2004 FORD EXPLORER Structure Problems

CRACKED REAR HATCH. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MY HATCH DIDN'T CRACK TILL AFTER THIS COLD WINTER. BUT, THIS IS THE FIRST WINTER THAT THIS EXPLORER HAS BEEN KEPT OUTSIDE, NOT GARAGED. MY GARAGED IS UNDER MY HOUSE AND INSULATED. IT NEVER GETS BELOW FREEZING IN THE GARAGE. I CALLED FORD AND ASKED THEM IF THEY CAN HELP FINANCIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS. THEY SAID NO. *TR

THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER, THIS APPARENTLY IS SOMETHING THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR

LEAVING WORK AT END OF DAY, PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND REAR GLASS SHATTERED. THE EDGES OF THE BACK HATCH PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRUCK AND CURLED UP CAUSING THE GLASS TO BLOW INTO THE TRUCK. A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC OF THE HATCH (WHICH I HAVE SEEN ON MANY OF THIS YEAR MODEL) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND I HAVE EMAILED FORD MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR FEAR OF WATER GETTING IN BEHIND THE PANEL. MY BELIEF IS THAT WATER DID GET BEHIND THE PANEL AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE PLASTIC PANEL TO PULL AWAY AND BLOW IN THE GLASS. LUCKILY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT SITTING IN THE 2ND OR 3RD ROW SEATING OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THAT FLYING GLASS. *TR

EXACT DATES ARE VARIOUS , VEHICLE HAS 39000 MILES ON IT PRESENTLY , HAVE MULTIPLE VEHICLES , DRIVE OVER THE ROAD TRUCK DRIVER ... CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE , EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT WORKING , HAD FIXED , HAD TO HAVE EKG REPLACED AND SOME EXHAUST SENSOR , TIRES WORE OUT AT 29000 , EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED , BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACED , PINION GEAR GASKET LEAKING FROM REAR END , BOTH CV JOINTS LEAKING , APPEARS RIGHT CV JOINT NEEDS REPLACING , GETS 14 MPG ( 4.0 LITER ) PAINT PEELING FROM ROOF FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW , RUSTING AROUND FUEL TANK DOOR , AS ALL ARE ...... VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE , GETTING RID OF THIS AT 39000 MILES , FORD HAS A BETTER IDEA , BUY ANOTHER ONE ! *TR

CRACKED PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW, WENT TO GARAGE AND FOUND THIS, CRACKED ALL THE WAY THRU. *TR

THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH ITS FORD EXPLORERS PRODUCED 2002-2008. THE BACK DOOR PANEL CRACKS ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUST UNDER THE WINDOW. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND MANY DOCUMENTED WHO HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY EXPLODE. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ONLY TO ALARM THE DRIVER AND CAUSE A MAJOR FREEWAY ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MOVING TO GET THE FORD COMPANY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. BUT THEY ARE WAITING FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT, INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS USED ON 4-19-13 AND HAD NOTICED THE CRACK TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. UPON CLOSER LOOK TODAY THERE IS A SECOND CRACK ABOUT 8 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE EMBLEM. *TR

4 YEARS AGO THE PLASTIC NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM CRACKED RIGHT OF THE EMBLEM ON MY BACK HATCH. I LOOKED INTO IT AND THERE WAS 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT I HAD AT AN AVERAGE COST OF ONLY $800. THEN TONIGHT MY WIFE GOT SOME CHAIRS OUT OF THE REAR HATCH THEN WHEN CLOSING IT THE REAR GLASS FALLS OUT OF THE EXPLORER BECAUSE " THE ALUMINUM REAR HATCH HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE" WHICH HAS AN AVERAGE COST OF $300. MIND YOU THE LITTLE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW HINGE ON IS ONLY THE SIZE OF AN ERASER HEAD, BOTH OF THE REAR HATCH DEFECTS ARE NOT UNDER ANY RECALL YET MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND OR POSTED VIA THE INTERNET. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO FAMILIES AS IT SHOULD BE TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY " WHICH SEEMS NOT TO CARE...

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN JULY 0F 2011, AND TRADED IN MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE OF 5 YEARS. I ALSO PURCHASED THE 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. BEFORE DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT I HAD THE DEALER FIX THE ABS SYSTEM BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS ON. THERE IS A CRACK GOING DOWN THE BACK OF THE TRUNK BUT NOTHING ELSE WAS WRONG AT THE TIME SO I LEFT THE CRACK ALONE. IN APRIL OF 2012 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A BELT, CHECK TRANS, SHOCKS, BALL JOINTS, AND A TICKING IN THE HEATER WHEN KNOB WAS TURNED TO HEAT (NOT COOL). I TOLD HIM TO JUST FIX WHAT WAS ON THE WARRANTY AND ALSO GIVE IT A OIL CHANGE. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANS WAS FINE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK MY HEAT WENT OUT AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC BUDDY THAT MY BRAKES,...

THE REAR HATCH JUST CAME OFF AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OUT OF A STORE, THE HINGE JUST BROKE OFF. *TR

ON 19 APR 2012 WHILE OPENING THE BACK HATCH WINDOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE OF THE WINDOW FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE WAS BENT AND THE HYDRULIC LIFTS POPPED OPEN THE WINDOW RATHER RAPIDLY WHICH COULD HAVE SEVERELY INJURED ME IF IT HIT ME. I WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW MYSELF SO I COULD DRIVE AGAIN. A BYSTANDER HELPED ME OUT TO CLOSE IT. AFTER READING OTHER REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ONLINE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR 2004 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

WHILE LOADING GROCERIES, I NOTICED THE HINGES TO MY REAR WINDOW WERE CRACKED. I QUIT USING THE WINDOW IN FEAR OF IT BREAKING. THE COST TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC HINGE IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS! I ALSO HAD A FRIEND CALL TODAY AND HIS HINGE BROKE, THANKFULLY THE GLASS DID NOT BREAK. FORD KNOWS THE HINGES ARE DEFECTIVE. WHY WOULD A MAJOR COMPANY LIKE FORD OVERLOOK THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE A CHANCE OF MANY LAW SUITS DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE? THERE ARE OVER 1600 COMPLAINTS RECORDED. HOW MANY MORE IS NEEDED FOR A RECALL? FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HESITATED BUYING THIS FORD BECAUSE MY FIRST FORD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THIRTY YEARS LATER I STILL THINK OF ALL THE BAD STORIES AND NOW, I WANT MY CHEVY BACK. *TR

THE HINGES THAT HOLD ON THE REAR WINDOW ARE FAILING AND I CANNOT OPEN THE REAR WINDOW BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL FALL OFF. OTHER YEAR EXPLORERS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS VERY REASON AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE 2004 MODEL WAS NOT RECALLED. THE PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE IN OTHER YEARS. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I NOTICED THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW START TO CRACK. AS TIME WENT ON THE CRACK CONTINUED DOWN THE ENTIRE PANEL NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. THE REAR WINDOW NOW MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL LOOSEN ENOUGH FOR IT TO POP OUT IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT HAS CERTAINLY REDUCED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FROM YOU AND THAT UNTIL THERE WAS I SHOULD GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT FIXED. REPAIR COSTS SEEM TO BE AROUND $400. FOR THE PANEL PLUS PAINTING. I REALLY THINK A DESIGN FLAW SHOULD NOT BE MY PROBLEM. THEY KNOW IT WAS A FLAW SINCE THE NEWER MODELS ARE DESIGNED COMPLETELY...

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS ALL PEELING OFF IT LOOKS LIKE CRAP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT 600.00 TO 1,500 TO REPAINT AND FIX IT CAR PAINT SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF THE ROOF I HAVE READ THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE WITH THE PAINT ON THERE EXPLORERS. *TR

CONCERNING MY 2004 EXPLORER XLT. THE REAR HATCHBACK THAT OPENS THE BACK WINDOWS HAS A BROKEN LATCH. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS PART JUST SEEMED TO IMPLODE AND LEFT ME UNABLE TO CLOSE THE REAR BACK WINDOW. THE GARAGE I TOOK IT TO SAID FORD INFORMED THEM THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL 07-18-2011. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A RECALLED ITEM FOR THE GARAGE INFORMED ME IT HAPPENS QUITE REGULARLY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE OR AM ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEEDED REPAIR. . *TR

VEHICLE REAR LIFTGATE HAS A CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF IT. FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES. PROBLEM CONFIRMED AS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL OF EXPLORER. NO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS OF THIS TIME. *TR

A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE ON OUR REAR WINDOW HATCH BROKE. MY MOM OPENED THE BACK WINDOW HATCH ON MY VEHICLE & WHEN SHE WENT TO SHUT IT, THE ENTIRE WINDOW CAME DOWN ON HER. THEN WE COULD NOT GET IT SHUT. WE HAD TO STAND THERE IN 80+ DEGREE HEAT HOLDING THE ENTIRE WINDOW (WHICH IS QUITE HEAVY), WHILE MY 2 YEAR OLD BAKED IN THE CAR, UNTIL MY DAD & BROTHER COULD GET TO THE STORE WE WERE AT TO RESCUE US. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO SHUT (THOUGH WE WERE TERRIFIED THE GLASS WAS GOING TO SHATTER AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO THE TENSION ON IT) & WE DUCT TAPED IT TO KEEP IT IN PLACE. WE HAD THE HINGE REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL BODY SHOP, & HAD THEM REPLACE BOTH HINGES TO BE PROACTIVE. IT COST ABOUT $200. AFTER THIS...

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 1/28/11. THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED / WARRANTED VEHICLE. I WAS ASSURED BY THE TOYOTA SALESMAN THAT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH THE CAR HAS INCLUDE: MISMATCHED TIRES, INOPERABLE SUNROOF, LEAK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL & NOISE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD THESE PROBLEMS NEEDED REPAIR. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RETURNED NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, EMAILS & WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THEM, I WAS TOLD ALL THESE REPAIRS HAD BEEN FIXED & LATER FOUND OUT THAT NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER: 1) PLASTIC EXTERIOR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW IS CRACKED, IN 2006 FORD HAD A REPAIR ASSIST PROGRAM, THEREBY ACKNOWLING THE FAILURES. IT NO LONGER IS OFFERING THAT REPAIR ASSISTANCE?? THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE ON INTERNET FORUMS. 2) LEFT REAR WINDOW HINGE BROKE FREE FROM THE WINDOW WHEN I OPENED THE WINDOW, I WAS FORTUANTE IT DID NOT FALL ON MY HEAD (THE RISER PISTON WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT IT ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE). I HAD TO PAY $50 FOR NEW HINGES. I AM WAITING FOR THE NON-REPLACED HINGE TO FAIL AS WELL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THESE HINGE FAILURES ON THE INTERNET. THE FORD DEALER NEAREST FORD WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN DEABORN, MI WHERE I BOUGHT THE NEW HINGES TOLD ME THEY HAVE SOLD 10 NEW HINGE PACKAGES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS TO CUSTOMERS DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR PANEL CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WERE NOT SECURE AND COULD FALL OUT AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HATCH BACK FIBER GLASS FAILED. THE FIBER GLASS CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FIBER GLASS FAILED DUE TO STRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIBER CLASS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

REAR PANEL VERTICAL CRACK BELOW WINDOW. *TR

I AWOKE ONE MORNING AND I FOUND A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 04 FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT THE PREVIOUS EVENING WHEN I GOT HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR STORIES. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO MANUFACTURER RECALL TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. PLASTIC REAR HATCH CRACKED UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURE. REAR GLASS MAY BREAK WHILE DRIVING AND POSE HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. PLAN ON REPLACING, HOWEVER I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD PAY FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE POOR QUALITY OF THE ORIGINAL PART. *TR

CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW. FROM THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH. HAD WINDOW TIGHTENED. *TR

WERE A FAMILY A FORD EXPLORER MY FAMILY HAS 4 OF THEM RANGING FROM THE YEARS 1996,99,2002,2004 AND EVERYONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES. RANGING FROM ROTTING SUSPENSION PARTS,TO WHEEL BEARING ISSUES ON NEWER MODELS,ROTTING FUEL AND BRAKE LINES,THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN AMERICAN MADE COMPANY THAT IS JEOPARDIZING THE LIVES OF AMERICAN AND CHILDREN WITH TOTAL DISREGARD OF HUMAN LIFE,BUT I BET YOU THE OWNERS OF FORD DON'T HAVE THESE ISSUES THEY PROBABLY DRIVES FOREIGN HAHA BUT SERIOUSLY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT BY THIS AND IT COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET TO FIX AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS PLEASE DO A RECALL ITS SO UNFAIR AT THIS POINT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LONG HAIR LINE FRACTURE ALONG THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. UPDATED 01/06/11 UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF UPDATED 02/03/11

IN JULY 2010, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PANEL PORTION OF THE BACK WINDOW HATCH OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER, WHO MORE OR LESS SAID WELCOME TO THE CLUB, AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE BODY SHOP. THE COST OF $500-600 WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY ME AND THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN FORD MOTOR CO., I THOUGHT I COULD EXPECT MORE FROM A LOCAL MANUFACTURER. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN PRODUCT TESTS AND/OR TRIALS. WHY DIDN'T FORD KNOW THAT THE MATERIAL THEY USED WAS NOT CAPABLE OF STANDING UP TO THE USE IN THE AREA THEY PLACED IT? *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL IN TAILGATE BELOW WINDOW. *TR

1. PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW CRACKED NOV 2009; CRACK IS LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM AND IS THE LENGTH OF THE PANEL. FORD REFUSED TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE; WE DID NOT REPAIR IT. 2. THIS MORNING TAILGATE GLASS BLEW OUT WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS NEAR IT WHEN IT HAPPENED AS GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER 24 HRS. *TR

HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER I BOUGHT NEW. IT NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 95250 MILES. AFTER WASHING CAR 2-5-10, A MILD DAY HERE IN CT THOUGH WINTERTIME, I NOTICED TRIM PANEL UNDER REAR WINDOW SHOWED VERTICAL CRACK MOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER CRACK HAD MIGRATED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO BOTTOM OF PANEL. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLINE 2-17-10 ASKING IF THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AS HAD READ OTHERS HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM AS WELL ON VARIOUS AUTOMOBILE WEBSITES LIKE EDMUNDS. UNDERSTOOD BEFORE WRITING IT WAS NOT A RECALL AT THAT TIME. GOT A POLITE RESPONSE 2-18-10 THAT THOUGH SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, I SHOULD BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS BAD ENOUGH TO WARRANT SUCH A TRIP. HOWEVER, I AM NOTICING THAT THE WINDOW HOW SEEMS TO RATTLE WHEN CLOSING IF ONLY THE WINDOW PORTION IS OPENED RATHER THAN...

CLOSING THE GLASS LIFTGATE ON A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, THE HINGE PIN PULLED THROUGH THE HINGE STRUCTURE CAUSING THE GLASS TO DROP. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CATCH THE GLASS HAND WAS PINNED, BUT NO INJURY WAS SUFFERED. *TR

LETTER TO THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM SENATOR BURR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT CONCERNING A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE REAR WINDOW OF HER 2004 FORD EXPLORER *TGW

NOTICED THE LIFT GATE HINGE OF OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS CRACKED. WE'VE NOW REMOVED THE GLASS FROM THE LIFT GATE AND ARE TRYING TO FIND PARTS FOR IT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGER, NOT KNOWING WHEN THE GLASS CAN CRACK/SHATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE PART. *TR

THE BACK PANEL UNDER THE BACK WIDOW CRACKED AND FORD WAS CONTACTED TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS WERE IN PLACE FOR THAT PART. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THAT ISSUE. MY HUSBAND WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND WENT OVER A BUMP. BECAUSE THE GLASS RUNS UNDER THE PANEL, IT GOT STRESSED AND BUSTED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE PART WITH ANOTHER FORD BACK HATCH. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. LARGE CRACK IN HATCH BACK BETWEEN GLASS AND HANDLE (AROUND THE FORD LOGO). THIS OCCURRED WITH NORMAL VEHICLE USE AND DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. CRACK CONTINUES TO EXPAND. AFRAID THAT IF CRACK IS LEFT UNFIXED IT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE BACK GLASS TO FALL OUT OF THE HATCH DUE TO LACK OF PROPER SUPPORT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A RANDOM CRACK IN THE BODY IN THE HATCHBACK. THE CRACK APPEARS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM. THERE WAS NO PRECIPITANT TO THE EVENT AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS TRAUMA TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD NO REPAIRS OR PROBLEMS WITH THIS AREA PREVIOUSLY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP I DO BUSINESS WITH SAID THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND COULD FIX IT FOR BETWEEN $600 & $700. I SPOKE TO FORD MOTOR CO. WHO SAID THIS IS NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A RECALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A STRUCTURAL DEFECT ON MY VEHICLE, NOT CAUSED BY MYSELF OR A 3RD PARTY, CAN NOT CONSTITUTE A RECALL. HOW CAN FORD SAY THIS ISN'T DANGEROUS? IF A PIECE OF THE BODY WERE TO FLY INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE...

WENT TO OPEN REAR DOOR AND NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING DOWN THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. MY FORD EXPLORER IS A 2004 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. INSTEAD I WAS TOLD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY ARE YOU KIDDING THIS IS FORDS PROBLEM NOT MINE. IT COULD FALL OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING AND HURT SOMEONE WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICA. *TR

NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, WALKED OUT OF MY HOUSE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED "THE EXPLORER CRACK" ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. TEMP WAS 26 DEGREES THAT NIGHT. *TR

THE BACK HATCH HAS A CRACK UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. JUST APPEARED....AS I'VE NOTICED SEVERAL FORD 2004 EXPLORERS IN THIS AREA HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. RECALL IS VERY MUCH NECESSARY. AS WELL AS THE CAR JOLTING INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE....I STILL OWE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THIS LOAN AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS....FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON BOTH...THEY NEED TO HIRE SOME JAPANESE WORKERS SINCE THEIR CARS SEEM NOT TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.....I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB OF 2008 AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER THAT.....CAR ONLY HAD 48K MILES ON IT. *TR

CRACKED TAILGATE PANEL WHERE "FORD" EMBLEM IS. CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER EXPLORERS WITH SAME CRACKS. I BELIEVE IT'S DEFECTIVE MATERIALS BEING USED AND FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY VEHICLE HAS PEELED OFF ONLY TO REVEAL RUST. OF COURSE, THE WARRANTY STATES THAT IF THERE IS NO PERFORATION THEN NOT THEIR FAULT IF MORE THAN 60 MONTHS HAVE PASSED. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW WINDOW, THIS CRACK ONE DAY, NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

FORD DESIGNED A PLASTIC PIECE OF MOLDING THAT IS GLUED TO THE BACK GLASS OF EVERY EXPLORER. THIS HAS CRACKED ON EVERY EXPLORER I HAVE SEEN. IT HAS BEEN FIXED ONCE BY FORD, BUT IT HAS BROKE AGAIN. I ASSUME THAT IF IT HAS BROKE EVERY TWO YEARS SO FAR, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BREAK. FORD HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TAILGATE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE REAR GLASS. THE CRACK APPEARED TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR IT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WITH A DISCOUNT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY. THE UPPER PART OF THE GLASS IS MADE OF FIBER GLASS AND THE BOTTOM IS MADE OF METAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT FIBER GLASS WAS INCLUDED. THE COLD WEATHER COULD CAUSE THE CRACK IN THE WINDOW TO EXPAND. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76356. UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRACK IS AT THE CENTER OF THE EMBLEM AS WELL AS IN THE FIBER GLASS PART, NOT THE GLASS....

MY 2004 EXPLORER DEVELOPED A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TAILGATE ATTACHED TO THE BACK GLASS. CRACK APPEARED TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. ONCE THE CRACK APPEARED IT EVENTUALLY STARTED TO MOVE DOWN THE PLASTIC PIECE, WAS VISIBLE ON MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS. ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY BACK GLASS SHATTERED AND THE PLASTIC TAILGATE PIECE UNATTACHED ITSELF AT THE SIDES FROM THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS. COULD HAVE AFFECTED OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD HAD SOMEONE BEEN BEHIND ME. I ALSO HAVE A 3RD ROW SEAT IN VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT IN USE AT THE TIME OR THEY COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BE DEBRIS AS WELL. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER. IN MAY OF 2009 THE PAINT BEGAN TO BUBBLE IN PLACES ALONG THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. THESE SPOTS BECAME LARGER AND EVENTUALLY THE PAINT CHIPPED OFF, REVEALING A CORRODED BARE ALUMINUM SURFACE. THE HOOD IS NOT METAL, THEREFORE IT CAN NOT RUST. IT MUST BE A PAINT DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE A CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, IT CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. WHILE DRIVING THAT PIECE CAN FALL OFF AND HIT A PERSON WALKING OR HIT THE CAR BEHIND, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN PAYING THE OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OR HOSPITAL BILLS. THIS PROBLEM OR DEFECT, RECALL WHICH EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, FORD HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO FAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLES, WITH THE PROBLEM. I THOUGHT CAN BRING THIS UP TO YOUR COMPANY AND SEE WHERE THIS GOES. THANK YOU FOR TIME HOPE TO HEAR THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST IS THAT THE BACK GATE CRACKED FROM THE WINDOW. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT MY TRUCK IS MAKING A LOUD THUMP IN REVERSE, AND AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE AFTER BEING IN REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM THE ENGINE SLIPPING. *TR

NOTICED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAD A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW WHEN I WAS WASHING IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A RECALL BUT I SEE ABOUT 100 OTHERS HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR