NHTSA Complaint #10182040 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I WALKED AROUND THE BACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TODAY TO FIND THE PANEL DIRECTLY BELOW MY REAR WINDOW WAS SEVERELY CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. I HAD A MINOR CRACK WHICH I REPAIRED ON MY OWN BEFORE. IN NEITHER INSTANCE DID I HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES TO CAUSE THE CRACKS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND CONTACTING A FEW FORD DEALERSHIPS, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE PHANTOM SPLITTING OF A BODY PANEL ON A MODERN VEHICLE IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. MY VEHICLE'S SAFETY IS NOW IN QUESTION; I AM CONCERNED THAT THE HATCH-BACK GLASS IS NOW NOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED DUE TO THE MULTIPLE CRACKS BELOW IT. PLEASE, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL 2002 EXPLORER DRIVERS AND THE TRAVELERS BEHIND THEM ON THE ROAD, SEE TO IT THAT THIS DEFECT IS REMEDIED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY WITH A PRODUCT RECALL. *JB