2002 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THERE ARE CRACKS ON THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, THESE SEEM TO HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH SIMILAR CRACKS. I GOT AN ESTIMATE AND IT IS 1500.00 TO FIX. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE NOTICED A LARGE CRACK FROM THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL GOING DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,916.

ON THE AFTERNOON OF DEC. 10, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 PM I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE REAR PANEL OF MY '02 FORD EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER ED. I HAD ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS VANDALISM AND REPORTED IT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ON MONDAY I GOOGLED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A DEFECT IN FORD EXPLORERS - '02 - '04. I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY WHO TOOK MY COMPLAINT AND REFERRED ME TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. IN SPEAKING WITH THE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A "SAFETY DEFECT" AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $450-500. I ALSO READ THAT BACK IN 2006 WHEN THIS DEFECT OCCURRED THAT FORD WAS PROVIDING A "SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OUT-OF-WARRANTY" ON EXPLORERS WHERE THEY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING THE REAR LIFTGATE, IT WOULD NOT STAY OPEN AND IT WOULD CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 04V442000 STRUCTURE BODY HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL AND HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

CRACK IN REAR WINDOW SURROUND, NEAR CENTER AT A BOTTOM. *TR

I HAVE PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS IN MINT CONDITION ON THE OUTSIDE AND FAIR ON THE INSIDE, WELL AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK A FEW MONTHS ONE DAY I NOTICED A HUGE CRACK BY THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING, AND I HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THIS TROUBLED ME KNOWING THAT THIS CRACK HAD JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN APPEARED ON MY TRUCK. WELL I WENT TO THE STORE LATER THAT DAY AND PASSED ANOTHER CONSUMER ON MY WAY OUT OF THE STORE AND NOTICED THEY WERE DRIVING THE SAME KIND OF TRUCK, AND LO AND BEHOLD THEY HAD THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE. I GOT THEIR ATTENTION AND ASKED IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED IT, AND THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT IT TOO JUST APPEARED ON THEIR...

1. I TOOK OUR 2002 EXPLORER IN FOR THE RECALL OF THE BACK WINDOW. WHEN THEY INSTALLED IT THEY PUT A SMALL CRACK IN PANEL IN THE BACK BELOW THE WINDOW. 2. THE CRACK GREW UNTIL FINALLY THE WHOLE PANEL CRACKED IN HALF. THE EDGE IS QUITE SHARP AND THE PANEL IS A BIT LOOSE NOW. 3. FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT. WE TRACK 2002 EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT 1/6 HAVE IT. I SAW ANOTHER TODAY PROMPTING ME TO SEND THIS. HERE ARE RELATED ARTICLES: WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/EXPLORER/CRACKED-REAR-PANEL.SHTML WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. *TR

2002 EXPLORER'S PANEL ON THE BACK GATE BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GATE IS CRACKED IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL COME OFF AND CAUSE A TRAFFIC CRASH OR WORSE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR HATCH UPPER GLASS PLASTIC TRIM CRACKED NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS ALLOWED WATER INTO THE TRIM THAT CAUSED THE BOLTS HOLDING THE LATCH TO RUST THROUGH AND COMPLETELY FAIL. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE GLASS LAST SPRING (2009). THE REPLACEMENT PART ALSO CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF MICHIGAN WINTER. THE LATCH BOLTS IN THIS UNIT ARE NOW RUSTING AS WELL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN THE GLASS. SINCE THEY ARE BONDED TOGETHER, THE WEAKER PLASTIC FAILS. THE CRACKS CONTRACT AND EXPAND DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE. *TR

APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. LARGE CRACK IN VEHICLE BELOW REAR WINDOW POSSIBLY DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL IN OCT 2004 - SAFETY RECALL 04S20. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER -- A CRACK APPEARS IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW GLASS. *TR

I OPENED THE LIFTGATE GLASS TO MY FORD EXPLORER IN ORDER TO LOAD GROCERIES INTO THE BACK. THE GLASS CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AND I PUSHED IT BACK UP OFF OF ME WHEN IT EXPLODED ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE MOLDING CAME DOWN ONTO MY HEAD AND MY BACK (I WAS STILL LEANING INTO THE CAR). BECAUSE IT WAS VERY COLD OUT, I WAS WEARING A HEAVY COAT WITH A HAT AND THE HOOD PULLED UP ONTO MY HEAD, SO THIS CUSHIONED THE IMPACT ONTO MY BACK AND HEAD. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK, BUT THE LAST ONE WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LIFTGATES SHOULD JUST BE FALLING OFF OF CARS OR EXPLODING, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 8 YEARS...

REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN ON TO UN FOG THE GLASS. REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED AFTER PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE LIFTGATE. VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WEATHER WAS 19 DEGREES F WITH WINDCHILL OF 10 DEGREES F. *TR

I GOT A FORD EXPLORER 2002 AND THE HATCHBACK DOOR IS CRACKED, I HAD A FORD EXPLORER 2003 BEFORE AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAD SEEN OTHER FORDS EXPLORERS FROM YEAR 2000 TO 2004 WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE FORD HEADQUARTERS COMPANY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX THE CRACK BECAUSE I HAD TO CONTACT YOU TO COMPLAIN SO THIS WILL BECOME A RECALL AND THEY WILL FIX IT FOR ME OTHERWISE THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. I ONLY BUY FORD CARS BECAUSE I LIKE AMERICAN CARS AND ALSO I FEEL I AM HELPING THE ECONOMY KEEPING JOBS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT I COULD BUY ANY OTHER BRAND! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAIN AND MAYBE FIND A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE BACK LIFT GATE / PANEL DIRECTLY UNDER THE GLASS, CRACKED FOR NO REASON. ONE DAY HEADING TO LUNCH I NOTICED THIS PIECE CRACKED. NOW, I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THIS ON OTHER FORD EXPLORERS AND EVEN FOUND A WEBSITE CONTAINING LOTS OF OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON 12-21-09 AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FORD EXPLORER OWNERS TO GET THIS FIXED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO, IN ORDER TO GET THIS CORRECTED. MICHAEL SMITH THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED UNDER THE REAR WINDOW DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

FOLLOWING THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V442000 RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE HINGE ON THE REAR HATCHBACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, CRACKS IN THE BODY HAVE APPEARED IN THE PANELING AROUND THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW. THESE CRACKS APPEAR TO BE STRESSED INDUCED AND MAY POSE A HAZARD TO THE REAR WINDOW IF THE FRAMING AROUND THE WINDOW CONTINUES TO DEGRADE AND CRACK. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NO DEBRIS, AND OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. AS THE SCREEN WAS CLOSED NO INJURIES, BUT POTENTIAL FOR CUT AND EYE INJURIES BY RAZOR SHARP GLASS. NO ONE BEHIND US AFFECTED. HUGE NOISE VERY STARTLING. *TR

I TOOK A TRIP FROM HOME IN OK TO CANTON, TX ON RETURN HEARD LOUD NOISE WHEN I STOPPED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED I FOUND OUT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMING OUT. IN MARCH OF 2008 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE EXPLORER. WHEN I HAD IT INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME OVER $2000.00. MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING AND AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I FEAR THE WORSE IF I HAVE MY TRANSMISSION CHECKED. WHO DO WE CONTACT TO HAVE A LAWSUIT STARTED? MY TRUCK NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, REAR END ASSEMBLY. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HAS CRACKED. I HAVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED EXCEPT FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER BREAKING OFF IN MY HAND. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACKED REAR TAILGATE APPLIQUE. HAVE SEEN MANY MORE ON THE ROAD. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO DEFECT. THEY WANT $350 TO FIX. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXTENDING DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. SINCE THEN I HAVE OBSERVED THESE ON DOZENS OF EXPLORERS. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NOR WAS THE HATCH BEING USED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE GLASS COULD FALL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD IN NO WAY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE THAT HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARD. *TR

THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED. WHILE IN THE CAR WASH, TWO THIRDS OF THE REAR PANEL FELL OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AND THAT FORD HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS IF IT FELL OFF IN A CAR WASH WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55-65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY? ALSO, I AM NOT THRILLED ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING TO SPEND $500 TO FIX A PIECE OF MY VEHICLE THAT SHOULD REMAIN INTACT. *TR

2 CRACKS IN THE HATCHBACK ABOVE THE LOGO. *TR

CRACK IN HATCHBACK DIRECTLY BELOW WINDOW. *TR

NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL SCRATCH JUST BELOW THE GLASS ON THE PLASTIC PORTION OF 200 EXPLORER LIFTGATE. ON FRIDAY FEB 6, 2009 THERE WAS A SPLIT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE LIFTGATE HINGE RECALL ALREADY ISSUED BY THE NHTSA. *TR

WHEN I SAW A CRACK ON THE FORD APPLIQUE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE WHO I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER; TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO DENTS, DINGS, ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE SLAMMED THE TRUNK TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I SHOULD HAVE CRACKS IN ALL FOUR DOORS (AND THE HOOD). THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME THE NAME OF A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I SAID, NO, THIS SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. I CONTACTED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID! THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORD TAURUS STATION WAGONS BEFORE THIS EXPLORER, AND HAVE HAD...

WHEN I SAW A CRACK ON THE FORD APPLIQUE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE WHO I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER; TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO DENTS, DINGS, ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE SLAMMED THE TRUNK TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I SHOULD HAVE CRACKS IN ALL FOUR DOORS (AND THE HOOD). THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME THE NAME OF A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I SAID, NO, THIS SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. I CONTACTED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID! THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORD TAURUS STATION WAGONS BEFORE THIS EXPLORER, AND HAVE HAD...

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS 2 CRACKS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN THE BACK REAR PANEL. I NOTICED THE FIRST ON AROUND JANUARY 2007 AND THE SECOND ONE JANUARY 2009. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES AND THIS HAS LED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS AND NOW THAT I REALIZE THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WELL I HOPE YOU CAN HELP I WAS EXPECTING FOR THIS VEHICLE TO LAST LONGER THAN MY 1994 DODGE RAM. AND ANOTHER THING THE SIDE OF THE WINDOWS STARTED PEALING OFF MY BACK DOOR IS CRACKED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT CLOSE RIGHT AND NONE OF MY THREE OF MY WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AT ONE TIME. THIS CAR IS FULL OF MALFUNCTIONS AND I THING THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND PAID 25,000 FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK. *TR

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE TOP PANEL OF THE BACK TAILGATE BEGAN CRACKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. YESTERDAY MORNING I CAME OUT TO FIND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE PANEL IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT EXCEPT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. THE FIRST CRACK IS ABOUT 1/8" WIDE AND SPLIT APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE BACK PANEL. THE SECOND CRACK SPANS FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL TO THE BOTTOM AND IS APPROXIMATELY 1/4-1/2" WIDE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THERE IS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHERWISE. THE PANEL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED OR FIXED YET. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HATCH HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND FORD SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON ANSWER THAT FORD IS GIVING TO EVERYONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM TOO. *TR

UNEXPLAINED CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH LID. *TR

THE LIFTGATE CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. IT STARTED A YEAR AGO WITH ONE CRACK, THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED 6 MONTHS LATER. A FEW WEEKS AGO A 3 CRACK APPEARED. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO HELP AND A CALL TO FORD WAS NOT RETURNED. *TR

CRACKED PANEL ON BELOW WINDOW ON 2002 EXPLORER. *TR

CRACKED TAILGATE APPLIQUE (UNDER REAR GLASS). DEALER WON'T REPLACE, CAR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. WAS NEVER HIT OR ABUSED. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HATCH HAS CRACKED FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002-2004 BLOCK OF FORD EXPLORERS. I HAVE JUST OVER 100K MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND FORD SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON ANSWER THAT FORD IS GIVING TO EVERYONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM TOO. *TR

I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT, NOR ANY INCIDENCES OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. IT HAPPENS THAT ON A SATURDAY DURING THE SUMMER, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS A CLEAN AND TOTALLY STRAIGHT CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE GLASS, MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES LONG AND 1 TO 1/12 WIDE. WHILE DRIVING AND EVERYTIME I SEE AN EXPLORER, I LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF THEIR VEHICLE AND I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL, WHICH PROMPTS ME TO THINK THAT THIS IS IN FACT A DEFECT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND AM TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE OVER $1800.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED AS THEY WILL NEED TO ORDER AN ENTIRE LIFT GATE VS. REPAIRING THE ONE THAT ON THEIR CURRENTLY. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPORTED INCIDENCES SUCH AS THIS? I NOTICED THIS IN JULY OF THIS...

A CRACK APPEARED ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK JUST APPEARED ONE MORNING WITHOUT ANY DIRECT ACTION. NOW I HAVE 2 CRACKS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

1. DUE TO A RECALL (FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. ), THE LIFTGATE GLASS OPERATION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN 2005. SINCE EARLY 2007, THE SAME GLASS STRUTS AND HINGES ARE APPARENTLY HAVING PROBLEM -- FIRST IT TOOK EXTRA EFFORT TO RAISE THE GLASS TO THE FULLY OPENING POSITION, THEN WHILE THE GLASS IS LIFTED OPEN, IT UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED DOWN. I GOT HIT 3 TIMES AT MY HEAD OR HANDS BY THE SUDDEN DROPPED GLASS AND FRAME; IT COURSED BLEEDING ON MY HAND ONCE. THIS IS CERTAINLY OF SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I REALLY DOUBT IF THE FORD DEALER (GAINESVILLE FORD IN GAINESVILLE, FL) CORRECTLY PERFORMED THE RECALL JOB IN 2005, AS THEY HAVE A REPUTATION OF LOW STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND TECHNIQUE . BUT, FORD, AS THE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING THE RECALL JOB MEET THE STANDARD. OTHERWISE, WHAT IS POINT OF GOING THROUGH THE RECALL? 2....

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKING BELOW GLASS. *TR

FORD 2002 EXPLORER HAS LARGE CRACK ON LIFTGATE PANEL RUNNING FROM JUST OF THE LEFT OF THE FORD INSIGNIA TO THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW. FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH REPLACEMENT DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE ADMISSION THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. THE LIFTGATE WAS RECALLED A FEW YEARS AGO FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WITH THE CYLINDERS. *TR

ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL UNDER THE LIFT GATE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCHING AND FIND THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LIFTGATE HINGE RECALL. I AM AFRAID THAT THE PANEL BEING BROKEN MAY CAUSE IT TO COME OFF AND HIT A CAR BEHIND ME. I FEEL THAT THIS CRACK MAY CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF I WAS IN A WRECK. I FEEL THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPLACE THIS PART. THEY HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS AS I CAN SEE FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER - REAR APPLIQUE (PLASTIC TRIM) UNDER THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED, AND A PORTION OF IT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE TRAVELING 70MPH. SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. FORD HAS SAID IT WAS TEMP RELATED, HOWEVER, I'M IN FLORIDA, THE VEHICLE NEVER SAW ANY TEMP BELOW 40, FREEZING WASN'T CONSIDERED. TSB 0485 IF I'M READING IT CORRECTLY. *TR

CRACK DEVELOPED IN AREA BELOW LIFT GATE GLASS. NOW THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AS WELL AS THE BUZZER. THE GLASS DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND IS INOPERABLE AND THE AREA BELOW THE GLASS HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN AWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOLDING ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS HOOD IS CORRODING. IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST SPOT APPEARED. I REALLY DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FROM WEAR AND TEAR, BUT THEN 2 MONTHS AGO 2 MORE SPOTS APPEARED. ON 10/3/08 I WENT TO A BODY SHOP TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO PAINT, AND I SURPRISED TO HEAR HIM TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS REALLY A FORD PROBLEM BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE HOOD IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE PAINT ISN'T STICKING. THAT SAME DAY, I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER NEAREST TO ME AND I WAS TOLD THAT INDEED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE HOODS AND CONFIRMED WHAT THE GUY AT THE BODY SHOP SAID. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY CAR IS A 2002, 5 YEARS HAS PASSED AND I CANNOT HAVE IT REPLACED FOR FREE....

SAME AS NOTED FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORE 02 OWNERS.....THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW IS CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 03. I HAVE NOW ATTACHED A SIGN USING STICK ON LETTERS THAT READ ON THE BACK PANEL "FORD QUALITY' WITH AN ARROW POINTING TO THE CRACK AS THE DEALER AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS EVIDENT BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS. I THINK FORD NEEDS THIS TYPE OF PUBLICITY! *TR

REAR GATE PLASTIC THAT IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW SNAPPED DUE TO COLD WEATHER MOST LIKELY. DON'T KNOW WHY THERE IS GLASS UNDERNEATH THIS SECTION, THE WHOLE THING SHOULD BE METAL.

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXP EDDIE BAUER ED USED WITH 35,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED WITHIN 3 WEEKS DUE TO 4WD MALFUNCTION COVERED BY WARRANTY. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND IS IN NEED OF A SECOND REPLACEMENT. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WINDOW WAS NOT MEANT TO BE LOWERED HALFWAY. THE REAR HATCH HAS ALSO CRACKED COMPLETELY DOWN FROM WINDOW TO LOWER PANEL. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUES WITH THIS OCCURRING, BUT UPON FURTHER RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY AND DEALERSHIP REPORTS IT TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL SWITCH REPAIR COST AT AROUND $400. HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE, BUT WILL NO LONGER DRIVE VEHICLE AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THIS IS A PRECURSOR TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MAY POSSIBLY TRADE-IN THIS VEHICLE...

A CRACKED REAR PANEL ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. TO DATE, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SAFETY ISSUES, BUT I'VE CHECKED OTHER ONLINE SITES AND SEEN QUITE A FEW SUBMISSIONS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPLACED, AND ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, THE PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY REOCCUR (IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN DURING COLD WEATHER). FORD HAS NOT LISTED IT ON THEIR RECALL SITE. *TR