NHTSA Complaint #10195415 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR. ON JULY 5, 2007 WHILE CLOSING THE WINDOW PORTION OF THE BACK HATCH THE GLASS CAME LOOSE FROM THE HINGES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GULLO-HASS FORD IN CONROE TEXAS TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE HINGES AND BACK WINDOW SECTION WERE THE SUBJECT OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT WAS APPARENT THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BACK HATCH WINDOW AND THE HINGES, SINCE ,IT SENT OUT A TSB ADVISING ITS SERVICE PERSONNEL ON THE BEST WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THE TSB WAS ISSUED ON 1/1/05. FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIX IT WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD FAILED TO ADVISE ME AS AN OWNER THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WINDOW HATCH AREA. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE GLASS HAD BEEN OPEN AND I WAS STANDING UNDER THE GLASS WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING MY VEHICLE, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT BY THE FALLING GLASS OR KILLED AS WELL AS ANY OTHER PERSON STANDING NEXT TO ME OR A CHILD NEXT TO ME. FORD ADVISED ME THAT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO ADVISE VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM.