NHTSA Complaint #11395729 — 2018 FORD EXPLORER

ON JANUARY 24, 2021 I BOUGHT MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2018 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I HEARD AN INTERMITTENT BANGING SOUND WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 60 MPH. WHEN I GOT HOME I SAW THAT THE PLASTIC COVERINGS OF THE ROOF RACK RAILS WERE COMING OFF AND WERE WHAT WAS MAKING THE BANGING SOUND. FROM RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE IT APPEARS IF LEFT UNADDRESSED THE COVERS CAN FLY OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE ON THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY FORD HAS YET TO PROVIDE A FIX. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE ONLINE SHOW THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD HAS YET TO PROVIDE A ADEQUATE SOLUTION FOR. SOME PEOPLE HAVE STATED THAT FORD'S FIX IS TO APPLY SILICONE TO THE CLIPS THAT COME LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION I SEE THAT SILICONE HAD BEEN APPLIED TO MINE PREVIOUSLY (NOT BY ME) AND THAT, LIKE MANY OTHER REPORT, THIS DOES NOT HOLD/ RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MANY MORE USER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE CAN BE FOUND HERE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T73385_DS991660