NHTSA Complaint #10595637 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10595637
Vehicle	2002 FORD EXPLORER
Component	STRUCTURE:BODY
Date of Incident	May 17, 2014
Date Filed	June 2, 2014
Mileage	130,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	CA

Consumer Description

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FORD EXPLORER FROM THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS PART OF THE HATCH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE REAR GLASS WINDOW THAT LIFTS OPEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WILL BE RECALLED EVENTUALLY SO I SHOULD KEEP CHECKING BACK. THE RECALL NEVER HAPPENED AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS THE CRACK GOT LARGER LETTING MOISTURE IN AND RUSTING. MEANWHILE I WAS NOTICING THE MAJORITY OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THAT YEAR HAD THE SAME CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH IN THE SAME PLACE! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SIMPLY OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE GLASS WINDOW BUCKLED AND SHATTERED WITH AN EXPLODING SOUND SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE! THE PIECE WITH THE CRACK LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. THANKFULLY NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT IF MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR OR MY FACE WAS ANY CLOSER IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I TRULY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR HATCHES IN THESE MODELS TO PREVENT INJURIES. *TR

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