NHTSA Complaint #10104152 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

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