1994 Ford Explorer Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE BRACKETS FRACTURED AND THE GLASS FELL OUT AND STRUCK HER ON THE HEAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V310001 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY $200 FOR THE REPAIR. CURRENTLY, THE WINDOW CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD OPENED @ 60MPH. THE HOOD IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR BUT THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE CAR. DT

STRUTS THAT HOLD TRUNK OPEN BROKE, AND HATCH DOOR CAN STAY OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LIFTGATE BRACKETS, WHICH ARE COVERED BY A RECALL, CAUSED METAL FATIGUE ON HINGES RESULTING ON THEM TEARING AWAY FROM BODY OF THE VEHICLE.IT IS MY OPINION FORD SHOULD MAKE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALLED COMPONET CAUSED THE DAMAGE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HINGES WEREN'T STRONG ENOUGH FOR DOOR AND OVER TIME THEY WEAKEN AND FAIL. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. NLM

HANDLE SEPARATED FROM DOOR WHEN PULLING DOOR CLOSED. DOOR FELL OPEN INTO TRAFFIC LANE. HANDLE DESIGN DOES NOT INCORPORATE ANY STRUCTURAL ATTACHMENT TO DOOR. HANDLE IS RETAINED SOLELY BY PLASTIC TRIM PANEL SUBJECT TO AGE DETERIORATION. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 95I00700. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOTICED ONE SIDE INCOMPLETE. INFORMED SERVICE MANAGER, WHO REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER 10 MONTHS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS REFERRED TO DEALERSHIP. NOT WILLING TO GET INVOLVED, STATING THEIR REPAIR WAS ADEQUATE.*AK FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED WALL FAILURE, NOS IZE OR KIND OF TIRE IS GIVEN BY CONSUMER. AFTER RECALL 99534, THE GAP BETWEEN THE LIFTGATE AND THE MAIN BODY ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS EXCESSIVE, PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, THE GAP WAS ABOUT 1/8 INCHES AS IS THE PRESENT GAP AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, NOW THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS 3/8 INCH, WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS CLOSED WITH NORMAL FORCE THE BOTTOM LATCH AT THE LEFT HAND SIDE DOES NOT ENGAGE. *SLC

BOLTS ARE SEPARATING FROM HINGE OF LIFTGATE WHICH HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH DOOR PROPERLY OPENING AND CLOSING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE HINGES ARE SEPARATING, BREAKING AWAY FROM THE BODY. *SLC

HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 95I-007, RECALL CAMPAIGN NOT HONORED, LIFT CYLINDER REMOVED AND HATCH BRACKET SPOT-WELDED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *CJ

RECALL REPAIR 99V-310 WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE 7 HOURS, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A RENTAL BUT WAS TOLD HE WOULD HAE TO PAY FOR IT, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A RENTAL SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE WHILE THE REPAIR IS BEING MADE. NLM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WELDS ON BRACKET TORE AWAY FROM SHEET METAL, ALLOWING HATCHBACK TO FALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND SAW HER VEHICLE ON RECALL. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT LIFTGATE ROD BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. THIS WAS SECOND RECALL. *AK

LIFTGATE WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER REQUESTED REFUND BUT ONLY RECIEVED PARTIAL REFUND AND WANTS THE REMAINING UNREFUNDED BALANCE. NLM

BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE GAS CYLINDER BROKE OFF TWICE, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MAY RESULT IN INJURIES. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

HYDRAULIC LIFTGATE WELD CYNLINDER HATCH UNEXPECTEDLY CAME DOWN ON CONSUMER'S HEAD. *AK

RIGHT SIDE CARGO DOOR HINGE RIPPED METAL AND CAME OUT, AND DOOR FELL. CALLED DEALER-SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF PROBLEM IN EXPLORERS. YET SAFETY HOTLINE LISTED EXACT PROBLEM AS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN. CONSUMER CALLE D FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS INSTRUCTED. THEY STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR EXPLORER, AND THEY WOULD FIX IT IF VEHICLE WAS UNDER 60, 000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF A SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND SHE WENT TO LIFT THE LIFTGATE WINDOW/DOOR AND SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS CAME LOOSE, AND THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE HYDRAULIC LIFT, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY PART DETACHED. *AK PRIOR TO RECALL THE LIFTGATE FAILED ( 95I-007). VEHICLE TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WOULD TAKE 2 WEEKS TO FIX AND NO LOONER CAR WOULD PROVIDE. *YH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION, PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP IN SCHEDULING APPOINTMENT, CONSUMER HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FURTHER AWAY TO RECEIVE REPAIR OF THE BRACKET. *YH

PASSENGER SIDE TAILGATE BRACKET SUPPORTING GAS ASSIST CYLINDER TOTALLY DETACHED AFTER TAILGATE WAS FULLY OPENED. TAILGATE DROPPED, STRIKING MY SON ON HEAD AND SHOULDERS, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. ALTHOUGH TAILGATE WILL CLOSE, IT UNLATCHES (OPENS) ON ROUGH ROADS/SPEED BUMPS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (1-800-392-3673) CONTACTED 9/9/99 AND ADVISED THAT MFG CAMPAIGN #95M87 WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND NEIL SANDLER & TED RUSSELL FORD DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE.

RECEIVED RECALL 99V310001/ LIFTGATE CYLINDERS. DEALER WANTS THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, OWNER COMPLETED REPAIR DUE TO DEALERSHIP ESTIMATION OF THE COMPLETE REPAIR BEING EXCESSIVE, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO REPAIR CIRCUMSTANCES (99V-310). *MJS

RECEIVED RECALL 99V31001 & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED BEFORE WORK COULD BE DONE. TOOK VEHICLE IN & NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MECHANIC HAD NO ANSWER TO QUESTIONS OF PARTS FOR HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS. OWNER'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. *AK

BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE BEING USED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. YH

RECALLED LIFTGATE BRACKET FAILED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. #. NK