NHTSA Complaint #10197513 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

THE PLASTIC TRIM PANEL ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER XLS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, WITH NO PROVOCATION. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER SERVICE REP SAID THEY HAD REPAIRED "DOZENS OF THEM", AFTER HE TOLD ME FORD WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. THE CRACK EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS NOTICEABLY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGES, AND I BELIEVE THE COMPOSITE IS NOT PROPERLY FORMULATED RESULTING IN INSTABILITY OF THE MATERIAL DURING TEMPERATURE CHANGES. CLEARLY, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR WHICH FORD SHOULD PROVIDE A REMEDY. MY EXPLORER STILL LOOKS GREAT, AND THIS IS THE ONLY BLEMISH. AT THE QUOTED COST OF OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HATCH ASSEMBLY (THE ONLY OPTION OFFERED), I WILL LIVE WITH THE ANNOYING CRACK AND TELL EVERYONE I SEE ABOUT FORD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO HELP. *JB