NHTSA Complaint #10399208 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE REMOVING GROCERY BAGS FROM THE REAR OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT, THE LEFT LIFTGATE HINGE SNAPPED AND THE WINDOW HALF OF THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR CAME APART LEAVING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DOOR STILL ATTACHED TO THE HYDRAULIC LIFTGATE BAR BUT OTHERWISE DANGLING AND UNSUPPORTED. THEN I COULD NOT SHUT THE DOOR SO WE PROPPED IT WITH PILLOWS TO EASE THE STRESS ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFTGATE HYDRAULIC BAR COLLAPSING ON MY PRIOR FORD EXPLORER BUT THOSE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THIS MORNING FORD DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY PRESENT VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON PRIOR RECALLS INVOLVING THE SAME LIFTGATE APPARATUS FAILURE THAT OCCURRED TO MY 2004 MODEL. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME FOR TOWING TO BRING MY SUV FOR REPAIR THERE. MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT IS LESS THAN ONE MILE AWAY IS COMING TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND REPAIR IT. I THINK FORD HAS STILL NOT RESOLVE THESE LIFTGATE APPARATUS PROBLEMS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF BEING ON NOTICE OF THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEM AND EVEN HAVING PRIOR RECALLS FOR 2002-03 EXPLORERS!! I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED HAD THE DOOR COLLAPSED ON ME. IT ALSO COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER AND MY LIFTGATE GLASS DOOR FULLY BREAKS AWAY FROM THE CAR, IT WILL RESULT IN BODY DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. *TR