NHTSA Complaint #10217910 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE GOING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE HATCH DOOR FROM JUST BELOW THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE NEXT PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH DOOR, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT HINGE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS IS COMING LOOSE. I AM UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE REAR CARGO AREA OF MY VEHICLE NOW FOR FEAR THAT THE LEFT HINGE WILL BREAK OFF RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE DOOR COMING OFF THE VEHICLE AND FALLING OR DROPPING ONTO ME OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN, CAUSING SEVERE PERSONAL INJURIES. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BECAUSE AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WITH HAVING FORD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND THE GOVERNMENT THUS FAR REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL, MY HANDS ARE TIED. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BURNED BY FORD ON OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO THIS VEHICLE, I.E., THE ABS MODULE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. *TR