NHTSA Complaint #766033 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE OPENING THE REAR TOP HATCHBACK, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY WIFE'S FACE WHILE MY 4 YEAR OLD SAT IN THE REAR SEAT. MY WIFE RECEIVED MINOR SCRATCHES FROM THE FLYING GLASS. MY SON WAS SHAKEN BUT NOT INJURED AS THE SHATTERED GLASS FLEW APPX 15 FEET OUTWARD AND TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. SINCE THE BOTTOM PANEL OF THE TOP HALF OF THE REAR GATE IS ONLY ATTACHED TO THE CAR BY THE GLASS AND THE DEFOGGER CABLE, THIS FOUR FOOT BY SIX INCH METAL PANEL SLAMMED TO THE GROUND JUST MISSING MY WIFE'S LEGS. I WAS IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL EXPLOSION WHEN IT BURST. IT WAS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENING TO MY WIFE AND SON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO AT FIRST TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND I SHOULD GO TO A GLASS REPAIR SHOP. I REFUSED AND ASKED THEM TO FIX IT AND INPECT THE WORK. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD "ONLY" THREE OR SO REPORTED INCIDENTS OF BREAKAGE IN PAST YEAR AND THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICES I RECEIVED FOR THE REAR WINDOW HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS FINE AFTER IT WAS CHECKED FOR THE RECALL NOTICE TWO PREVIUOS TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I AM WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED.*AK PE04045.PCO