NHTSA Complaint #10216151 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN THE SAME YEAR. LAST YEAR MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND NARROW IN WIDTH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERS BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER " THAT I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN ALL OF FORDS SUV'S INCLUDING THE LINCOLN AND MERCURY MODELS. IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND ONE THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL". HE GAVE ME A ESTIMATE OF $350 AND ADVISED THAT I GO TO THE DEALER AND TALK TO SOMEONE THERE. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WERE 2 REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR FOR ME. THE 1ST IS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE 2ND WAS THAT I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM, I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A DEMO FROM ANOTHER DEALER. I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER TO CONTACT FORD WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE REGIONAL REP FROM FORD CONTACT ME WHENEVER HE WAS IN TOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME THEN HE WOULD FIX THE CAR FOR HALF PRICE THE COST. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALER SAID, THIS IS A FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF AND WILL NOT RECALL. MY CAR NOW HAS 3 CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE AND I LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. WE ARE DESPERATELY SEEKING HELP FROM SOMEBODY IN HOLDING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THANK YOU! *TR