NHTSA Complaint #10082926 — 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

THIS WAS AT MIDNIGHT, FRIDAY THE 23RD OF JULY. AFTER I WENT INSIDE MY RESIDENCE, I LOOK OUTSIDE THE WINDOW TO SEE IF THE MIRROR LIGHTS WERE OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF 15-20 MINUTES, THE LIGHTS DIMMED OFF. AT 3 AM, I WENT OUT AGAIN TO THE CAR, TO RUN AN ERRAND, AND USING THE KEYFOB UNLOCK THE DOORS, AND GOT IN MY CAR. STARTING THE IGNITION, THE DOOR AJAR MESSAGE APPEARRED ON THE CONSOLE. ALSO I NOTICE THE DOME LIGHT WAS ON. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE IN PARK, I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND TO OPEN/CLOSE THE OTHER THREE DOORS, NOT THE GATE. BEING SATISFIED THAT THE OTHER DOORS WERE CLOSE, WENT BACK TO THE DRIVER SIDE GOT IN AND CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING WAS STILL LIT, AS WELL AS, THE DOME LIGHT. THINKING THAT A SHORT HAD OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, IT WAS MINIMAL. AFTER PULLING OFF AND GOING A DISTANCE OF 50 FEET IN THE COMPLEX RESIDENCE, I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE DOORS ONCE MORE, THIS TIME INCLUDING THE LIFTGATE. I UNLATCH THE LIFTGATE AND PULLED DOWN TO CLOSE IT. I NOTICE THE LEFT LIFTGEAR ARM JUTTING OUT BENEATH THE WINDOW. I NEVER REALIZED THAT THE LIFTGLASS ASSEMBLY IS SEPARTE FROM THE GATE. I PULLED THE LIFTGLASS UP AND SAW THAT THE LEFT LIFTARM WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET AS WAS THE RIGHT LIFTARM. I TRIED TO DETERMINE IF THE ARM HAD BROKEN OFF THE BRACKET, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATION OR SIGNS(SHEARED OR JAGGED EDGES, ONLY MINIMAL RUSTING) OF THIS HAPPENING. I CHECKED THE RIGHT LIFTARM ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF IT WAS ATTACHED TO ITS BRACKET, AND IT WAS. I PULLED THE GLASS DOWN, TO SHUT IT CLOSE. AT THIS POINT THE GLASS SHATTERED/EXPLODED, WITH THE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC HOSE KEEPING THE GATE ASSEMBLY FROM FALLING OUT COMPLETELY. I TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY DEARLERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY JULY 26, TO HAVE THEM TO ORDER THE FULL LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK