NHTSA Complaint #10748372 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

WITH JUST OVER 37,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD WAS BUBBLING AND FLAKING OFF. IT HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN OCCURRING LONG BEFORE I FIRST NOTICED IT. I BROUGHT IT TO MY FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THOSE VEHICLES BECAUSE THE HOOD IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND VIBRATION FROM DRIVING CAUSES THE PAINT TO FRACTURE WHICH RESULTS IN THIS PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN THERE WHEN IT STILL FELL UNDER THAT WARRANTY. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL SITES WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FROM 2013 AND 2014 EXPLORER OWNERS WHO WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. (A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE SITES I SAW ARE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, EDMUNDS.COM, AND RV.NET. A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL PROVIDE MANY MORE). I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY AND SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE THERE. THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL WAS GOING TO BE ISSUED, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE REGARDING MY SPECIFIC PROBLEM. AFTER COMPLAINING PROFUSELY AND HAVING MY ISSUE ELEVATED TO A REGIONAL MANAGER, FORD AGREED TO PARTIALLY PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, I (ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM) FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED FULLY BY FORD. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE A "SAFETY" ISSUE, I AM HOPING THAT THIS COMPLAINT WILL AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE FROM YOUR AGENCY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER TO SEE IF FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AFTER ALL, A VEHICLE THAT IS ONE TO TWO YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE DETERIORATING IN THIS MANNER. ANY HELP OR INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU! *TR