NHTSA Complaint #10252129 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2004 EXPLORER AND A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE BACK HATCHBACK. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO ASK FOR A ESTIMATE AND WHEN I TOLD THE SERVICE ATTENDANT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HE STATED THAT THE COLD WEATHER CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRACK AND HE SAID THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 75% OF THE EXPLORERS. I ASKED IS IT THE EXPLORERS ONLY AND HE SAID "YES." MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THEREFORE THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IT COST $350.00 AND WHEN I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID" WE DEAL WITH THOSE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS" WHICH TO ME MEANT IF YOU STILL HAVE A WARRANTY THEN YOU ARE COVERED. THEY DIDN'T DO A RECALL BECAUSE IF IT IS NOT BROKEN THEN DON'T FIX IT. UNFORTUNATELY THIS CRACK OCCURRED AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF IT WAS DUE TO NEGLIGENCE ON MY BEHALF OR SOMETHING THAT I DID TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED EVEN WITH EVERYDAY WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE. COULD YOU PLEASE ASSIST ME IN ATTEMPTING TO GET THE FORD COMPANY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE? I AM CONCERNED WITH THE CRACK AND MOISTURE OR WATER GETTING INSIDE AND POSSIBLY CREATING ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS TO THE VEHICLE. *TR