NHTSA Complaint #10224845 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE PAINT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS PEELING OFF THE PANELS BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AFTER 3 YEARS (AND IT'S PRIMARILY PARKED IN MY GARAGE). AFTER CONTACTING FORD AND APPEALING TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR ASSISTANCE, I DECIDED I COULD LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS COSMETIC FLAW EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERS ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, ON DEC 26, 2007, I WENT OUT TO MY CAR IN THE MORNING WHILE OUT OF TOWN,AND NOTICED A THREE INCH CRACK IN THE BODY OF THE REAR HATCH, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD LOGO. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF BEING CLOSED TOO HARD OR ANY OTHER LOGICAL CAUSE. IT JUST CRACKED ON ITS OWN. I CALLED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE. I COMPLIED WITH THIS REQUEST AND TOOK IT IN. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT AT ONE TIME, THERE HAD BEEN FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT NOT ANYMORE. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. SO FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT SINCE I TOOK CARE OF MY VEHICLE BY PARKING IT OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, IT DID NOT MANIFEST UNTIL THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRACKED PLASTIC IS A BIT SHARP AND I DO NOT WISH TO CUT MY HAND WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. *TR