2002 Ford Explorer Structure

WHILE OPENING MY REAR HATCH WINDOW TO LOAD GROCERIES I NOTICED THE TOP RIGHT HINGE HAD DETACHED FROM THE CAR, LEAVING THE GLASS HATCH HANGING BY A SINGLE HINGE. WHEN I GOT HOME I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED RECALL #04S20 AND MENTIONED IT TO MY DEALER WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED, SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY AGREED. EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL SPECIFIES "ALL FORD EXPLORER MODELS" THEY SAY MINE IS THE 2-DOOR "SPORT" EDITION AND SO ISN'T INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE HATCH IS IDENTICAL (I'VE OWNED BOTH). THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM (THE OTHER HINGE BROKE 2 YEARS AGO). I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD DETERMINE IF THE 2-DOOR MODELS ARE SUFFICIENTLY DIFFERENT THAT THEY CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM THIS RECALL, AND IF THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED TELL ME HOW TO PROCEED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR FAULTY HINGES YEARS BACK, FORD REPLACED. I NOTICED FAULTY HINGE WHEN WAXING VEHICLE, HINGE IS ASKEW. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, VERIFIED IT WOULD NEED REPLACING OR GLASS WINDOW COULD FALL OFF, INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. SINCE THE FAULTY HINGE IS THEIR PRODUCT, I THINK THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE REPLACING FAULTY FORD PARTS. THE GLASS HINGE IS A FORD HAZARD THAT I BELIEVE FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR GLASS HINGES WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE TAILGATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,260.

GOT HOME AND NOTICED A CRACK ALL THE WAY THRU PANEL BELOW WINDOW ON LIFTGATE. *TR

REAR LIFT GATE FIBERGLASS TRIM BELOW WINDOW CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL IN DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THE CRACK. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FORD EXPLORER FROM THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS PART OF THE HATCH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE REAR GLASS WINDOW THAT LIFTS OPEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WILL BE RECALLED EVENTUALLY SO I SHOULD KEEP CHECKING BACK. THE RECALL NEVER HAPPENED AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS THE CRACK GOT LARGER LETTING MOISTURE IN AND RUSTING. MEANWHILE I WAS NOTICING THE MAJORITY OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THAT YEAR HAD THE SAME CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH IN THE SAME PLACE! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SIMPLY OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE GLASS WINDOW BUCKLED AND SHATTERED WITH AN EXPLODING SOUND SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE! THE PIECE WITH THE CRACK LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. THANKFULLY NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT IF MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR OR MY FACE WAS ANY CLOSER IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I TRULY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR HATCHES IN THESE MODELS TO PREVENT INJURIES. *TR

THE REAR BACK HATCH CRACKED. *TR

THE HINGES ON THE BACK HATCH ARE BREAKING. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY STATE THIS WAS ALREADY FIXED ONCE UNDER RECALL. THEREFORE, I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN. IF THE SAFETY RECALL WAS COMPLETED PROPERLY, I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE FAILING AGAIN; THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT FIX IT PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME AND SINCE IT WAS A RECALL, I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN. THIS WILL BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF THE WINDOW COMPLETELY BREAKS OFF. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANEL UNDER THE HATCH FRACTURED AND ALLOWED WATER TO PENETRATE THE VEHICLE. THE WATER THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

DOOR HANDLE ISSUE. REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CRUMBLE WHEN TOUCHED. INFERIOR MATERIAL. *TR

LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE SCRATCHING THE PAINT AND HURTING MY HAND CATCHING IT SO IT WOULD NOT BREAK THE OTHER HINGE. CALLED FORD THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN AND THEY SAY ITS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHICH I CANT FIGURE OUT SINCE THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME SINCE I'M THE OWNER OF MY 02 EXPLORER SPORT AND FOUND OUT THIS HAPPEN TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ONCE.SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE! I RESEARCH THIS ON LINE AND SEE MANY OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE SAME STORY COME ON LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WOULD SWING OPEN SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,500.

THE LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL NEARLY BREAKING MY HAND. THIS HINGE WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 / FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. IN CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE TONIGHT ON A FORD TRANSMISSION ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THE PREVIOUS HINGE RECALL AND THEY INDICATED THAT HINGE HAD BEEN REPLACE ONCE IN 2004 AND IT WAS MY BAD LUCK THAT IT FAILED A SECOND TIME. THEY WOULD MAKE NO RESTITUTION FOR THE FAILED PART. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AGAIN. IT IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THEY SHOULD ADDRESS, REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART I PURCHASED THROUGH FORD AND REPLACE THE OTHER HINGE BEFORE IT ALSO FAILS AND HURTS SOMEONE. *TR

REAR PANEL BELOW WINDOW CRACKED FROM COLD WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

THE BACK DOOR IS CRACKED BETWEEN THE WINDOWS THE THE LATCH. THIS MORNING THE LATCH STOPPED WORKING AND I CAN'T KEEP THE REAR LATCH CLOSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE EXTERIOR PANEL. THE DEFECT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BODY/CHASSIS MOUNTS ARE DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING. BODY IS NOW LOOSE ON THE FRAME AND HAS SLIGHT MOVEMENT. THESE MOUNTS ARE NOT RUBBER LIKE MOST; THEY ARE SOME SORT OF URETHANE COMPOSITE. INTERNET RESEARCH AND TRUCK OWNER SITES CONFIRM THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY/RECALL ISSUE AND HAS DIRECTED OWNERS OF SUSPECT VEHICLES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE CAB SHAKING AND RATTLING IS CAUSING MOVEMENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EFFECT THE BRAKE LINES AND STEERING COLUMN AS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO BOTH THE BODY AND THE CHASSIS. FORD IS NOW USING ANOTHER COMPOUND FOR THE MOUNTS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE 10MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BODY MOUNTS WERE DETERIORATING BETWEEN THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPOXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

PART# 2L2Z-98420A68-AA HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS FOR LIFTGATE BROKE 08/04-2008. RECALL CAMPAIGN#PE04045-PURCHASED ANOTHER HINGE FROM FORD PARTS DEPT. INVOICE# 216039 ON 08/04/2008-THEY DID NOT TELL ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART ITEM- BOUGHT PART AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. 08/26-2012 THE OTHER HINGE BROKE AND CALLED 1-888-327-4226 AND WAS TOLD RECALL WAS OVER- THE FORD STORE NEVER TOLD ME THIS PART WAS RECALLED AND CHARGED ME $43.95. NOW THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK HINGE HAS BROKEN AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPAIRED MYSELF AGAIN. NEVER RECEIVED ANY POSTCARD FOR RECALL NOTICE. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE-BOTH HINGES HAVE BROKEN- I HAVE PAID FOR ONE HINGE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF AND DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER ONE ALSO AND SHOULD BE PAID THE $43.95 I PAID NOT EVEN COUNTING MY TIME AND LABOR AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE OTHER SIDE SINCE THIS HINGE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER LTD, THE REAR LOGO PANEL STARTED COMING LOOSE. I USED SPECIAL ADHESIVE TO ATTACH IT, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T STICK. I TRIED PULLING IT OFF, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I TRIED A DIFFERENT ADHESIVE. IT STUCK FOR A WHILE, BUT AS I WAS GOING DOWN A BUSY STREET, IT FLEW OFF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY. *JS

BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS COMPLETE FAILURE. ALL MOUNTS FAIL. MOUNTS FALL COMPLETELY APART AND NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR WASHERS AND BOLTS.THIS CAN CAUSES BODY TO MOVE ON FRAME..HAVE MADE FORD MOTOR AWARE BUT NO ACTION TAKEN. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT TWO CRACKS DEVELOPED UNDER THE HATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR

THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SIZABLE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL ONLY THROUGH NORMAL USE. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND KNOW IT IS NOT ONLY ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR