NHTSA Complaint #10855549 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2003 FORD EXPLORER SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW IN 2003. IT CURRENTLY HAS 70,009 MILES AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND NOT DRIVEN OFTEN OVER 13 YEARS. WITHIN TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFT GATE UNDER THE GLASS. I TALKED TO TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT ADVISED IT WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT MY FAULT FOR GLIDING THE GLASS TO HARSHLY. I HAD NOT USED THE GLASS OFTEN AND HAD NEVER SLAMMED IT.M SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THE EARLY TO MID 2000S WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. TODAY I WAS BEHIND FOUR DIFFERENT EXPLORERS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND ALL HAD THE SAME CRACK. I CHECKED ONLINE AND REALIZED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WITH SOME DRIVERS STATING THE BACK GLASS BURSTS WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPAIRED IT. ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH THROUGH ONLINE IMAGES TO SEE IT US A HUGE PROBLEM AND A DEFINITE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WITH THE BACK GLASS BLOWING OUT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.