NHTSA Complaint #10261433 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH FIBERGLASS & ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. BELOW THE REAR WINDOW A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE FIBERGLASS AFTER CLOSING THE WINDOW DURING COLD WEATHER. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, I BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BODY SHOP OWNERS ARE INFORMING THEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THAT MODEL. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY FORD. MY DEALER HAS SAID FORD HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED? IN ADDITION, THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS NOW SHOWING BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT, AND THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF THE HOOD. IT IS APPARENT FORD HAS EITHER HAD SOME DEFECTIVE PAINT DELIVERED TO THEIR PLANTS, OR THEIR IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT ALONG WITH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE OWNER, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE PROBLEM SOURCE. AFTER REVIEW BY FORD'S ZONE MANAGER HE CONCLUDED FORD HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH FORD DENYING ITS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=489142&PAGE=2 HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T489142.HTML HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/FORD_EXPLORER_CRACKED_PAINT.HTM HTTP://CBS5.COM/CONSUMER/FORD.PEELING.PAINT.2.755918.HTML HOW CAN FORD ISSUE 'SERVICE BULLETINS' ON THESE ISSUES, BUT FAIL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS? IT IS THEREFORE QUITE OBVIOUS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT FAILING TO ADDRESS THEM SATISFACTORILY. THEY THEN LEAVE THE DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM OF INFORMING THE CUSTOMER OF THEIR DECISION AND TAKING ALL THE 'HEAT' FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR