NHTSA Complaint #10256857 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WHEN I SAW A CRACK ON THE FORD APPLIQUE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE WHO I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER; TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO DENTS, DINGS, ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE SLAMMED THE TRUNK TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I SHOULD HAVE CRACKS IN ALL FOUR DOORS (AND THE HOOD). THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME THE NAME OF A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I SAID, NO, THIS SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. I CONTACTED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID! THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORD TAURUS STATION WAGONS BEFORE THIS EXPLORER, AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM... I PLACED THIS COMPLAINT ON "AUTO BEEF". MY COMPLAINT WAS #304, THERE ARE NOW 315 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID THIS COULD FALL OF WHILE DRIVING. *TR