NHTSA Complaint #10250359 — 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

THE FAILURE IS FOR A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND THE FAILURE IS A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT OCCURS RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE MERCURY EMBLEM OR LOGO ON THE BACK OF THE TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE. THIS CRACK HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON ONLINE FORUMS AND TO ME SEEMS LIKE A DEFICIENCY IN THE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THE LIFT GATE OR TAILGATE. (I.E. - THE LOGO IS SO BIG AND THE MATERIAL AROUND THE LOGO EMBLEM SO THIN THAT IT CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE) I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT TYPE OF PROBLEM, YET MERCURY HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE MOUNTAINEER. THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE INCURRED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM HAVE BEEN AROUND THE SAME YEARS (2004-2006 MODELS - OR AT LEAST THE VEHICLES THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM OCCUR IN.) 1. THE EVENTS THAT HAVE LED UP TO THIS FAILURE INCLUDES: MERCURY AND FORD ARE SOLELY TO BLAME FOR PRODUCING A FAULTY TAILGATE OR LIFT GATE ON THESE VEHICLES AND SHOULD RECALL THEM. THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE ALONG WITH AVERAGE USAGE OF SHUTTING OR CLOSING THE TAILGATE WOULD CAUSE A VIBRATION TO PROMOTE THE TAILGATE TO CRACK. I NOTICED MY FAILURE OR CRACK IN MID-AUGUST OF 2008, I'VE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE 2004 BUT IT HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL OF THOSE YEARS EXCEPT FOR LAST YEAR, WHICH COULD EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR (CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE MORE SEVERE). 2. I HAVE NOTED HOW THE FAILURE OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE A CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS AESTHETICALLY NON-APPEALING, AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A LARGER CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE THAT COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS CRACK (WHICH IS NOT MINOR, 3 - 5 INCHES USUALLY) COULD ALSO REDUCE OR LEAD TO COMPROMISING THE VEHICLES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND REDUCE CRASH TEST RATINGS. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY. 3. I PERSONALLY SPENT OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AND MERCURY SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR