NHTSA Complaint #10400293 — 2005 FORD EXPLORER

THE FORD EXPLORER FROM THE MID-2000S IS STARTING TO SHOW MULTIPLE DEFECTS. FORD CO. ADVISED OWNERS TO REPORT THESE PROBLEMS THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT FORM BECAUSE AS OF NOW THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RECALL THE DEFECTS. THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW CRACKS VERTICALLY RIGHT NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM. SOME CARS HAVE MULTIPLE CRACKS. THE MAJORITY OF THIS TYPE OF FORD EXPLORER BODY TYPE ARE SHOWING THE CRACK. IT HAPPENS AROUND THE 5 YEAR MARK. I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO FREEZE/THAW HAPPENING AT THE BACK WINDOW, WHICH THEN CRACKS THE BODY. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR JOB AND OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO NOT EVEN BOTHER BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. IT APPEARS ABRUPTLY AND IS DISCONCERTING TO SEE THIS SUDDENLY AND FOR NO PERSONAL REASON HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR DUE TO BAD DESIGN. NEWER EXPLORERS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. THE SECOND DEFECT WHICH IS HAPPENING NOW TO MANY EXPLORER OWNERS AT THE 5 YEAR MARK IS THE FAILURE OF THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE DAMPER FLAP STARTS CLICKING NON-STOP AND THERE IS NO HEAT. AGAIN THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO REPAIR. THESE DEFECTS ARE WIDELY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS IS THE ONLY REAL FORMAL WAY TO DOCUMENT THEM. THE FORD EXPLORER HAS PROVEN TO BE A REAL LEMON, FULL OF DESIGN DEFECTS AND A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT.