NHTSA Complaint #10334287 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

ON FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010 MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND LANDED IN HIS HANDS. IT DID NOT SHATTER BECAUSE HE WAS HOLDING ONTO IT. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT HINGE THAT CONNECTS THE LIFTGATE TO THE VEHICLE HAD SNAPPED. THE LIFTGATE IS CURRENTLY HANGING ON THE RIGHT HINGE AS WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES AT THIS TIME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME PART WAS OPENED IN JUNE 23, 2004 AND CLOSED ON OCTOBER 24, 2008. ALTHOUGH ON PAGE 12 OF THE RESPONSE TO NHTSA FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADMITS THAT THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY "THE USE OF NON-OPTIMAL COATING ON THE STEEL PIN THAT JOINS THE TWO ZINC DIE-CAST SECTIONS OF THE HINGE", THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COVERING THE REPAIRS BECAUSE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I URGE YOU TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEY CAN REPORT THEM TO THIS AGENCY. *TR