NHTSA Complaint #10078762 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE CRACKED. I NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THIS ITEM. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, AND THAT I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE PLASTIC TO CRACK. THEY WERE VERY UNSYMPATHETIC TO MY NEEDS. THIS IS A TWO YEAR-OLD CAR, AND I FEEL THAT IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM, BY BACK WINDOW WILL NOT BE SECURE, THEREFORE CAUSING YET ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF EXPLORER'S COME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS CRACK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE OR ABUSE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME, AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL.*AK