NHTSA Complaint #11162574 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED OR IN MOTION. WATER INTRUDES THU THE FRONT DOME LIGHT, THE SIDE, THE REAR SEAT BELT, AND OTHER AREAS. WATER WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FEET AREA AND IT FILLED THE REAR SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE FORD DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO CLEARED THE TWO REAR DRAINS ON THE SUN ROOF, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS IN A WATER CLOSET THEY HAVE IN THEIR SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC REPORT NOTES "WATER IS FOUND COMING IN FROM THE TAIL GATE BODY SEAMS" DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE SEAM SEALER IS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY DURING MANUFACTURING PRIOR TO THE PAINTING. APPARENTLY THIS FACTORY SEALER HAS FAILED. UNCLEAR IF SEALER COMPOUND WAS DEFECTIVE, OR WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED. BOTTOM LINE IS THE FACTORY SEAL HAS FAILED, THE SEAMS ARE NOW COMPROMISED RESULTING IN THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD SOLD ME IS SUPPOSED TO COVER SEALS AND GASKETS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS FINE PRINT DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE CONTRACT THAT EXCLUDES BODY ISSUES EVEN IF THE ROOT CAUSE IS POOR MATERIALS, POOR QUALITY, OR WORKMANSHIP BY THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER INDICATED THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS MODEL. SIMPLE WEB SEARCHES SHOW A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND ADJACENT MODEL YEARS BUT YET RECALL YET FOR THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD'S SUPPORT LINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO RESOLUTION AS OF THIS WRITING. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A BODY SHOP.I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP OWNED BY THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF $738. THEY EMPHASIZED "PRELIMINARY" AS THEY'RE UNSURE HOW EXTENSIVE THE SEAM SEAL FAILURE MAY BE. THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY (WATER AND ICE IN INTERIOR) BUT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM MOLD, MILDEW, SICKENING SMELL.