NHTSA Complaint #10217809 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I DRIVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER MODEL, 4 DOOR. THE ARMS (4) WHICH HOLD BOTH THE BACK DOOR UP WHEN OPEN AND THE BACK GLASS UP WHEN OPEN DO NOT RAISE UP FULLY. I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY BUMPING MY HEAD ON EITHER THE DOOR OR THE GLASS. LAST NIGHT AFTER A BASEBALL PRACTICE FOR MY 10-YEAR OLD SON I POPPED OPEN THE BACK GLASS TO PUT HIS BASEBALL BAG IN THE CAR. THE GLASS WENT UP PART WAY AND UNTHINKINGLY I HIT MY HEAD ON THE GLASS. I PUSHED THE GLASS UP SO I COULD PLACE THE BAG IN THE VEHICLE AND THE GLASS PANE EXPLODED. IT SHOWERED GLASS SHRAPNEL OVER THE TWO OF US. WE WERE BOTH SHOCKED THAT THE GLASS WINDOW WOULD JUST CATASTROPHICALLY EXPLODE. WE ARE VERY LUCKY WE WERE NOT INJURED. I FEEL THAT THIS ACCIDENT IS A PUBLIC HAZARD. I WILL AVOID A POOR DESIGN LIKE THIS WHEN LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO PAYTON WRIGHT FORD IN GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, THE SERVICE ADVISER SHRUGGED IT OFF AND STATED YES I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN, LIKE IT WAS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. I WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THAT FORD WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR