NHTSA Complaint #10181533 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE UPPER REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE WAS OPENED TO ACCESS CARGO AND AS SOON AS IT WAS IN THE UP POSITION, THE GLASS EXPLODED SENDING SHARDS OF GLASS WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. HUSBAND WAS SHOWERED WITH GLASS AND JUST MISSED BEING HIT BY THE ATTACHED LOWER PANEL THAT FELL ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IF PASSENGERS WERE SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW SEATS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED IN GLASS. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE A PARENT IS HOLDING A CHILD WHILE RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE BACK, THEY COULD INCUR SERIOUS INJURIES. GLASS SHATTERING OVER YOUR HEAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE DID GO IN FOR THE RECALL SENT OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO REPLACE A BRACKET. OBVIOUSLY, THIS DID NOT DO A THING TO PREVENT THIS WINDOW FROM BREAKING, FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND TRIED TO DO THE CHEAPEST THING POSSIBLE TO FIX IT, INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY. FORD SHOULD BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND ALBEIT MY OPINION, I BELIEVE THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SHOULD BE ON THE HORIZON. WE WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TOMORROW AND FINDING OUT WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT IS ON THE INTERNET ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED BEFORE IT CAUSES A DEATH OR LIFE CHANGING INJURY. *JB