NHTSA Complaint #11387932 — 2020 FORD EXPLORER

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY SNOW AND RAIN, I'VE NOTICED SIGNIFICANT LEAKING IN THE REAR STORAGE ARE OF MY 2020 EXPLORER. WATER WILL RUN DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUNK SPACE, OVER THE SPEAKER GRILLE, AND INTO THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND SPARE TIRE SPACE. AS A RESULT OF THIS LEAK, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE TAILGATE RELEASE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY (WON'T OPEN), AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AUDIO CONTROL MODULE WHICH POWERS AUDIO TO THE SPEAKERS IN THE CAR STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE WITHOUT SOUND FROM THE SPEAKERS, I HAVE NO REAR COLLISION DETECTION, NO FORWARD CRASH DETECTION, AND NO CROSS TRAFFIC DETECTION WHILE IN REVERSE. FURTHERMORE, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LOUD POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS THE SUBWOOFER CAN POTENTIALLY START A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. ACCORDING TO TSB 20-2425, IT APPEARS A WATER LEAK IN THE REAR OF 2020 EXPLORERS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO HONOR THE REPAIR UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WHICH COVERS MY CAR FOR 36 MONTHS OR 35000 MILES (WHICH EVER COMES FIRST), SO I AM LEFT WITH A CAR THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. THE CAR IS 100% PAID FOR, BUT WITH MY CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION, I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE EVEN WITH TRADE-IN VALUE.