NHTSA Complaint #10183652 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE FIBERGLASS PANEL ON THE BACK HATCH OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED FROM THE GLASS STRAIGHT DOWN APPARENTLY DUE TO COLD WEATHER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT FOR SOME REASON THIS HAD HAPPENED A LOT THIS WINTER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TAKEN CARE OF OR AT LEAST A 50/50 SPLIT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE MANAGER TOLD ME BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MY VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF THE FORD EXPLORERS THAT HAVE THE 2 PIECE FIBERGLASS PANELS ARE CRACKED ALSO THAT ARE DRIVING AROUND. CAN FORD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? I HAVE NO OTHER DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. BUT THIS IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND YOU CAN BET WHEN I GO TO TRADE IT IN FORD WILL DISCOUNT FOR THIS DEFECT. *JB