2003 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

WE HAVE OWNED THE SUBJECT 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE HOLDING THE REAR GLASS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FAILURE IS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA RECALL #04V442000. FORD INFORMS ME THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS CONTINUING SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THEY REPLACED THE HINGE ONCE BEFORE IN 2006. I HAVE NO RECORD OF SUCH A REPAIR, NOT DO I AGREE THAT FORD'S POLICY OF ONLY PERFORMING ONE REPLACEMENT IS VALID. EVEN IF THEY DID REPLACE IT ONCE, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND THE SAFETY ISSUE STILL REMAINS. I WOULD EXPECT NHTSA TO DIRECT FORD TO PROPERLY FIX THE PROBLEM, RATHER CAUSE ME TO PAY FORD FOR YET ANOTHER REPLACEMENT FOR THE INEFFECTIVE ONE THEY PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. *TR

LARGE SPONTANEOUS STRESS CRACK APPEARED, BISECTING THE UPPER LIFTGATE BODY PANEL ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. FORD REFERS TO THIS PART AS LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE TO INCLUDE IN OUR CITY ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. THIS HAPPENED IN WINTER. I SEE IN CAR STATS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THERE TOO. *TR

REAR TAIL GATE HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS FROM THE WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR

THE HOOD ON MY VEHICLE IS BLISTERING AND BUBBLING OFF IN MANY AREAS. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED FROM THE BACK GLASS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EMBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. *TR

PLASTIC BODY PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFT GATE HAS CRACKED. *TR

REAR TAILGATE/LIFTGATE DOOR PANEL CRACKED IN TWO PLACES VERTICALLY WHILE IN GARAGE PARKED. *TR

WE HAD COLD WEATHER THE LAST FEW DAYS (-11 BELOW) AND NOW THERE IS A CRACK IN BODY, JUST BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH. IT EXTENDS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW TO THE END OF THE HATCH. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE FOR MY EXPLORER AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED BY ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE GLASS, THE HINGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,773.

APPLIQUE UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED NEXT TO EMBLEM WITH NO IMPACT. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE DAWN AND HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE (IT WAS THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION). I THOUGHT THAT A TIRE MAY HAVE BLOWOUT, WHICH WAS STRANGE SINCE THE CAR HAS A SET OF NEW TIRES AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHANGES IN THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED THE CAR USING A FLASH LIGHT. I SAW NOTHING. LATER THAT DAY WHEN I WENT TO GET GASOLINE, I SAW A CRACK IN THE PANEL THAT CONTAINED THE FORD LOGO, ABOUT 2 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE LOGO THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL TO THE BOTTOM. IT WAS JUST A CLEAN CRACK ON THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THIS HAPPENED ON A COLD NIGHT (19 DEG. F). FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND READ IT SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW WITH...

FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH DEFECT, CRACK IN HATCH, FORD HAS RELEASED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT SAYS IT IS AN OWNER RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. AS A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH BASICALLY THE SAME ANSWER FROM FORD. *TR

2003 FOR EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL UNDER THE REAR GLASS HAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. NO KNOWN CAUSE. THERE APPEAR TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH JUST SUDDENLY CRACKED... IT WASN'T HIT OR ANYTHING, IT JUST CRACKED. *TR

TRIM PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF REAR HATCH WINDOW DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK UNEXPECTEDLY. CRACK IS VERTICAL FROM WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF LIFTGATE GLASS. *TR

PLASTIC BODY PART BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS CRACKED. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER PAINT PEELING. *TR

THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO OUR DRY WEATHER, THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT OCCURRING IN OTHER STATES. I TRAVEL BEYOND COLORADO FREQUENTLY AND HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER/FORD DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

THERE IS A CRACK ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION LIFT GATE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME SPOT. *TR

PAINT PEELING OFF MY CAR. *TR

VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2003 JUST BELOW THE GLASS AND GOING DOWN. *TR

THE BACK LIFT GATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD THE CRACK FOR APPROX. 2 YEARS. THE CRACK HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID " THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL CASES SUCH AS THIS, BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL" I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THIS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD DEFECT. *TR

MY BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED LAST THURSDAY WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT ONLY DID THE GLASS EXPLODE, BUT THE FIBERGLASS UNDERNEATH THE GLASS WAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE BACKEND OF THE TRUCK IN A BOWING POSITION. I HAD THE BACK HINGE REPLACED AFTER THE RECALL, IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN NASHUA WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME, STATING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THERE ARE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE AREA FACTORY REP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER, WHO PRETTY MUCH SAID, HERE'S YOUR HAT, WHAT'S YOUR HURRY, OUT YOU GO...HE THEN FLAGGED ME AS BEING AN "IRATE" CUSTOMER. I AM A MOTHER OF 4 YOUNG CHILDREN, GOD FORBID THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WHEN THAT HAD HAPPENED. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES..FORD-BUILT...

JULY OF 2007 THE REAR WINDOW ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAD BROKEN AT ONE OF THE HINGES AND THE WINDOW SAGGED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL, (04V44200). WE THEN CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. NOW 10 MONTHS LATER WHILE THE AUTO WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE WINDOW SHATTERED WITH NO ONE AROUND. THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR WORKING IN THE YARD WHO WITNESSED THIS HAPPEN. GLASS WAS BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER A WEEK OF PHONE CALLS WITH NO LUCK, I WAS FINALLY IN TOUCH WITH A ONE OF THE PARTS GUYS AT FORD WHO SAID THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HE WAS AWARE OF. HE EVEN STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED THE HINGES AND NOT THE GLASS WHICH IS KNOWN TO SHATTER. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, WE WERE...

2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACK IN REAR DOOR PANEL (CARGO DOOR) WE NOTICED THIS CRACK AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IT WAS NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK DOOR. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A DEFECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY,AND EXPECT THEM TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE US WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE ALSO READ MANY OF THESE SAME STORIES ABOUT THE CRACKED REAR DOOR ONLINE. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING, IT'S A SHAME THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR

AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AND AM SURE COUNTLESS OTHERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE REAR OF THE 2003 EXPLORERS. IS ANYTHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT? I HAVE TALKED TO FORD AND TO DEALERS AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. MY CONCERN BECAME LARGER THEN COSMETIC TODAY WHEN I LEFT THE CAR WASH. NOW NOT ONLY IS THERE THAT HUGE CRACK BUT ALSO THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDOW IS FALLING OUT AND WATER IS GETTING IN. IF THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN I WONDER NOW IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE WINDOWS START TO FALL OUT??? DOES FORD REALLY NEED ANOTHER HUGE LAWSUIT WHEN WHAT I SEE STARTING TO HAPPEN TO ME STARTS WITH OTHERS IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. WILL FORD JUST WAIT FOR REAR WINDOWS TO FALL OUT GOING DOWN THE...

THE BACK PANEL OF MY 2003 EXPLORER IS CRACKED. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AT LIBERTY FORD IN RANDALLSTOWN. THEY ADMIT AS WELL AS THE FORD CORP. OFFICE THAT THE PANELS ARE CRACKING BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE SAYING THE PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN THE INVESTIGATION STARTED OR WHEN THEY THINK IT WILL END. THEY ARE ONLY SAYING THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PARTICULAR REASON THAT THESE PANELS ARE CRACKING THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THEM. *TR

PAINT PROBLEMS PAINT KEEPS ON BLISTERING AND PEELING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW THAT CRACKED IN HALF VERTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ,AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE VEHICLE HE FOUND IT THAT WAY. HE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW OF EXPLODED . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 48000.*AK

MY 2003 XLT EXPLORER HAS A FIBERGLASS PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE TAIL GATE. WE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALER IN AUGUST AND WITH IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS A CRACK APPEARED FROM THE WINDOW TO THE TOP OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN MANY EXPLORERS AND FORD IS AWARE OF IT BUT THEY DO NOT OFFER ANY SAVINGS OR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR REPAIR. IF THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT, THAN WHAT IS FORD DOING TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE? *NM

FORD EXPLORER- 2003 LOCATION REAR HATCH OR DOOR. PANEL BELOW WINDOW WHERE FORD EMBLEM APPEARS. PLASTIC BODY PART SPLITS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER EXPLORERS. DEALER SAYS IT IS CAUSED BY REAR WIPER MOTOR BEING HOUSED BEHIND CRACK. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR, THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, WITHOUT CHARGING CUSTOMER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE. *NM