NHTSA Complaint #10348110 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE OPENED THE REAR GLASS WINDOW LOCATED ON THE LIFT GATE. THE WINDOW WAS OPEN FOR A FEW MOMENTS UNTIL ONE OF THE TWO HINGES BROKE RESULTING IN THE WINDOW HANGING BY ONE HINGE. UPON EXAMINING THE BROKEN HINGE SHE NOTICED THAT THE SCREW HOLDING THE HINGE IN PLACE ALSO BROKE IN HALF. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND WOULD LUNGE FORWARD BEFORE MOVING IN REVERSE. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR. THE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.