NHTSA Complaint #10297998 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I OPENED THE LIFTGATE GLASS TO MY FORD EXPLORER IN ORDER TO LOAD GROCERIES INTO THE BACK. THE GLASS CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AND I PUSHED IT BACK UP OFF OF ME WHEN IT EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE MOLDING CAME DOWN ONTO MY HEAD AND MY BACK (I WAS STILL LEANING INTO THE CAR). BECAUSE IT WAS VERY COLD OUT, I WAS WEARING A HEAVY COAT WITH A HAT AND THE HOOD PULLED UP ONTO MY HEAD, SO THIS CUSHIONED THE IMPACT ONTO MY BACK AND HEAD. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK, BUT THE LAST ONE WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LIFTGATES SHOULD JUST BE FALLING OFF OF CARS OR EXPLODING, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD. *TR