NHTSA Complaint #10092977 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE OPENING MY REAR HATCH WINDOW OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE DRIVER-SIDE HINGE (STRUT.PCO) WHICH LIFTS THE WINDOW CAME OFF, DECOMPRESSING HARD ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY SHATTER THE WINDOW ABOVE ME. I HAD SEVERAL CUTS TO MY NECK, ARMS AND HEAD BUT NOTHING LIFE THREATENING. I WENT TO FORD ABOUT THIS AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE I AM BEYOND THE 36K FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIRS FOR ME. I ASKED ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I PAID $2000 FOR AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS. I HAD TO PAY MY $500 INSURANCE DEDUCTABLE TO COVER THE REPAIRS AT MY LOSS. SINCE JUNE, I HAVE SEARCHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FIND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WHICH NOT ONLY HAD THE SAME OUTCOME, BUT THE SAME SORT OF FREAK ACCIDENT. WHY DOES FORD NOT VALUE SAFETY? IF MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE STANDING NEXT TO ME AS HE ALWAYS DOES, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK