NHTSA Complaint #11573181 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

The exterior right-side A-pillar panel departed the vehicle unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds (~70 mph). No early warning signs or indications were present. The incident occurred on the highway at night. When the panel departed, it made a loud noise like something hit the windshield. The driver and passengers were unaware that the panel was no longer attached to the vehicle until exiting the highway and inspecting the vehicle. The panel was not found on the highway after the incident and very well could have hit another vehicle, person, or animal and caused an accident. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. The Ford Motor Company has an active recall for this issue and has indicated that they will not replace the panel until a remedy is identified later this year (2024). With the panel missing, there are broken pieces of plastic still loosely attached to the A-pillar and make a vibrating noise when driving at highway speeds.