NHTSA Complaint #10250968 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

1. DUE TO A RECALL (FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. ), THE LIFTGATE GLASS OPERATION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN 2005. SINCE EARLY 2007, THE SAME GLASS STRUTS AND HINGES ARE APPARENTLY HAVING PROBLEM -- FIRST IT TOOK EXTRA EFFORT TO RAISE THE GLASS TO THE FULLY OPENING POSITION, THEN WHILE THE GLASS IS LIFTED OPEN, IT UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED DOWN. I GOT HIT 3 TIMES AT MY HEAD OR HANDS BY THE SUDDEN DROPPED GLASS AND FRAME; IT COURSED BLEEDING ON MY HAND ONCE. THIS IS CERTAINLY OF SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I REALLY DOUBT IF THE FORD DEALER (GAINESVILLE FORD IN GAINESVILLE, FL) CORRECTLY PERFORMED THE RECALL JOB IN 2005, AS THEY HAVE A REPUTATION OF LOW STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND TECHNIQUE . BUT, FORD, AS THE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING THE RECALL JOB MEET THE STANDARD. OTHERWISE, WHAT IS POINT OF GOING THROUGH THE RECALL? 2. SINCE JULY OF 2008, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL START HAVING CRACKING UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUTS OR HINGES, THE SAME SYSTEM THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. NONETHELESS, THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, SINCE THE CRACK APPEARING REFLECTS THE LIFTGATE BEING UNSTABLE AND THE GLASS HAVING MUCH HIGHER RISK OF ACCIDENTALLY BREAKING, THEREFORE COURSING INJURY. THIS VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 60 K MILES, HAS BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE. THROUGH SEARCHING INTERNET, I FOUND THIS APPEARS TO BE A QUITE COMMON ISSUE FOR EXPLORER 2002 MODEL. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS KIND SAFETY ISSUE IGNORED BY FORD FOR SO LONG. PLEASE HELP TO GET FORD TO TRULY REALIZE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVE THE MASSIVE AFFECTED PUBLIC JUSTICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR J. JAMES JIA