NHTSA Complaint #10587611 — 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

INFO COPIED FROM WEBSITE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS UNLOADING MY CAR IN MY GARAGE. THE BEST WE CAN TELL IS THAT THE RIGHT STRUT/ARM SEIZED AND THE HINGE PINS BROKE, CAUSING THE HATCH TO FALL OFF. WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE SHOP YET. IT WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. ********* NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : RQ08003NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): MERCURY / MOUNTAINEER 2004 MANUFACTURER(S) : FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT(S) : STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR SUMMARY: THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 23, 2008, BASED ON 34 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING EIGHT INJURIES IN WHICH THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH ON MODEL YEAR 2004 FORD EXPLORERS OR MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS BROKE OFF AND FELL, USUALLY WHILE INDIVIDUALS WERE OPERATING THE GLASS HATCH OR LOADING OR UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CONDUCTED RECALL 04V-442 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 2002 AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. THE INFORMATION FORD PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT FAILURES WITH 2004 VEHICLES WERE PRIMARILY LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH HINGE FAILURES RELATED TO CORROSION AT THE HINGE PIN, WHEREAS THE FAILURES THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL WITH THE EARLIER MODELS WERE PRIMARILY RELATED TO PROBLEMS WITH THE GLASS HATCH'S STRUTS OR FRACTURE OF A PRIOR HINGE DESIGN AT THE BOSS/BOLT CONNECTION AT THE GLASS. ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2004 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THESE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THOSE FOR THE RECALLED POPULATION. A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NECESSARY. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. *TR