NHTSA Complaint #11219639 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND EXAMINE MY VEHICLE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT A LARGE PIECE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD MOLDING BROKE OFF AND THE RUBBER STRIPPING UNDERNEATH THAT PART CAME LOOSE AS WELL. I ALSO FOUND THAT A SMALL PIECE OF WINDSHIELD MOLDING BROKE OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, HOWEVER, WHEN WE CHECKED ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF PURCHASES MADE FOR THESE PARTICULAR PARTS. THEY ARE NOT CHEAP AND IF THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE PARTS FAILING/BREAKING WHY HASN'T FORD DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE A BREAKING PART HITS ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAUSES AN ACCIDENT? I ALSO HAVE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE THAT A FRIEND OF MINE IS EXPERIENCING A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WHEN HIS RUBBER CAME LOOSE, FLAPPING AROUND AS MINE DID, IT WAS ENOUGH OF A DISTRACTION THAT HE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TWO REPAIR ESTIMATES AND WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THEM UPON REQUEST.