NHTSA Complaint #10192655 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. ONE MORNING IN MID-MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I OBSERVED A CRACK IN THE PLATIC PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW ON THE TAILGATE. MY WIFE AND I KNEW WE HAD NOT HAD ANY TYPE OF IMPACT IN THAT AREA THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PANEL TO CRACK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT IT. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD AND HAVE JUST OVER 30K MILES ON IT, THE CRACKED PANEL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS AND IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY THE PANEL WAS ATTACHED. I HAD THE CRACK REPAIRED - COST OVER $400. I SENT A LETTER TO THE FORD CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER IN DETROIT WITH PICTURES AND COPIES OF THE REPAIR INVOICE ASKING THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR COST. AFTER 30 DAYS, I HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM. SO I SENT COPIES OF THE LETTER BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER AND TO THE CEO OF FORD. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THIS WAS A FORD PROBLEM, NOT A DEALERSHIP PROBLEM, SO THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION. I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FORD CUSTOMER RESPONSE CENTER, AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD ACCEPT A 50% REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. I AGREED ONLY TO FIND OUT THE NEXT DAY FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY COULD BE SO UNETHICAL TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT THAT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT A DESIGN FLAW. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ANY OWNER OF A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHO HAS THIS CRACKED PANEL REPAIRED. I ALSO THINK A CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST FORD SEEKING COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR FAILING TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR AND ACTING UNETHICALLY BY TRYING TO PLACE SOME OF THE BLAME ON THE OWNERS BY TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT FOR A FLAW THAT IS CLEARLY THEIR OWN FAULT.