NHTSA Complaint #10463506 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

RIGHT REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING HEAVY (APPRX 40 LB) GLASS LIFTGATE GLASS PANEL TO FALL ON A PERSON CAUSING MINOR INJURY. APPEARS 02/03 MODELS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE (DESPITE FORD'S RESPONSE ON THE FIRST INVESTIGATION OF THIS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE AS 02/03). THE HINGE PART IS INADEQUATE TO HOLD THE HEAVY GLASS PANEL IN PLACE OVER TIME WITH USE. SINCE THE BACK GLASS IS A HEAVY SLAB OF UNFRAMED, TEMPERED GLASS IT COULD "EXPLODE" IF IT FALLS POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS TO TRAILING VEHICLES. FORD APPARENTLY DOES A GOOD BUSINESS IN SELLING THESE REPLACEMENT HINGES AT A COST OF OVER $100 EACH FOR A SMALL PIECE OF WEAK CAST METAL. FORTY POUND SLABS OF GLASS FALLING OFF OF VEHICLES WITH NO PRIOR WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE! RESEARCH INDICATED MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR