2002 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air hinges were not working correctly to keep it up so I gently rested the glass on my hair that was put up in a bun and just a little bit of the glass was resting on the very top of my head where my hair was slicked back for my bun so my hands were free to grab the bottles of water. (My hair was the softest of resting place's). As I reached in the back to grab the water bottles I heard the loudest bang and hundreds of little pieces...

SUMMER,SPRING WEATHER, ALL FOUR, CLEAR, GLASS WINDOWS DO NOT SLIDE UP OR DOWN THROUGH ITS' POWER BUTTON, ELECTRONICALLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER HINGE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PERRY FORD OF SANTA BARBARA (440 HITCHCOCK WAY, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, (805) 682-2411) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. IT WAS UNOCCUPIED PARKED IN THE CARPORT.

REAR HATCH PANEL APPLIQUE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE ON THE REAR DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK BETWEEN THE DOOR HANDLE AND GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED THE PART. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SUN ROOFS WERE DISCONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND BALL STUD BRACKET IS COMING APART. THE BRACKET HAS DISENGAGED. GLASS IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO FALL, BRAKE AND/OR CAUSE INJURY. IT IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED DURING A RECALL BUT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.

LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND BALL BRACKET IS BROKEN/DISENGAGED. IT IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. IT CAN FALL, BRAKE AND/OR CAUSE INJURY. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED DURING A RECALL. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE REAR LIFTGATE MOUNT BROKE OFF AND WINDOW FELL ON MY DAUGHTERS HEAD AND BENT THE OTHER MOUNT AND BROKE LEFT STRUT OFF. CAN'T LINE IT UP TO GET IT TO CLOSE AND LATCH SHUT. CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR OR LIFTGATE WILL FALL OFF. GOING TO GET SOME ROPE AND TRY TO TIE IT ON. IT WAS IN FRONT OF HOUSE WITH THE WHOLE HATCH OPEN TO GET GROCERIES OUT

BACK TAILGATE WINDOW IS CROOKED, AIR PRESSURE THING FELL OFF ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING A LACK OF SUPPORT ON THAT SIDE AND HINGES ARE STARTING TO BEND TO THE LEFT ALSO. WHO KNOWS WHEN THIS WINDOW WILL FALL OFF OR HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE SUPPORTED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT ON THE RIGHT. IT'S JUST SCARY, WE DON'T USE THIS TAILGATE WINDOW AT ALL SO IT MAY BE FINE? IT IS LIKE THIS WHILE STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, TURNING ETC.

AFTER LOADING MY LUGGAGE I CLOSED MY TRUNK AND THE WHOLE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED THE STRUTS BROKE AND THE LITTLE BLACK THING THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW UP TOP BROKE TOO. I GOT A CUT ON MY HAND, GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. SO STRESSED..

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L IS HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT ONLY 110K MILES. IT HESITATES SHIFTING GEARS AND SLIPS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT HAS THE INFAMOUS CRACK DOWN THE BACK HATCH. BOTH ARE PROBLEMS THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT YET FORD DOES NOTHING. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A VERY EXPENSIVE COST TO REPAIR AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY FEET WERE REALLY HOT AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING UP. THEN THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I NEARLY CRASHED TRYING TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE FIRE TOOK OVER THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS RIGHT THERE FOR ANOTHER ACCIDENT. IT WAS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE. LUCKILY MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR.

COLUMN GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR. COULD NOT REMOVE KEY OR PUT IN PARK

CAR STALLED ON BUSY STREET, THEN WAS RESTARTED AND LOST POWER. THEN FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. TOTAL LOSS WAS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND LEAKED WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER STAINS BY THE VISORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,748.

VEHICLE LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM WHAT A APPEARS TOBE THE TRANS BELL HOUSING AND WAS TOLD BY EXPERTS AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE,MAIN SEAL TRANNY DAMAGED AND TRANS NEEDS TOBE PULLED,COSTING HUNDREDS TO FIX.WAS IN FIRST ACCIDENT IN 30YRS BECAUSE TRANNY WOULD NOT ENGAGE,SHIFT TO PROPER TORQUE FOR SPEED WHEN NEEDED.CAUSING SLUGGISH LATE SHIFT TO ALMOST STOP,AND CAUSING CRASH. CAN YOU HELP?.................ANYONE? THANKYOU!

REAR PANEL HAS CRACK 2 TIMES. WE PAID 600.00$ FOR FIRST REPAIR. 3 MONTHS LATER THE REAR PANEL CRACKED AGAIN. NO CRASH OR ACCIDENT.

VEHICLE PARKED IN STALL WHEN GEAR SELECTER WAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE SAID VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE SURGED FORWARD KNOCKING DOWN LIGHT POLE ONLY COMING TO STOP ONTOP OF FIRE HYDRANT OR VEHICLE WOULD OF KEPT GOING AS WHEELS WERE STILL SPINNING!

THE REAR WINDOW SHUTTERED INTO 100 PIECES DURING THE DRIVING. THE REAR PANEL HAS CRACKED. *TR

HUGE CRACK ON BACK PANEL BELOW WINDOW!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO OPEN MY REAR HATCH AND THE WINDOW FELL. THE HINGE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. I WENT TO FORD TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A RECALL ITEM BUT THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED IN 2005. I ASKED IF IT HAD BEEN FIXED WHY WOULD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR. THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER. ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THEY ONLY PAY FOR THE FIRST OCCURRENCE NOT AND SUBSEQUENT OCCURRENCES. MY ISSUE IS THAT IF AN ITEM CONTINUES TO BREAK THAT IS NO LONGER AND ISSUE WITH THAT ITEM ITS AND ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ITEM. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHAT IF THE GLASS FELL ON MY DAUGHTER OR SHATTERED ON HER. I DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO REPLACE A FAULTY FORD ISSUE. *TR

PAINT JOB ON ENGINE HOOD IS BUBBLING UP. SUV HAS BEEN REGULARLY WASHED AND WAXED; SO ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT JOB. BASED UPON INTERNET RESEARCH, FORD HAS PAINT JOB ISSUES WITH VEHICLES SOLD FROM 2000-2005. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE PLASTIC PANEL CRACKED, ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER. I HAVE NOTICED MANY FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WHY HAS FORD IGNORED THIS DEFECT, I SEE MANY COMPLANTS ON-LINE WITH THE SAME FLAW BY OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS.. *TR

THE REAR HATCH IS SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE METAL IS COMING APART AND MAY FLY OFF DURING HIGH RATES OF SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS EMAIL IS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WHICH MAY OCCUR. I AM AWARE OF A PENDING LAWSUIT REGARDING COSMETIC DEFECTS BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING ONCE THE METAL SEPARATES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS ALSO A PAPER TRAIL IN CASE I AM THE TRUCK THE CAUSES THE ACCIDENT. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FORD EXPLORER FROM THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS PART OF THE HATCH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE REAR GLASS WINDOW THAT LIFTS OPEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WILL BE RECALLED EVENTUALLY SO I SHOULD KEEP CHECKING BACK. THE RECALL NEVER HAPPENED AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS THE CRACK GOT LARGER LETTING MOISTURE IN AND RUSTING. MEANWHILE I WAS NOTICING THE MAJORITY OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THAT YEAR HAD THE SAME CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH IN THE SAME PLACE! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SIMPLY OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE GLASS WINDOW BUCKLED AND SHATTERED WITH AN EXPLODING SOUND SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE! THE PIECE WITH THE CRACK LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. THANKFULLY NO ONE...

OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERE RUST ISSUES ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS INCLUDING LOWER BODY WORK, SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED BODY WORK AREAS BY USING ANTI-RUST TREATMENTS AND APPLYING NEW PAINT AS RECOMMENDED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE ISSUE THOUGH IS STILL ONGOING TO THE POINT WHERE DOOR SEALS ARE NO LONGER WATER TIGHT AND SMALL PIECES OF BODY WORK ARE FLAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF WIND RESISTANCE AND BUMPS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE RUSTED EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS WHICH I WAS ADVISED WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL OR SAFE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES (PRIMARILY BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004) ARE EXPERIENCING THE...

GOT HOME AND NOTICED A CRACK ALL THE WAY THRU PANEL BELOW WINDOW ON LIFTGATE. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE FIBERGLASS TRIM BELOW WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL IN DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AS SOON AS SPACE OPENED BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I ACCELERATED. WHILE GAINING SPEED I LOOKED IN MY RIGHT REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE IF I COULD CHANGE LANES. WHILE LOOKING IN MY MIRROR THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I HIT THE BACK OF HIS VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF MINE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT MY AIRBAG(S) FIRED BUT DID NO DEPLOY. YOU COULD CLEARLY SMELL THAT THEY FIRED AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW ON. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT CINCH UP AND RESTRAIN ME EITHER. THIS CAR HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS ONE. AS I SEE IT, IT WAS A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE SRS. *TR

THE LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL NEARLY BREAKING MY HAND. THIS HINGE WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 / FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. IN CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE TONIGHT ON A FORD TRANSMISSION ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THE PREVIOUS HINGE RECALL AND THEY INDICATED THAT HINGE HAD BEEN REPLACE ONCE IN 2004 AND IT WAS MY BAD LUCK THAT IT FAILED A SECOND TIME. THEY WOULD MAKE NO RESTITUTION FOR THE FAILED PART. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AGAIN. IT IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THEY SHOULD ADDRESS, REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART I PURCHASED THROUGH FORD AND REPLACE THE OTHER HINGE BEFORE IT ALSO FAILS AND HURTS SOMEONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANEL UNDER THE HATCH FRACTURED AND ALLOWED WATER TO PENETRATE THE VEHICLE. THE WATER THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLICKER WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SHUT SECURELY. ALSO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL FLICKER AT TIMES AS WELL. THE ALARM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AND USUALLY IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS RELATED TO THE DOOR AJAR MALFUNCTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE FACTORY ALARM SO I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR UNLOCKED AT NIGHT JUST TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OFF AND WAKING UP THE NEIGHBORS. ALSO WE HAVE A CRACK ON THE LIFT GATE JUST BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BY LOOKING AT OTHER EXPLORERS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPLORER UP UNTIL NOW BUT IT DOES BOTHER ME THAT THESE TWO ISSUES ARE VERY COMMON YET FORD WON'T ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE ISSUES. *TR

REAR PANEL BELOW WINDOW CRACKED FROM COLD WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE EXTERIOR PANEL. THE DEFECT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD SWING OPEN SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE 10MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BODY MOUNTS WERE DETERIORATING BETWEEN THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPOXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER LTD, THE REAR LOGO PANEL STARTED COMING LOOSE. I USED SPECIAL ADHESIVE TO ATTACH IT, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T STICK. I TRIED PULLING IT OFF, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I TRIED A DIFFERENT ADHESIVE. IT STUCK FOR A WHILE, BUT AS I WAS GOING DOWN A BUSY STREET, IT FLEW OFF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY. *JS

NONE OF THE WINDOWS WILL WORK, THEY WERE OPERATING PROPERLY AND JUST QUIT. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, IN AN EMERGENCY, (SUCH AS A CRASH). THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE. IF A FIRE OCCURRED THE RESULTS COULD BE TRAGIC. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE. YET THEY CHOOSE NOT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY OF THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF MILES ON IT, BUT THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE HAPPENS ON LOWER MILEAGE VEHICLES ALSO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT TWO CRACKS DEVELOPED UNDER THE HATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

THE REAR HINGES GAVE WAY, AND THE BACK HALF GLASS EXPLODED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR LIFT GATE AND WINDOW WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AND IT WOULD ALSO WOBBLE. THE ELECTRONIC POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY WOULD DETECT THE LIFT GATE WAS NOT CLOSED ENGAGING AND A WARNING SOUND ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

VERTICAL CRACK REAR LIFE WINDOW ASSEMBLY NEAR 2002 FORD EXPLORER LOGO. VERTICAL CRACK GOES BETWEEN WINDOW GLASS AND BOTTOM OF LIFT WINDOW. I FEEL THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW GLASS WILL FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND SERIOUSLY EFFECT OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE HAIL OF GLASS. RECALL OF HINGES HAD BEEN COMPLETED RIGHT AFTER ORIGINAL NEW PURCHASE. *TR

VERTICAL CRACK IN HATCH OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I LOOK AT OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE SAME TIME PEREIOD AND THEY ALL HAVE THE EXACT SAME CRACK!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED BUT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HAS CRACKED. *TR

FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR

REAR PANEL CRACKED IN HALF, VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT IT JUST HAPPENED. *TR

THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED. FOUND OUT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OUT. MY REPAIR COST WILL BE ABOUT $500. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT. FORD SHOULD REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME.