT GOES FROM THE GLASS TO JUST ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT VERTICAL CRACK IN FIBERGLASS TAILGATE PANEL JUST BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS (NO IMPACT TO TAILGATE OCCURRED - CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOTED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM). *TR

THE REAR TAILGATE ON MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE FORD MEDALLION ON THE BACK. MY NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS EXPLORER AND REPLACED IT. WHEN I LOOKED ON A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. NOT REPLACED, THE PIECE WILL FALL OFF AND POSSIBLY CREATE A ROAD HAZARD. *TR

PAINT BUBBLING UP ON FRONT OF HOOD ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4X4 IN JUNE 2006. ONE MORNING IN MID-FEB 2007, WE DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE LIFEGATE GLASS APPLIQUE THAT STARTED FROM THE TOP DOWN, APPROXIMATELY 8" LEFT FROM THE CENTER OF THE GATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT TO THE PLASTIC, BUT RATHER A STRESS CRACK. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CRACK HAS GROWN WIDER AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE. NOW, ANOTHER CRACK HAS STARTED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE APPROXIMATE 6" FROM THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN MID-FEB 2007 AND THEY STATED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CRACKED LIFTGATE AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800. WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE OTHER FORD EXPLORER'S IN THE LOCAL AREA WITH SIMILAR CRACKS IN THEIR LIFTGATE PLASTIC APPLIQUE. *JB

THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IMPLODED AS I WAS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE WINDOW DID NOT JUST CRACK...IT SHATTERED INTO PIECES. MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR OR BY AN OBJECT. AN INITIAL PROBLEM AROSE BEFORE THIS EVENT. A CRACK FORMED ON THE MOLDING JUST BELOW THE WINDOW WHERE THE FORD SYMBOL IS LOCATED. THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE READ ABOUT FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH EXPLORERS. I HAVE READ OTHER CASES OF THE LIFTGATE WINDOW SHATTERING BUT MORE OFTEN DURING OPENING OR CLOSING OF THE WINDOW. IN THIS CASE, I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER "EDDIE BAUER" ~49,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NEAR STANDARD. PLASTIC PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW SPLIT IN TWO AND HAS ~1/16" GAP. SPLIT IS VERTICAL AND VERY NEAR CENTER OF PANEL. IT PASSES UNDER CENTER OF "FORD" OVAL SYMBOL. NOT SURE IF THERE IS DANGER OF REAR WINDOW OR BROKEN PANEL PIECES FALLING OFF VEHICLE. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN, STILL ATTEMPTING TO GET MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR APPARENT DEFECT. *TR

PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I'M CONCERNED OF A SAFETY HAZARD AFTER READING ON INTERNET THAT THE PANEL CAN FALL OFF AFTER THIS CRACK. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET BECAUSE FORD CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ITS EXTENDED PREMIUM WARRANTY. *TR

PAINT PROBLEMS PAINT KEEPS ON BLISTERING AND PEELING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. SIX MONTHS AGO I NOTICE A SPLIT ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR WINDOW. THE SPLIT WAS ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT SOMEONE DAMAGED MY VEHICLE. THEN I NOTICED WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT THE SPLIT CLOSES UP AND DISAPPEARS. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL THEY SAID NO. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE. I TOOK A SURVEY. THERE WERE AT LEAST 1 OUT OF EVERY 5 FORD EXPLORERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS ON THE VEHICLE(WHAT EVER THAT MEANS) I THINK FORD NEEDS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAN BECOME "UNSIGHTLY" *JB

THE PLASTIC TRIM PANEL ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER XLS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, WITH NO PROVOCATION. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER SERVICE REP SAID THEY HAD REPAIRED "DOZENS OF THEM", AFTER HE TOLD ME FORD WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. THE CRACK EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS NOTICEABLY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGES, AND I BELIEVE THE COMPOSITE IS NOT PROPERLY FORMULATED RESULTING IN INSTABILITY OF THE MATERIAL DURING TEMPERATURE CHANGES. CLEARLY, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR WHICH FORD SHOULD PROVIDE A REMEDY. MY EXPLORER STILL LOOKS GREAT, AND THIS IS THE ONLY BLEMISH. AT THE QUOTED COST OF OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HATCH ASSEMBLY (THE ONLY OPTION OFFERED), I WILL LIVE WITH THE ANNOYING CRACK AND TELL EVERYONE I SEE ABOUT FORD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO HELP. *JB

2003 FORD EXPLORER. LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED FROM RIGHT UNDER GLASS ALL THE WAY TO BOTTOM OF PANEL RIGHT THRU THE MIDDLE OF FORD EMBLEM. APPEARS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. FROM ALL I READ FORD WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR FAULT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE, OR IT LOOKS TO BE SEVERAL STRESS CRACKS BELOW THE BACK GLASS OF THE HATCH. THEY RANGE ANYWHERE FROM AN INCH TO SEVEN OR EIGHT INCHES. I TOOK THIS TO THE FORD HOUSE IN HALTOM CITY, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BUT TO CHECK WITH OTHER OWNERS TO SEE IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO THEIR EXPLORER. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED LITERALLY AT LEAST 75 EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME THING. THE ONES I HAVE SPOKE WITH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE THIS COST. I THINK AFTER 2003, FORD CHANGED THE WAY THEY MADE THE BACK HATCH AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME SEVEN OR EIGHT INCH MOLDING UNDER THE GLASS. I AM AFRAID THAT IF I OPEN THE GLASS SECTION ON MINE OR CLOSE IT, IT WILL BREAK THE GLASS OR THE GLASS WILL COME OUT. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS?*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SEVEN-INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE HATCHBACK DOOR HINGE. RECALL # 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WAS FOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK 6" VERTICAL CRACK IN PLASTIC BELOW HATCHBACK WINDOW. RECALL 04V442000 DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER HOWEVER IS SAME PROBLEM. SPENT 40 MINUTES ON PHONE WITH FORD AND THEY STATED THAT I MUST COMPLETE A COMPLAINT FORM. *TR

I HAVE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. ONE MORNING IN MID-MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I OBSERVED A CRACK IN THE PLATIC PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW ON THE TAILGATE. MY WIFE AND I KNEW WE HAD NOT HAD ANY TYPE OF IMPACT IN THAT AREA THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PANEL TO CRACK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT IT. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD AND HAVE JUST OVER 30K MILES ON IT, THE CRACKED PANEL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS AND IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY THE PANEL WAS ATTACHED. I HAD THE CRACK REPAIRED - COST OVER $400. I SENT A LETTER TO THE FORD CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER IN DETROIT WITH PICTURES AND COPIES OF THE REPAIR INVOICE ASKING THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR COST. AFTER 30 DAYS, I HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. SO I SENT COPIES OF THE LETTER BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER AND TO THE CEO OF FORD. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THIS WAS A FORD PROBLEM, NOT A DEALERSHIP PROBLEM, SO THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION. I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FORD CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER, AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD ACCEPT A 50% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. I AGREED ONLY TO FIND OUT THE NEXT DAY FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY COULD BE SO UNETHICAL TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT THAT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT A DESIGN FLAW. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ANY OWNER OF A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHO HAS THIS CRACKED PANEL REPAIRED. I ALSO THINK A CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST FORD SEEKING COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR FAILING TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR AND ACTING UNETHICALLY BY TRYING TO PLACE SOME OF THE BLAME ON THE OWNERS BY TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT FOR A FLAW THAT IS CLEARLY THEIR OWN FAULT.

WITHOUT IMPACT, '03 FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED FROM GLASS, AROUND FORD EMBLEM, TO BOTTOM OF PANEL. VERY COMMON PROBLEM. NO COOPERATION FROM FORD. *TR

CRACKING IN THE LIFTGATE PANEL. THE PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON MY EXPLORER HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. *AK

2003 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BOTTOM REAR LIFTGATE IS CRACKED. CONSUMER BELIEVES CONCERN IS RELATED TO RECALL ON THE HINGES FOR THE LIFTGATE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE WERE DUE TO WEAKNESS. UPDATED 07/08/07. *JB

REAR LIFTGATE HAD A CRACK JUST BELOW THE GLASS ON THE 2003 EXPLORER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS WILL BECOME LOOSE AND FALL OUT AND HURT SOMEONE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ON MY 2002, FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME CRACK. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE LIFTGATE WITH A BETTER DESIGNED ONE.*AK

THE REAR TAILGATE ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED WHEN I CLOSED IT AFTER TAKING AN ITEM OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD SEEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME. I DID NOT ABUSE THE TAILGATE ,AND I DID NOT USE ANY EXTRA EFFORT TO CLOSE IT THAN I NORMALLY WOULD. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER , AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT AND THEY WOULD FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I CALLED LATER ON THE DAY I DROPPED IT OFF. THEY INFORMED ME THEY HAD PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK ON THE HINGE AND BALL PIVOT, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE TAILGATE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGATE SITUATION ON THIS VEHICLE BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN POSTED AS A RECALL ITEM. *AK

PLASTIC UNDER (ATTACHED TO) REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED. CRACK RUNS TOP TO BOTTOM, AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. ENTIRE LIFTGATE NEEDS REPLACING. FORD SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME DEFECT. DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I'M SURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE COMPROMISED IN A ROLLOVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT SPORT. WHILE CLOSING THE LIFTGATE THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FEW CUTS ON THE CONTACT'S HANDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,254.*AK UPDATE 05/21/07.*JB

FOLLOWING THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE FAULT WITH THE REAR DOOR/LIFTGATE RECALL, A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE LIFTGATE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME CRACK ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT FORD RECOGNIZES AS AN ITEM FOR "RECALL." I AM UNSURE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR DOOR/LIFTGATE. *JB

CRACK IN BODY OF TAILGATE WITH NO CAUSE; CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND RAN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. *JB

THERE APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING A BIG CRACK IN THE REAR LIFTGATE OF THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRACK GOES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. THE CRACK EXPANDS AND SHRINKS ACCORDING TO THE TEMPERATURE. SO FAR IT GOT AS WIDE AS 1/4 INCH. . THE CRACK IS IN THE SHAPE OF A PEACE SIGN.*AK NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE; IT'S STORED IN A GARAGE EVERYDAY. I WENT TO MALLOUF FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH BRUNSWICK NJ AND THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY $800 TO FIX IT. THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE DEALERSHIP AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A SLEW OF OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THE GLASS OF THE REAR LIFT GATE NOT BEING PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME LOOSE, CRACK OR FALL OUT. LET'S NOT WAIT FOR SOMETHING HORRIFIC TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS GROWING PROBLEM IS FIXED.

2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE BACK DOOR PANEL THAT HAS THE FORD EMBLEM ON IT IS CRACKED IN HALF FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. I SEE MANY OF THEM LIKE THIS. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT. IT'S THEIR DEFECT.*AK UPDATED 09/16/08.*LJ

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH 43000 FAILURE MILEAGE) A CRACK ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE THE HATCHBACK FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS RECALL 04V442000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ABOUT THE CRACK, OR THE HATCH FLYING UP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44264.*AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE PANEL ON THE REAR GATE UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN OPEING S THE LIFTGATE IT FELT SHAKY AND UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CAUSES THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED HER THE BACK PANEL ON THE REAR LIFTGATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 MILES. *AK

CRACK IN BACK HATCH BY FORD EMBLEM. *NM

CRACKED PANEL BELOW GLASS ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER, BOTH ON MINE AND MY WIFE'S EXPLORER, BOTH BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. *NM

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE PLASTIC PANEL JUST BELOW THE TAIL GATE WINDOW HAS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE 100'S OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *JB

FORD EXPLORER 2003. TAILGATE CRACKED IN HALF BELOW WINDOW. NO PRECIPITATING CAUSE. CAR UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED THIS WAS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPLACED AT NO CHARGE, APPARENTLY WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE TAILGATE. TAILGATE CRACKED AGAIN 9 MOS. LATER. DEALERSHIP REQUIRED PAYMENT OF 20% FROM OWNER SINCE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY (38K MILES) EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ADMITTEDLY FORD'S MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FORD REPLACED THE TAILGATE WITH A THIRD DEFECTIVE TAILGATE THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CRACK AGAIN. BOTH FORD FACILITIES STATED THAT THEY'D WISH THAT FORD WOULD DO A RECALL AND "ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT". THEY'D REPLACED ONE A MONTH AT THE SMALL DEALERSHIP AND "MANY" AT THE LARGER DEALERSHIP. PICTURES AVAILABLE PER E-MAIL IF DESIRED. *NM

UPON GOING OUT TO MY TRUCK THIS MORNING TO PUT MY SONS STUFF IN THE BACK, I NOTICED THAT I HAVE A CRACK IN THE PANEL JUST BELOW MY LIFTGATE GLASS. THIS STRUCK ME AS UNUSUAL AS I DON'T EVEN USE THE LIFTGATE WINDOW. I DECIDED THAT I WOULD DO A SEARCH FOR A RECALL THAT I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRIVY TO...AND I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, BUT NO RECALL. THE DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS ITEM EVEN WHEN IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAY IT ISN'T COVERED. IF THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ... WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT. IF IT KEEPS CRACKING THE GLASS IS GOING TO FALL OUT!! THE DEALERSHIPS ARE SAYING THAT IF YOU STILL HAVE WARRANTY THAT THEY WILL REPLACE IT NO CHARGE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE WARRANTY ... IT ISN'T COVERED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS...AS IT DOES POSE A HAZARD IF THE WINDOW FALLS OUT DUE TO THE CRACK IN THE STRUCTURE. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS OR WHO WE NEED TO CONTACT??? *JB

THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2003 EXPLORER HAS CRACKED/BROKEN INTO PIECES. THE 6-8 INCH BREAK RUNS TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN 2002-2003 EXPLORERS WHICH FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *JB

REAR HATCHBACK WAS TAKEN TO FORD FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE HATCHBACK HINGES. THE STRESS OF THE FAILED HINGES HAS CAUSED CRACKS TO DEVELOP BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IN THE FACIA, IT IS CRACKING. *JB

JUST NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN PANEL UNDERNEATH REAR WINDOW OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CRACK JUST APPEARED WITHOUT ANY REASON. DEALER REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED YET BECAUSE WE ARE SEEKING DEALER REIMBURSEMENT. THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 2002 AND 2003 EXPLORERS. ONE WEBSITE THAT LISTS MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM IS AUTOBEEF.COM. DEALER ESTIMATE WAS $648. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT AND INFORM US ON HOW TO PROCEED. *JB

REAR LIFTGATE BODY PANEL BELOW GLASS WINDOW DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TODAY AFTER CLOSING THE LIFTGATE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT SINCE THIS PANEL IS BROKEN BUT NOT THE GLASS IN THE LIFTGATE. *JB

THE LIFT GATE TRIM PIECE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE 4TH TIME NOT INCLUDING LIFT GATE RECALL WHICH WOULD BE THE 5TH REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY LOCAL DEALER THAT THIS IS "DESIGN FLAW" AND FORD HAS YET INFORMED THEM HOW TO CORRECTLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *JB

MY 2003 XLT EXPLORER HAS A FIBERGLASS PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE TAIL GATE. WE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALER IN AUGUST AND WITH IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS A CRACK APPEARED FROM THE WINDOW TO THE TOP OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN MANY EXPLORERS AND FORD IS AWARE OF IT BUT THEY DO NOT OFFER ANY SAVINGS OR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR REPAIR. IF THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT, THAN WHAT IS FORD DOING TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE? *NM

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT, AND YESTERDAY I NOTICED THAT THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE BACK GLASS, HAS A 1/4 CRACK ALL THE WAY DOWN IT! IT IS LOCATED A INCH OR TWO RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE, SINCE I HAVE 59,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WELL, ON THE FORD WEBSITE UNDER MY WARRANTY INFORMATION IT STATES THAT CORROSION AND DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS REGARDLESS OF MILES DRIVEN. WELL WHAT DOES THIS FALL UNDER? I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, THAT I AM NOT GOING TO PUT MORE MONEY IN IT FOR THIS. FORD NEEDS TO COVER IT, OR START SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION FOR A RECALL. *JB

FORD EXPLORER- 2003 LOCATION REAR HATCH OR DOOR. PANEL BELOW WINDOW WHERE FORD EMBLEM APPEARS. PLASTIC BODY PART SPLITS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER EXPLORERS. DEALER SAYS IT IS CAUSED BY REAR WIPER MOTOR BEING HOUSED BEHIND CRACK. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR, THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, WITHOUT CHARGING CUSTOMER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY UNLOADING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR GATE HINGES FRACTURED AND THE GLASS DROPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE HINGES HELD THE GLASS AND THE INCIDENT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AFFECTING OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

THE PANEL DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IN MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS IN IT. AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALER, IT WAS VERY EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AS THEY SAID THEY SEE A MINIMUM OF 10 PER YEAR AND THAT FORD WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. MY VEHICLE HAS 68,000,MILES ON IT. I ALSO HAVE SEEN THIS DEFECT LISTED MULTIPLE TIMES IN AUTOMOBILE DEFECT WEBSITES SUCH AS WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. *NM

THE REAR PANEL BELOW MY WINDOW ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WENT SNOW SKING AND AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS SCENARIO IS COMMON. THE PANEL GETS MOISTURE BEHIND IT AND FREEZES, THEN CRACKS. I HAVE A FORD MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, AND I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND CONTACTED THE LOCAL MEDIA, WHO SUGGESTED YOUR WEBSITE. NO ONE IS WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND ONE DAY IT WILL FALL OFF WHILE I AM IN TRAFFIC. CURRENTLY I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ADVISED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. I WOULD KEEP IT THERE AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. CHECK OUT THE INTERNET (AUTOBEEF.COM) LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *JB

AFTER OPENING THE HATCHBACK TO PUT GROCERIES INSIDE, THE WINDOW FELL. AFTER INSPECTING IT, IT TURNS OUT THE HINGE ON HATCHBACK BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL. IT HIT MY LEFT ARM AND FOREARM CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING, OTHER THAN THAT NOBODY ELSE WAS HURT AND THE WINDOW DID NOT FALL OFF COMPLETELY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ASKED TO DROP IT OFF FOR INSPECTION. WAS EVENTUALLY FIXED. BUT I CAN'T HELP TO WONDER IF IT WILL HAPPENED AGAIN AND IF THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE WORSE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE EDGES OF THE VEHICLE FRONT HOOD WAS BUBBLED AND PEELED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THE VEHICLE OWNER TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE PAINT ISSUE FROM THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE REPORT FROM THE SERVICE DEALER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW EXPLODED. DURING THE INCIDENT THE TEMPERATURE OUT DOORS WAS ABOUT 70F. LAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE GATES DEFECTIVE HINGES, ACCORDING TO RECALL # 04V442000 INSTRUCTIONS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE INCIDENT BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD POOR QUALITY GLASS MAY HAVE USED TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. THE CONSUMER HAD THE WINDOW REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE, HOWEVER DAYS LATER HE HEARD A NOISE AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE INSIDE PANEL OF THE LIFTGATE WAS VERY LOOSE AND IT LOOKED AS THOUGH IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. UPDATED 08/02/06. *JB

EXPLORER LIMITED. SIX MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS CAR, BOUGHT AT APPROXIMATELY. 32,000 MILES, I NOTICED THERE WAS BUBBLING ON THE HOOD OF CAR. IT WAS ON THE FRONT OF THE HOOD ON BOTH SIDES ABOVE HEAD LAMPS AS WELL AS IN THE MIDDLE (POINT OF THE OF THE HOOD). EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT KENNY ROSS IN PITTSBURGH WILL NOT WORK WITH ME IN GETTING REPAIRED. ONE OF THEIR COLLISION MEN SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER HE SAID IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY NOT A PROBLEM. THEN THE HEAD GUY OF THE COLLISION DEPARTMENT SAID EVEN IF I HAD A WARRANTY THE HOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED ONLY UNDER THE 12 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES WARRANTY (???). JUST THE BASIC RUN AROUND AND THEY INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE. THE PAINT IS NOW CRACKING AND PEELING OFF. I NOTICED THE BUBBLING AT ABOUT 39,000+ MILES AND JUST REPORTED IT TO FORD MAY OF THIS 2006, ALTHOUGH I DID MENTION IT TO THE GUY THAT SOLD ME THE CAR A YEAR OR SO AGO. IN ADDITION I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN FROM THIS SO CALLED DEALERSHIP THINKING I WAS GETTING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH WAS IMPLIED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE EXTENDED SERVICE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. BUYER BEWARE BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THE DIFFERENCE. WHY WOULD I BUY AN ESP WHEN I CAN EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR JUST ABOUT THE SAME PRICE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PAINT LOOKED BUBBLY LIKE A BLISTER ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE HOOD. THE CORROSION WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE HOOD CLOSEST TO THE HEAD LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THERE WAS A VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE PAINT WHICH WAS OBSERVED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR FIRE.

REAR HATCHBACK WAS TAKEN TO FORD FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE HATCHBACK. PRIOR TO THAT, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE HATCHBACK, I.E. ACCIDENTALLY OPENING. NOW JUST BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF THE HATCHBACK, IT IS CRACKING. SIMILAR TO MANY OWNERS LISTED ON THIS SITE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. THIS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION, A FRACTURE WAS OBSERVED ON THE FRAME OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE . THE FRACTURE BECAME LARGER OVER TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FRACTURE, BUT RECOMMENDED REMOVING THE BOLTS, AND ADDING A METAL PATCH TO THE FRAME. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

MOLDED RUNNING BOARD BROKEN UNDER NORMAL USE, ONE DEALER ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A CHILD JUMP ON THE RUNNING BOARD - REASON UNKNOWN. ANOTHER DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT TO DETROIT, WARRANTY REPAIR REFUSED? *JB

PLASTIC UNDER (ATTACHED TO) REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED. CRACK IS 10 TO 12 INCHES LONG. ENTIRE LIFTGATE NEEDS REPLACING. FORD SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME DEFECT. *JB

AFTER HAVING ABOUT OF FREEZING WEATHER MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE PLASTIC PANEL ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER UPON WHICH I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND THAT THEY REPLACE QUITE A FEW OF THESE EVERY YEAR. BUT BEING THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2005 THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *JB

THIS MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2003 EXPLORER XLT. IT WAS NOT THERE TWO DAYS AGO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL SO I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGES. HE HAS PERSONALLY SEEN MANY OF THESE. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL FORUM SITES AND KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE FROM FORD'S SIDE? *JB

PANEL UNDER TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED AND SPLIT WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ON COLD DAY. VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD TAILGATE HINGES REPLACED UNDER RECALL. DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR/REPLACE. DEALER ESTIMATE OF $401 TO REPAIR. *JB

OUR FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE LIKE IT IS EVERY NIGHT. IN THE MORNING WE WENT OUT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE BACK TOP HATCH WAS CRACKED. IT CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE FORD SIGN. WHEN WE CLOSED THE HATCH AFTER NOTICING IT IT PINCHED MY FINGERS. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NOT A RECALL AND THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS AND TOLD US TO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD GAVE US AN ESTIMATE TO FIX IT AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $400. THE PROBLEM WITH THE HATCH BEING CRACKED IS THAT IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT AT ANY TIME THE GLASS COULD POP OUT AND HIT THEM IN THE HEAD. WHEN YOU DO OPEN THE HATCH YOUR FINGERS GET PINCHED IF THEY ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE PROBLEM FIXED YET. *NM

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 1/12/06 AT 6:15 AM. IT WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY HOOD FLEW UP. I COULDN'T SEE A THING. I HAD TO MERGE OVER 3 LANES TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK COMPLETELY COVERED MY FRONT WINDOW. WHEN I GOT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY A HIGHWAY PATROL STOPPED. HE SAID THAT HE WAS AMAZED THAT I WASN'T SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN DEAD. I GOT THE HOOD TO COME BACK DOWN. THE HOOD WOULDN'T LATCH BECAUSE IT WAS BENT UP. I HAD TO DRIVE 15 MPH DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I COULD TAKE AN OFF RAMP. I HAD TO TAKE ALL THE BACK ROADS AND DRIVE DOWN THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO GET BACK HOME. MY HUSBAND AND I PULLED UP THE HOOD AND WERE SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THE HOOK THAT LOCKED DOWN MY HOOD WAS GONE. THE ENTIRE HOOD HINGE AND ATTACHMENT WAS MISSING. THE ONLY WAY WE KNEW IT WAS EVER THERE WERE THE 2 SCREWS THAT HELD IT THERE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY KIND OF DISMISSED IT LIKE I WAS OVERSTATING THE FACTS. THE HOOD WAS SHUT. I DIDN'T HIT A POT HOLE OR ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE TRUCK OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS SOON AS THEY SAW IT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. IT HAD TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO LOOK IT OVER AND TALK TO THEIR MANAGER AND THEN THEY WOULD CALL US. WE CALLED BACK ON FRIDAY, 1-13-06. THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE HOOD, GRILL AREA UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND DO SOMETHING WITH THE TO FRONT QUARTER PANELS BECAUSE THEY WERE BENT UP FROM THE HOOD FLIPPING UP. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE DONE BY TUESDAY AND AT NO COST TO ME. IT IS 1/19/06 AND THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND THEY HAVEN'T ORDERED ANYTHING AND THEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME. THEY SAID THEY AREN'T PUTTING NEW PARTS BACK ON MY TRUCK. WHY IS THAT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR FORD'S MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS. THE REAR LIFT GATE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS CRACKED DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX THIS PIECE DUE THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF THE INITIAL WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE PREMIUM ESP PLAN AND THE FACT THAT TEMPERATURES GOT TO BELOW FREEZING (27 DEGREES F). THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH SINCE THE PIECE LOCATED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A PART I BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERAGE AGAINST DEFECT. COST OF $57.00 PLUS INSTALLATION AND PAINTING. I WOULD LIKE ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE HEARD THE LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODE. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS AND THE HYDRAULIC SHAFT RELEASED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED WHAT HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS, THEREFORE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *AK

2003 FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH GLASS SHATTERED WHILE PARKED.*MR *JB

COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL 04S20 RELATING TO THE REAR LIFT GATE.*** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL OR LETTER AS TO WHEN TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *JB

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SINCE THE DEALER HAS MADE NOT CONTACT WITH HER FOR THE SERVICE DATE. *AK *TC

THE PLASTIC MOLDING AROUND THE REAR GLASS ON THE LIFTGATE CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS MAY FALL OUT WHILE OPENING THE LIFTGATE OR WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK.....THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE CONSUMER MUST PAY. THE CONSUMER'S GAS GAUGE FAILED WITH ONLY 2500 MILLES OVER WARRANTY. *AK

WHEN COLD, BELOW 35 DEGREES F, THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT FULLY OPEN. THE HATCH STOPS AT HEAD HEIGHT. I'VE HIT MY HEAD TWICE. FORD HAS SAID BECAUSE THE HATCH OPENS WHEN IT'S WARM, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IT'S A MINOR HEAD BUMP, BUT HAS POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE AN EYE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HATCH SHEET METAL PROTRUDES. THE SUV IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*AK

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER FOR THE LIFTGATE, THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN REPAIR, SINCE THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. LIFTGATE RECALL NHTSA 04V442000

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE LIFTGATE, AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. NHTSA LIFTGATE RECALL 04V442000 *JB *SC

MY AUNT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FRONT PILLAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE ROOF TO COLLAPSE ALMOST DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR HINGES ON REAR WINDOW OF HATCH AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPEN UNTIL HINGES WERE REPLACED, WHICH I DID NOT. NOTICED THE FIBERGLASS UNDER THE WINDOW CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE LATCH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER AND THE WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR SAID THE FIBERGLASS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. THE WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR SAID HE WOULD SEND A REQUEST FOR FORD TO REPAIR THE FIBERGLASS UNDER THE GLASS BUT DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY WILL SINCE THEY HAVE DENIED PAYING FOR A FEW OF THESE THAT HE HAS ALREADY SUBMITTED. I AM CONVINCED THIS DAMAGE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HINGE AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS WAITING SINCE OCTOBER 2004 FOR REPAIRS. FORD CONTINUOUSLY TOLD HER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. OWNER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN OCTOBER 2004. OWNER HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IS CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE RECALL ARE UNAVAILABLE. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFTGATE LATCH. SHE THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED. RECENTLY WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, THE BACK WINDOW LITERALLY CAME OFF. SHE WAS AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. NHTSA'S RECALL #04V442000. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS SUCH A RECALL. *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THE REAR GLASS HATCH HAS A RECALL. RECALL # 04S20 WE FIRST BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO HAWKINSON FORD'S ATTENTION SEPT 2004. IN OCT 2004 WE RECEIVED A NOTICE AND WERE TOLD THE HINGE HAD TO BE REDESIGNED AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. JAN 11, 2005 WE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE TO THE HINGES. THE NEXT DAY THE VERY FIRST TIME THE HATCH WAS OPENED BOTH HINGES MOVED I DROVE RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE TO PAUL'S THE ASSISTANT MANAGER AND SHOWED HIM THIS PROBLEM, HE WAS AMAZED. WE SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED. MY CONCERN IF THIS IS THEIR NEW DESIGN, WOW IT LASTED 1 OPENING AND NOW I HAVE MOISTURE IN MY EXPLORER BECAUSE THE WINDOW DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. I CAN ONLY USED THE LIFT GATE AND HAVE TO WORRY IF I DRIVE COULD BUMPS CAUSE THE WINDOW TO FALL OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE SUBJECT IN REGARDS TO MY OPTIONS." *NM

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE LIFTGATE BRACKET REPAIRED SINCE NO PARTS WERE DELIVERED TO THE DEALER SINCE RECEIPT OF NHTSA RECALL 04V442000. *AK....CONSUMER WAS ADVISED NOT TO USE TAILGATE WINDOW. HOWEVER THE REMOTE OPERATED WINDOW WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TO WAIT FOUR MONTHS FOR REPAIRS WAS RADICULOUS. *AK

THE RIGHT HINGES ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BODY AND THE LIFTGATE BROKE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE PART SINCE SEPTEMBER, AND NO PART WAS AVAILABLE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LIFTGATE MAY FALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES TO SOMEONE WHEN OPENED.*AK

WHILE AT A STOP, THE FRAME SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW TO SHATTER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFIED. BACK PORTION OF THE DOOR SEPARATED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. *TC

CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS REPAIR SINCE OCTOBER. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS HAVE NOT COME IN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND RELEASING FOOT OFF IT VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN *TC

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR HINGES ON REAR WINDOW OF HATCH AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPEN UNTIL HINGES WERE REPLACED, WHICH WE DID NOT. NOTICED THE FIBER GLASS UNDER THE WINDOW CRACKED FROM THE WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF WHERE WINDOW LIFTS. TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND SERVICE WRITER SAID THE FIBER GLASS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BUT HE FELT THE CRACK WAS A RESULT OF HINGE FAILURE. HE OPENED THE REAR WINDOW ON THE HATCH AND WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE IT. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE HINGES BEFORE WE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE WRITER HAS SENT A REQUEST FOR FORD TO REPAIR THE FIBER GLASS UNDER THE GLASS BUT DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL. I AM CONVINCED THIS DAMAGE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HINGE AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER HEARD A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING DRIVEN, THEN SUDDENLY THE LIFTGATE OPENED BY ITSELF. *JB *AK

ON DECEMBER, 11, 2004, MY 10 YEAR OLD SON WENT TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER. ON TRYING TO CLOSE THE HATCH, THE LEFT HINGE HOLDING THE GLASS PART BROKE, DROPPING THE GLASS BUT HELD ONTO BY MY SON. ON TRYING TO PLACE THE GLASS IN A SECURE POSITION TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME, THE GLASS EXPLODED AND LACERATED MY OLDER SON'S EYE WHO WAS HELPING TO TRY AND CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE TEAR TO HIS UPPER EYELID WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A HOSPITAL VISIT AND 7 STITCHES. FORD IS NOW GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THAT I WOULD NOT EXPECT ESPECIALLY SINCE MY COMPLAINT IS BASED ON A FAULTY HINGE (RECALLED BUT IN SUPPLY LIMBO), BROKEN GLASS AND AN INJURY TO A MINOR. ALL I WANTED WAS THE CAR TO BE FIXED AND SECURE A LONER CAR. UNBELIEVEABLE THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

RCALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS: CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THIS RECALL HONORED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS WAITING THREE MONTHS FOR RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING LIFTGATE PARTS TO COME IN. HE CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE REPAIR PARTS TO COME IN FOR RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS FOR FOUR MONTHS. WAS TOLD THE PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LATE NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT HERE, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04007,NHTSA RECALL 04V129000 CONCERNING TAILGATE CABLES. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK. WINDOW PART OF TAILGATE COULD FALL DOWN AN DHURT CONSUMER IF HE WA SUSIN GIT TO LOAD GROCERIES. CONSUMER SUFFERS FROM ARTHRITIS IN HANDS AND FINGERS, AND USES THS WINDOW CONSTANTLY SINCE THE WHOLE TAILGATE IS TOO HEAVY TO CLOSE. WARNING INDICATED NOT TO USE THE WINDOW. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04007, NHTSA RECALL 04V129000 CONCERNING TAILGATE CABLES. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD, MOON ROOF AND HEADLINER WERE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THE OWNER HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. OWNER IS ASKING FOR A NEW VEHICLE. *JB *SC

THE LIFTGATE WINDOW WOULD OPEN WHEN NO ONE WAS NEAR IT AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE LIFTGATE RECALL AND HOPES THAT THE REPAIR WILL ALSO REPAIR THE WINDOW. *NM CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V442000 *TC

THE GLASS BLEW OUT OF THE BACK REAR TRUNK WINDOW. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE MANUFACTURE STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. *JB

THE LIFT GATE SHEARED OFF THE HINGES WHILE PRESSING THE REMOTE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE OPENING THE TAILGATE WINDOW, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HINGES BROKE. *AK PE04045.PCO THE BACK WINDOW WAS HANGING BY THE PISTONS. WHEN POPPING UP THE WINDOW USING THE BUTTON IT DID NOT GO UP AUTOMATICALLY. THE TAILGATE WINDOW DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY.*MR *JB

2003 FORD EXPLORER...WHEN OPENING GLASS PORTION OF HATCHBACK, THE RIGHT HINGE FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL ON MY WIFE'S HEAD, GIVING HER A CONCUSSION. AR HAS 38000 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. HINGE FAILURE DUE TO BOLT SHEARING OFF AT WINDOW. GOING TO GET IT LOOKED AT TOMORROW. *AK PE04045.PCO

THE LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED WHEN CONSUMER'S SON WAS CLOSING THE LIFTGATE. THE GLASS LANDED IN CONSUMER'S SON HAIR AND FACE. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #10004078 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THIS IS A MY2002 VEHICLE AND NOT MY2003 PER CONSUMER_081704.PCO PE04045.PCO

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE PARKED REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED. *AK

IF THE REMOVABLE LIFTGATE HAS ANY PRESSURE ON THE BOTTOM, IT WILL RELEASE. WHEN IT RELEASES, IT IS HEAVY ENOUGH TO CAUSE HARM OR INJURY TO A PERSON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURED ON OCT. 14, 2003. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I WAS BROADSIDED BY A TOYOTA CAMRY GOING ABOUT 20 -30 MILES AN HOUR. MY EXPLORER TIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE. I WAS TERRIFIED IT WOULD ROLL-OVER (UPSIDE-DOWN) I HAD NO IDEA HOW EASY IT WAS TO TIP MY VEHICLE OVER. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA CONCERNING FORD EXPLORERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I CAN DO? I'M NEVER GETTING INTO THAT VEHICLE AGAIN BUT I OWE $22,000. NOW TRADE IN VALUE IS MAYBE $16,000. THE CAR IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AND WILL BE COVERED BY THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE.

PLASTIC UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE (REAR HATCH) CRACKED WHEN CLOSING IN COLD WEATHER. THE TWO CRACKS WERE OVER 6 INCHES LONG. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THE FRAME CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WE BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER XLT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 11TH. THAT LATE NIGHT AFTER BRINGING THE XLT EXPLORER HOME WE PRESSED THE BLUE LIFTGATE BUTTON FOR LIFTGATE. THE GLASS WENT UP BY ITSELF AND THE SHOCK ROD DISCONNECTED FROM THE BALL BEARING SLAMMING BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE SOME COULD SERIOUSLY GET HURT INCLUDING CHILDREN WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THAT GLASS COMES DOWN. I CONTACTED FORD AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED A MERRY GO ROUND AND NO SUITABLE ANSWERS. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE GOTTEN IT CHECKED OUT... WITH NO SUITABLE ANSWERS EXCEPT IT WAS FACTORY RELATED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. WE DO NOT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OR SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORWARD TO ALL OTHER REGULATORY AND SAFETY AGENCIES FEDERAL/ STATE/LOCAL SO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS DONE. *LA FACTORY MIS-INSTALLATION OF STRUTS CAUSING LIFT CYLINDER DETACHMENT AT FIRST USE.PCO

WHILE DRIVING HOOD FLEW UP WHICH IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 40 MINUTES WHEN THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW EXPLODED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

I JUST BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR TO TOW MY BOAT. THE SPECS FOR TOWING PROVIDED BY FORD ARE 5100 LBS. MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT, 350 LBS. MAX TONGUE WEIGHT. MY BOAT & TRAILER IS 3200 LBS AND TONGUE WEIGHT 280 LBS., WELL WITHIN SPECS. MY FIRST TRIP TRAILERING 20 MILES TO THE LAKE THE VEHICLE THEN TRAILER SWERVED, SINCE THE WEIGHT PUSHES THE REAR DOWN & FRONT END UP SO THAT LITTLE WEIGHT REMAINS ON THE FRONT TO CONTROL STEERING. THE FORD ENGINEER CONSULTED SAID "IF HE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER TO TRAILER WHY DIDN'T HE BUY THE 4 DOOR" (IMPLYING IT HAS A LONGER WHEEL BASE & IS MORE STABLE. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR & SHOP FOREMAN AT THE DEALER AGREED THAT THE FRONT END IS TOO HIGH TO BE SAFE BUT FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT. NLM

PLASTIC UNDER (ATTACHED TO) REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED IN COLD WEATHER. CRACK WAS ~10 INCHES LONG. ENTIRE LIFTGATE NEEDS REPLACING.