NHTSA Complaint #10578125 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

THIS HAPPENED TO OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER (EDDIE BAUER EDITION, V8 4WD). THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL TRAUMA. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE FREEZING (LOW 40S) AND IT WAS NOT IN THE SUN. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE GLASS WAS SCATTERED ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY - 10+ FEET AWAY. THE REST OF THE GLASS WAS IN THE BACK OF THE SUV. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS AROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED - AND WE WERE NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY TO A BYSTANDER - OR AN ACCIDENT AS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WOULD ALARM THE DRIVER. I WILL BE CLEANING GLASS BITS FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND BACK OF THE SUV FOR A LONG TIME TO COME! AT LEAST IT IS NOT TOO WARM OUT SO NO IS TEMPTED TO WALK BAREFOOT ON THE DRIVE. *TR