NHTSA Complaint #10070384 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

ON MAY 8, I WAS PLACING SOME ITEMS IN THE REAR OF MY 2002 EXPLORER THROUGH THE HATCHBACK (THE GLASS PART, NOT THE ENTIRE REAR DOOR). I HEARD A POP WHEN THE GLASS RAISED UP. SINCE IT WAS DARK AND I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT NOISE WAS, I SLOWLY STARTED TO CLOSE THE GLASS WHEN IT EXPLODED. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE RIGHT PNEUMATIC SHOCK MOUNT HAD BROKEN OFF THE GLASS AS IT LIFTED. THE GLASS MUST HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY A PORTION OF THAT SHOCK MOUNT IN THE PATH DURING CLOSING. LUCKILY, I ONLY RECEIVED A CUT ON MY HAND AS GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE; IN MY SHOES, HAIR, PURSE, ETC. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT MY THREE-YEAR-OLD WAS NOT WITH ME, AS SHE NORMALLY WOULD BE STANDING BY MY SIDE IN THAT SITUATION. I CAN ONLY IMAGING WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, ANTICIPATING THE WORST, BUT THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THEY CLAIMED THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING, BUT THEY WERE VERY QUICK TO GIVE HIM A LOANER AND GET HIM OUT OF THERE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2002. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS. PE04045_PCO