2002 FORD EXPLORER Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE REAL LIFT GATE, THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS WINDOW SUDDENLY SHATTERED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE PERSON SUSTAINED A FACIAL LACERATION WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (FUTURE FORD LOCATED AT 650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

THE REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE HINGES FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,738. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,229. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EXT WAGON. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AN AWKWARD MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO STATED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. THE WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING NORMALLY. THE LIFTGATE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 3 WINDOW REGULATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE WHEN HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE EXHIBITED A CRACK NEAR THE EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR HATCH LIFT-GATE UNDER THE FORD EMBLEM HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS. CONSEQUENTLY WATER HAS ENTERED THE DOORS AND LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN $600-$700 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED. SECONDLY, THE REAR LIFT-GATES PANEL SPLIT IN HALF. THIRDLY, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. NONE OF THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. HE PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BELOW THE WINDOW WAS CRACKED. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW PANEL WOULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE GLASS TO SLIDE OUT AND SHATTER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

MY WIFE OPENED THE REAR HATCH TO GET GROCERIES OUT. IT STARTED FALLING ON HER. HER FRIEND REACHED TO LIFT IT UP AND IT EXPLODED ON MY WIFE WHEN SHE TRIED TO LIFT IT OFF MY WIFE. I AM DEBBIE'S HUSBAND. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004. THEY RECALLED IT IN 2006 TO PUT THE NEW HINGES ON, THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FORD'S RECALL FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING THE ISSUE AFTER THEIR SO CALLED FIX. ITS TIME FOR FORD TO REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM OR PAY CONSUMERS FOR THEIR LOSS THROUGH A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I TRIED TO TELL MY WIFE TO STICK WITH GM SUV'S. THE FORD HAS BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT IN MANY AREAS. IT NEVER GOT THE MILEAGE WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD GET. WE GET 16 TO 17 ON THE HIGHWAY. WE...

WE HAVE A FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002. THE REAR WINDOW LIFT GATE WOULD NOT STAY UP ON ITS OWN, SO MY SON PUSHED IT UP, AND THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED. HE AND MY HUSBAND RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND IT CAME VERY CLOSE TO MY SONS EYES. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT OTHERS HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AT WWW. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM IN 2004 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SECONDARY TO A RECALL REGARDING THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR WINDOW. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SUPPOSABLY FIXED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT MY WINDOW EXPLODED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IT THE GLASS HAD GOTTEN IN MY SONS EYES WE WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BY THE WAY IT IS GOING TO COST 1400 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. *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....

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT I WAS LIFTING MY REAR GLASS WINDOW NOT THE WHOLE LIFTGATE JUST THE GLASS I WAS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY UP WHEN I HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE AND WAS SHOWERED BY FALLING GLASS AND THEN EVENTUALLY STRUCK BY THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. I CALLED FORD THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO FIX THIS ISSUE I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT MANUALLY CLOSED THE LIFTGATE, THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 011010000; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO SUFFICIENTLY CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,249 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,259.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE THAT JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AM NOT SURE WHY THIS HAS NOT BECOME A RECALL. *TR

MY HUSBAND OPENED THE LIFTGATE TO MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER TO BRING OUR HURRICANE SUPPLY KIT INTO THE HOUSE. AFTERWARDS, HE WENT TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE, JUST AS NORMAL, AND THE GLASS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, EXPLODED INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES AND THE FRAME BELOW THE GLASS CRASHED TO THE GROUND. GLASS WAS FOUND HALFWAY DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, UNDER THE CAR, INSIDE THE CAR, AND ON TOP OF THE CAR. THE HINGES WERE CLEARLY BOTH BROKEN AND WIRES WERE SEPARATED FROM THE LIFTGATE. MY HUSBAND WAS STANDING TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN HE CLOSED THE LIFTGATE AND LUCKILY ONLY HAD A MINOR CUT ON HIS TOE. THE LIFTGATE DID NOT TOUCH ANYTHING AND WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING OR FORCED TO CLOSE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO IT EXPLODING. I ESSENTIALLY HAVE A THREE-SIDED CAR RIGHT NOW. FORD ISSUED A RECALL (04S20) ON THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND BALL...

I WAS LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE BACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE HINGE ON THE LIFTGATE HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN, SHATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE. MY HAND WAS CUT AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE LIFTGATE. WHILE DEVASTATING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I HAD THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE SERVICED AND REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO DUE TO A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. APPARENTLY, THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED WITH OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS OR WASN'T REPAIRED AT ALL. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO SAID IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. I AM STUCK WITH THE 1,400.00 BILL BUT FORD LOSES MY BUSINESS. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE HATCH CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS OF THIS YEAR MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ALL THOSE WHO OWN ONE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECT IN MATERIAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT OR EVEN MAKE PARTIAL RESTITUTION FOR HAVING IT REPAIRED. *TR

REAR TAILGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR THE HINGES TO BE EXPOSED SINCE THEN THE TAILGATE WOULD EXHIBIT RANDOM DOOR AJAR INDICATIONS. RECENTLY THE PLASTIC PANEL ON THE OUTSIDE UNDER THE GLASS HAS SPLIT VERTICALLY IN THE MIDDLE. *TR

CRACK APPEARED IN WINTER 2006 IN HATCH BELOW REAR WINDOW. THIS WAS A FLORIDA CAR UP TO JUNE 2006. ALL WAS FINE IN FLORIDA. I SUSPECT COLD HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE CRACKS. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE AS I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL. *TR

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

THE PAINT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS PEELING OFF THE PANELS BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AFTER 3 YEARS (AND IT'S PRIMARILY PARKED IN MY GARAGE). AFTER CONTACTING FORD AND APPEALING TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR ASSISTANCE, I DECIDED I COULD LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS COSMETIC FLAW EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERS ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, ON DEC 26, 2007, I WENT OUT TO MY CAR IN THE MORNING WHILE OUT OF TOWN,AND NOTICED A THREE INCH CRACK IN THE BODY OF THE REAR HATCH, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD LOGO. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF BEING CLOSED TOO HARD OR ANY OTHER LOGICAL CAUSE. IT JUST CRACKED ON ITS OWN. I CALLED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE. I COMPLIED WITH THIS REQUEST AND...

A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, ON THE FIBERGLASS PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 2WD, 4.0 FI. I TOOK THE CAR IN AT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD, WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND IT WAS "TAKEN CARE OF" AT FORD'S COST. ABOUT 3-6 MONTHS AFTER THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED I NOTICED THE SAME CRACK START TO REAPPEAR AND WITH IT BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, THE FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE AT THEIR COST. AS OF 4/10/08 I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

2002 CRACK ON HATCHBACK PANEL UNDER REAR WINDOW. ON DECEMBER 26, 2007 I WENT INTO MY GARAGE AND NOTICED 2 CRACKS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM, EACH ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES LONG. I KNOW FOR SURE THEY WERE NOT THERE THE NIGHT BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAD TAKEN SOME PACKAGES OUT OF THE HATCHBACK, AND THERE WERE NO CRACKS. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A FAULTY MANUFACTURED HATCHBACK. WHEN I SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB, IT WAS SURPRISING TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAD THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAN ANY OTHER EXTERIOR COMPLAIN. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. ONCE THE CRACKS RUN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL THERE IS BIG POTENTIAL THAT THE WINDOW WILL FALL OUT. THIS LEAVES THE WINDOW AT RISK TO FALL OUT AND INJURE SOMEONE. *TR

CRACKED LIFT GATE/ UPPER HALF. *TR

OUTSIDE COVER ON HATCH LID CRACKED JUST BELOW THE GLASS. HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TALKED TO THE OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIPS IN OUR AREA. I HAVE TALKED TO 15 OTHER OWNERS AND HAVE SEEN MANY MORE CARS WITH THIS CRACK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE BACK HATCH WAS PARTIALLY OPENED, AND WHEN OPENED ALL THE WAY IT SHATTERED. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL 04V442000 - STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. KG

REAR LIFT GATE CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. *TR

REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHOCKS WERE NO LONGER HOLDING UP THE WINDOW WHEN OPEN. REPLACED BOTH SHOCKS, CLOSED THE LIFTGATE GLASS AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED, RESULTING IN THE BOTTOM TRIM PIECE FALLING AND SHATTERED GLASS FLYING EVERYWHERE. FORTUNATELY THEIR WERE NO INJURIES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND A CRACK APPEARED OVERNIGHT IN THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING DEFECT IN FORD EXPLORERS AND FORD SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. *TR

STRESS FRACTURE RUNNING VERTICALLY ALONG PLASTIC PANEL OF LIFTGATE DIRECTLY UNDER BACK WINDOW APPEARED. THE CRACK IS LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM RUNNING FROM THE GLASS THE LENGTH OF THE PANEL. NO FORCE OF ANY KIND WAS APPLIED TO THE AREA TO CAUSE THIS CRACK. I LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE WITH RAIN AND SNOW AND AM NOW WORRIED ABOUT WATER GETTING INSIDE AND EFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SINCE THIS IS A COMMONLY DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, THAT COULD LEAD TO FURTHER MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PANEL. *TR

2002 EXPLORER REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHEN MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CLOSED THE TOP LIFT GATE. REAR WINDOW RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 8/2007 FORD WILL NOT COVER COST ($1,400.00) FOR REPAIR. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH PLASTIC PANEL CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH, TOP TO BOTTOM DIRECTLY ABOVE AND BELOW THE OVAL FORD EMBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE RAN THE VIN. NO. AND TOLD ME THIS PANEL HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. *TR

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE UNDERNEATH THE BACK WINDOW, RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. I HAVE A CRACK FROM THE TOP OF THE FRAME TO THE BOTTOM. I HAVE HAD THIS CRACK ON MY VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OR WAS NOT ON RECALL. SINCE THEN I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE BACK UNDERNEATH THE BACK WINDOW NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

THE REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE HAS CRACKED VERTICALLY FROM THE GLASS ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON (I.E. HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE REAR WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED). I HAVE NOTICED THAT MOST EXPLORERS IN MY AREA WITH THE SAME LIFTGATE HAVE THE SAME VERTICAL CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL GLASS BREAKING DUE TO SOME STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE WINDOW LIFTGATE. *TR

THE PANEL JUST BELOW THE BACK LIFT GATE WINDOW ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN TWO PLACES. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACKS AND THERE ARE 100'S OF REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. FORD CORPORATE SAID TO CONTACT A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM SO THEY OFFERED NO HELP WITH THE SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HOFFMAN FORD DEALERSHIP IN EAST HARTFORD, CT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SPLIT THE REPAIR COST WITH ME. THEY NEVER FOLLOWED THRU WITH THE OFFER. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CALL ME WHEN THEY HAD THE PART BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. IT IS OBVIOUS FORD CORPORATE KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. THE OUTSIDE OF A...

THE LIFT GATE (WINDOW PORTION) OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS SUSTAINED A CRACK DIRECTLY DOWN THE MIDDLE UNDER THE GLASS. THE CRACK IS CLEAN CUT AND APPEARS TO EXPAND AND CLOSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND CONTRACTS AND CLOSES WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE CRACK APPEARED. I NOTICED IT APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTH AGO AND HAS NOT HAD ANY INCIDENCES THAT WOULD WARRANT THE CRACK. SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE CRACK, I'VE SEEN TWO OTHER EXPLORES THAT HAVE THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION AS MINE, AND STARTING WONDERING IF THIS IS A BODY DEFECT. CAN YOU PLEASE RESEARCH THIS CONCERN FOR ME AND NOTIFY ME OF YOUR FINDINGS? *JB

THE PROBLEM IS MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE, MY PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IS CRACKING FOR NO REASON, I DO NOT USE IS PART OF THE LIFTGATE, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OVER 100 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE REAR WINDOW TO FALLOUT OR EXPLODE WHEN OPERATING THE DOOR OR NORMAL DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE . FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE PANELS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF 2002 AND UP FORD EXPLORER WITH THIS TAILGATE DESIGN. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE HAD CRACKED RIGHT BELOW THE GLASS. THE CRACK IS SPREADING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. HE NOTIFIED FORD WHO STATED THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,590 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, PLASTIC TRIM PIECE BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS CRACKED ALL THE WAY. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE GLASS COULD FALL OUT WITHOUT PROPER STRUCTURAL SUPPORT. FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE REAR GLASS HINGE POSTS, BUT THE WILL NOT FIX THE PLASTIC WHICH BROKE AS A RESULT OF NORMAL CLOSING OF THE HATCHBACK. I FOUND A FORUM WITH 129 POSTINGS ON IT TODAY CLAIMING THE SAME ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML I WOULD LIKE FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND DEFECT. *AK

NOTICED CRACKED PANEL (APPLIQUE) BELOW REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT (SUV) 1ST THOUGHT WAS SOMEONE HIT ME WHILE I WAS PARKED. THEN REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THAT TEMP WAS 19 DEGREES OUTSIDE. AFTER GOING ONLINE TO CAR COMPLAINTS FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. CONTACTED FORD CO. THEY TOLD ME TO GET AN ESTIMATE. METRO FORD GAVE ME ESTIMATE OF $302.89, CALLED FORD CO. BACK THEY SAID THEY WON'T PAY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS FIX, EVEN IF I DID, BET IT WILL CRACK AGAIN WHEN TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING AGAIN. IT HAS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PART. ONLINE COMPLAINTS SAY FORD KNOWS IT'S A FLAW BUT THEY ARE NOT HELPING US CONSUMERS. *TR

REAR LIFTGATE OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPS CRACK ON PIECE BELOW GLASS. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER, CRACK IN REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR, IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. *JB

REAR HATCH ON 2002 EXPLORER TRIM PIECE AT BOTTOM CRACKS..THSI IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT WILL NOT FIX

ON A COLD DAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BODY PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON THE REAR GATE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 32 DEGREE F AT THE TIME. *JB

DAUGHTER CAME OUT OF SCHOOL TO FIND CRACK BENEATH REAR WINDOW. THOUGHT TO BE RESULT OF HIT AND RUN IN PARKING LOT. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. REPAIRED AT NO COST TO US, NO PROBLEM. GOOD DEALER! WE ARE VERY GOOD FORD CUSTOMERS, HAVING BOUGHT EXCLUSIVELY FORDS FOR 20+ YEARS. THIS WILL NOT DETER US FROM BUYING FORD AGAIN. *JB

THERE IS A LARGE CRACK IN MY TAILGATE THAT STARTS AT THE BACK WINDSHIELD GLASS AND RUNS HALFWAY DOWN MY TAILGATE. I GUESS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THESE CRACKS AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS. I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN IF THEY ARE GOING TO TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS...PLEASE HELP US GET THEM TO RECALL THIS. THANKS. *JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON FEB 3RD THE LIFT GATE SPLIT IN 2 PIECES. MANF. DEFECT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING AND HAS NEITHER OFFERED ANY KIND OF MONTEREY ASSISTANCE OR ISSUED A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO PAY THE REPAIR OUT OF MY POCKET BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HAZARD BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ONLY THING HOLDING MY LIFTGATE CLOSED IS THE 2 PUMPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GATE. OBVIOUS HAZARD!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE WHERE THE TAIL GATES ARE FAILING. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE FORD DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT??? *JB

REAR HATCH CRACKED TWO SPOTS. *JB

THE TAIL GATE DOOR PANEL BELOW THE GLASS HAS TO LINE CRACKS. IT BEGAN TO SEPARATE. IT ALSO HAPPEN TO MY FATHER IN-LAW. I HAVE ALSO SEEN IT IN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS. *JB