NHTSA Complaint #10445609 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

WAS DRIVING WHEN TILT GATE GLASS AJAR WARNING CAME ON, AT THE SAME TIME HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE. UPON STOPPING NOTICED THE LIFT GATE WAS AJAR WITH AND AWAY FROM THE HATCH BY SEVERAL INCHES. TIED TO CLOSE IT AND IT DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY UPON INSPECTION THE HINGE WAS BROKE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE. MANAGED TO GET THE GLASS SOMEWHAT BACK IN PLACE AND DROVE GINGERLY HOME ALL WHILE THE LIFT GATE AJAR LIGHT WAS ON. THERE IS A LOT OF WHITE RESIDUE PACKED IN PART OF THE HINGE NOT KNOWN IF IT IS ROAD SALT OR NOT AND THE HINGE HAS A CRACK WHERE IT SEPARATED. MY CONCERN IS THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO SALT AND FREEZING AND THAWING, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE HOW LONG BEFORE THE OTHER ONE FAILS... ALSO IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH WINDOWS OPENED COULD IT HAVE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER SCARING THE DRIVER OF OTHER TRAFFIC CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT IT IN CASE THEY WANTED TO SEE IT AND GOT THE NORMAL BASIC REPLY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BASICALLY WE DON'T' CARE AT THIS TIME. *TR