NHTSA Complaint #11474230 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

The side panel behind the front passenger and driver side windows detached while driving. Specifically, the passenger side window panel detached while driving approximately 60 mph on the highway, which caused flying debris that could have harmed other drivers. Three days later the driver side panel detached while driving on the freeway at approximately 60 mph; however, this panel stayed hanging from the car due to wires for the keyless entry. When the panel detached at 60 mph, the tailgate open indicator light turned on inside the car. To ensure our tailgate was secure and we would not lose items out the back causing more of a hazard, we navigate to the side of the highway. This placed my family at risk while other cars passed by at 60 mph. The tailgate was shut; however, we were unable to open the tailgate. The car indicted the tailgate is open; however, there was no way to open the tailgate from inside the car, outside the car, or from the key. This reduced our exit pathways if there was an emergency in the car and caused an uncertainty if the tailgate would at some point open on our three hour trip home. Since we were three hours from our home, we found a means to attach the hanging panel to our car and proceeded driving. About five minutes into the driving, the panel split in half. The top portion detached from the car causing a debris hazard. The half with wires remained hanging from the car. Prior to reaching to NHTSA, we reached to Ford to report the safety issue. They stated this is not a recall, took no information, and offered to provide NHTSA information for reporting any concerns we had.