2002 Ford Explorer Structure

WE OWN A FORD EXPLORER IN MY WIFE'S NAME DIANA GIRALDO. ON SUNDAY 9/19/2004 SHE OPENED THE BACK LIFTGATE AND THE HINGE BROKE AND THE TOP HALF (GLASS ) OF THE LIFTGATE ALMOST CAME DOWN ON HER. THE SUV WAS BROUGHT BACK TO FULLERTON FORD IN SOMERVILLE NJ WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. THEY CHARGED US FOR REPAIRS AND THE PART ALSO FOR A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY WERE REPAIRING IT. IT TURNS OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS WHICH I FOUND ON YOUR WEB SITE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID THE RECALL LETTERS HAVEN'T WENT OUT YET SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE HINGE AND NOT THE LIFTGATE STRUTS WHICH WAS THE PARTS IN THE RECALL ALSO. RECALL NUMBER 04V442000 ON YOUR SITE , FORD RECALL NUMBER 04S20 *AK

WHILE OPENING MY REAR HATCH WINDOW OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE DRIVER-SIDE HINGE (STRUT.PCO) WHICH LIFTS THE WINDOW CAME OFF, DECOMPRESSING HARD ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY SHATTER THE WINDOW ABOVE ME. I HAD SEVERAL CUTS TO MY NECK, ARMS AND HEAD BUT NOTHING LIFE THREATENING. I WENT TO FORD ABOUT THIS AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE I AM BEYOND THE 36K FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIRS FOR ME. I ASKED ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I PAID $2000 FOR AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS. I HAD TO PAY MY $500 INSURANCE DEDUCTABLE TO COVER THE REPAIRS AT MY LOSS. SINCE JUNE, I HAVE SEARCHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FIND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WHICH NOT ONLY HAD THE SAME OUTCOME, BUT THE SAME SORT OF FREAK ACCIDENT. WHY DOES FORD NOT VALUE SAFETY? IF MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE STANDING NEXT TO ME AS HE ALWAYS DOES, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK

THE RIGHT SIDE PISTON ASSEMBLY ON THE REAR TAILGATE FAILED. AS I WAS GOING TO CLOSE THE TAILGATE, THE WHOLE WINDOW SHATTERED ON TOP OF ME, RESULTING IN GLASS IN MY FACE AND THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEEN THAT THERE IS A "SAFETY CAMPAIGN" CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE. *JB

THE HINGE FAILED ON THE LIFTGATE GLASS *AK

DRIVERS SIDE LIFT ARM ON REAR HATCH FAILED TO RETRACT, CAUSING HATCH TO CLOSE WITH ARM EXTENDED RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO LEFT HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR HATCH. LIFT ARM WAS DEFECTIVE IN THAT IT WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF DRIVERS SIDE LIFT ARM AND DRIVERS SIDE HINGE. REAR HATCH NOW DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY. *AK

WHILE CLOSING THE REAR LIFT GATE, THE ENTIRE GLASS PORTION EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. (RECALL#04V442000) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. SCC PE04045.PCO. *JB

ON JUNE 4, 2001, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO WORLD FORD KENDALL SERVICE (FLORIDA REGISTRATION #MV-06413) FOR REPAIR (INVOICE #W71526) OF THE LEFT REAR LIFTGATE CYLINDER WHICH WAS DETACHED FROM ITS BRACKET, THE MECHANIC (JOSE FUENTES) TRIED THREE TIMES TO REPAIR IT ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISORY #01T02 AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (JOSE TEJEDO) EVEN WENT TO ONE OF THEIR STOCK VEHICLES, A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO CHANGE THE LIFT GATE CYLINDER WITH MINE AND IT DETACHED AFTER TWO CLOSINGS, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO STATED THAT THE FLIP-UP GLASS WAS BENDING IN THE MIDDLE DURING CLOSING AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO SHATTER, HE ALSO STATED THAT FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY TO FIX IT AND THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL IT. PE04045_PCO RE-EVAL TO DET TO BE VALID SINCE PE OPENING_PCO *SC

I WAS OPENING THE DOOR TO GET MY DAUGHTERS DIAPER BAG AND HINGE BROKE. MY HUSBAND WAS TRYING TO PUT IT BACK AND THE GLASS SHATTERED IN HIS HANDS. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE AS THE GLASS SHATTERED. THIS COULD HAVE TAKEN MY ENTIRE FAMILIES EYE SIGHT. THE GLASS LITERALLY EXPLODED. THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE YOUNG CHILDREN AROUND. AND MOTHERS ARE OPENING UP THE HATCH TO GET OUT A DIAPER BAG WITH A CHILD IN HAND. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS HATCH. WE TOOK IT TO FORD. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL.*AK PE04045_PCO

CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING A CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN HE OPENED THE REAR HATCH. WHEN HE CLOSED THE HATCHBACK THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE OF VIN, PER MANUFACTURER. *AK PE04045.PCO DOB IS 12/02_061704_PCO

THE HINGES ON THE BACK HATCH WINDOW SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO SAG AND LEAN OUTWARDS WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. *AK THE HINGE ON THE BACK HATCH WINDOW SEPARATED FROM THE BODY AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO BE HELD ON BY ONE HINGE. THE WINDOW WAS HANGING FROM THE HINGE ONLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HINGES. (HATCH DOOR PROBLEM) *SC *JB PE04045_PCO

THE REAR HATCHBACK HINGES FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK PE04045.PCO

THE HINGES ON THE REAR DOOR POPPED OFF AND SHATTERED THE GLASS. THE GLASS FELL ONTO THE TODDLER STANDING BY THE DOOR. THE REAR DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED. *AK

1) I OPENED THE TOP PART OF THE LIFT GATE, AND LEFT IT OPEN 2) I HEARD A LOUD CRASH, WHILE NOBODY WAS WITHIN 15 FEET OF THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW HAD CATASHROPHIC FAILURE, AND LAID ON THE GROUND IN PIECES. IT APPEARS THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE LIFT GATE WAS TOO INTENSE FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE GLASS. 3)IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER CARPORT. THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED, WHEN THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FAILED AS WELL AS THE LOWER HALF OF BODY OF GATE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE "NORMAL," AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME THAT DAY. OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD US HE "HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE".*AK PE04045.PCO *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE ENTIRE ROOF COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLES BODY WAS WEAK. *JB

THE REAR WINDOW GATE ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS SHATTERED TWICE FROM THE SIMPLE ACT OF CLOSING THE WINDOW.1.) MY WIFE ON BOTH OCCASIONS WAS LOADING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS IN THE WINDOW SHATTERS AND SPRAY BITS OF GLASS TO A 5 -8 FT RAIDUS. 2) THIS LAST INCIDENT SHE WAS IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. SHE WAS CLOSING THE WINDOW GATE WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED AT ABOUT THE HALF CLOSED POSITION. THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW GATE FELL TO THE GROUND, GLASS HIT THE CARS ON BOTH SIDES OUR CAR. GLASS HIT HER IN THE FACE AND ALL OVER HER UPPER BODY. LUCKILY SHE HAD HER SUN GLASSES ON, SO NO GLASS WAS THROWN INTO HER EYES. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT WORSE HAD MY 7 YEAR OLD SON BEEN HELPING HER LIKE HE NORMALLY DOES. 3.) FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO AKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM CAUSING US TO INCURR OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS OR AN INSURANCE CLAIM. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WE USE SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURANCE AND THEY HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS OF THIS TYPE ON 2002 EXPLORERS. PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE BUT IT INVOLVES BODY WORK SO IT TAKES UP TO A WEEK TO GET IT FIXED. *AK PE04045.PCO

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB PE04045.PCO

WHEN CLOSING THE REAR HATCH GLASS WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK PE04045.PCO *TS

REAR TAILGATE HAD A FRACTURE ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG AND THE MOLD WAS TOUCHED UP WITH PAINT PRIOR TO SHIPPING OR SELLING. IT WAS CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I OPENED THE TOP PART OF THE TAILGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LAST NIGHT AND THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE AND FELL ON MY HEAD. LUCKILY THE GLASS DIDN'T BREAK AND I WASN'T INJURED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CASE OF THIS HAPPENING, I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THIS HAPPENED TO (SAME YEAR AND MODEL) WAS TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE HATCH MOMENTARILY. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM THIS PERSON OF THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO HIM. THIS SEEMS TO BE EITHER A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OR SOMETHING AND LUCKILY MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO LIKES TO CLIMB IN THE BACK WHILE I'M LOADNG THE TRUCK, WASN'T THERE OR IT WOULD HAVE HIT HER IN THE HEAD. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET IT FIXED AND HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN! *AK PE04045.PCO

RECALL 01L010000, DRIVER'S SIDE LIFTGATE BRACKET SNAPPED, CAUSING THE GLASS TO SHATTER. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK PE04045.PCO

I OPENED ONLY THE WINDOW PORTION OF MY BACK HATCH AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC ARMS WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE GLASS SO I BEGAN LOWERING IT AND THE GLASS SHATTERED IN MY HANDS. CONSEQUENT REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST OVER $700 BEING AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THOUGH JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD. *AK PE04045.PCO

LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE CRACKED. I NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THIS ITEM. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, AND THAT I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE PLASTIC TO CRACK. THEY WERE VERY UNSYMPATHETIC TO MY NEEDS. THIS IS A TWO YEAR-OLD CAR, AND I FEEL THAT IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM, BY BACK WINDOW WILL NOT BE SECURE, THEREFORE CAUSING YET ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF EXPLORER'S COME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS CRACK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE OR ABUSE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME, AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL.*AK

AFTER I PARKED THE EXPLORER AT THE MALL, I OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS TO TAKE OUT THE STROLLER. AFTER I SET THE STROLLER UP, I REACHED UP TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE GLASS. AT THIS POINT, WHILE MY HAND IS STILL ON THE LIFTGATE, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND EXPLODED WITH GLASSES FLEW EVERYWHERE. THE BABY STROLLER IS COVERED WITH GLASSES. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT PUT MY 8 MONTHS OLD BABY IS THE STROLLER OR ELSE HIS FACE WOULD BE COVERED WITH GLASSES. AT THIS POINT, I FELT A SHARP PAIN ON MY RIGHT HAND AND SAW THAT THERE WERE TWO CUTS AND I WAS BLEEDING EVERYWHERE. AFTER DROPPING THE EXPLORER AT A DEALER NEARBY, I WENT TO THE URGENT CARE AND GOT 12 STITCHES FOR THE CUTS. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER ON MONDAY TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR 2 BUSINESS DAYS FOR THE FORD CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CALL ME BACK. AFTER TWO DAYS OF WAITING, I CALLED BACK AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT MIGHT TAKE UP TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN CALL ME BACK. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION BY ODI (OPENED ON 06/02/2004). APPARENTLY, SHORTLY AFTER THE INTRODUCING THE 2002 EXPLORER FOR SALE, FORD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE INSTRUCTION (SSI 01I-010) IN APRIL OF 2001 TO CORRECT A LIFTGATE LIFT CYLINDER MOUNT ISSUED IN 56,000 VEHICLES BUILT FROM 2/5/2001 TO 3/30/2001. ALL VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT PERIOD WERE TO HAVE AN IMPROVED LIFT CYLINDER MOUNTING DESIGN. MY EXPLORER WAS BUILT ON 04/20/2001. HOWEVER, I AM VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT THIS BUILD DATE MIGHT BE WRONG SINCE I KEPT THE WINDOW STICKER AND THE DEALER'S INVOICE WHEN I BOUGHT THE EXPLORER AND THE DATES ON THOSE IS 04/09/2001. WHY IS THIS DATE (04/09/2001) BEFORE MY EXPLORER'S PRODUCTION DATE (04/20/2001)? MY EXPLORER MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUILT DURING THIS 2/5/2001 - 3/20/2001 PERIOD SINCE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH KNOWN BUILD DATES AFTER APRIL 2001 PERIOD. *AK PE04045.PCO

RETURNING HOME ONE SUNDAY EVENING FROM GROCERY SHOPPING WITH MY GRAND-DAUGHTERS(AGES 4 AND 5),I REMOVED THEM FROM THE VEHICLE AND SENT THEM IN THE HOUSE, WHILE MY TEENAGE SON AND I UNLOADED THE GROCERIES. AFTER THE LAST OF THE GROCERIES WERE REMOVED, MY SON STARTED TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE GLASS. AS I STOOD NEXT TO HIM, THE LIFTGATE GLASS HAD ONLY MADE IT HALFWAY DOWN ,WHEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION .THE LIFTGATE GLASS HAD DISINTEGRATED AS IF SHOT WITH A GUN. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAD THE EXPLORER BACKED INTO THE GARAGE. SO WHEN THE GLASS EXPLODED,IT FLEW OUTWARD TOWARDS US ,AS WELL AS INWARD INTO THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE THE EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE LIFTGATE GLASS MISSING. I WAS FORTUNATE TO STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WHEN I ASKED THE FORD SERVICE ADVISOR TO CONFIRM THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, HE WAS NOT REASSURING. NOT HAVING THAT CONFIRMATION THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO COVER THIS UPSET ME GREATLY. I WAS CALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP LATER THAT DAY (MONDAY), ONLY TO TRY TO PERSUADE ME TO AGREE TO $500 DOLLARS WORTH OF MAINTENANCE, UNRELATED TO THE LIFTGATE PROBLEM. IN THIS SAME CALL, THE SERVICE ADVISOR DID CONFIRM THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.TWO DAYS HAVE GONE BY, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED AND FOUND OUT THEY HAD ORDERED A NEW LIFTGATE GLASS AND WOULD REPLACE IT. HOWEVER, BY THE END OF THE WEEK (FRIDAY), I CALLED THEM AGAIN,SINCE NO ONE WAS CALLING ME WITH UPDATES AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE DOOR. AND BECAUSE OF THIS THEY WILL HAVE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, SINCE THEY NOW WILL HAVE TO PAINT THE NEW LIFTGATE DOOR TO MATCH THE COLOR OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS WRITING,THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK NOW. I DON'T HAVE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY CHANGED (I.E. PARTS), BUT I WILL INSIST ON A DETAILED LIST OF WHAT WAS DONE AND WHY. PE04045. *AK