Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STRUCTURE
03V094000SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONSfrom 08/01/2000 to 03/03/2003V (Vehicle)367403/07/2003MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY03/07/200303/18/2003
Defect SummaryCertain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. these units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Consequence SummaryThis overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. owner notification began march 7, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
NotesCustomers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
04V442000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 08/01/2000 to 06/23/2003V (Vehicle)95573209/30/2004ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY09/13/200409/15/2004
Defect SummaryOn certain sport utility vehicles, the liftgate glass strut may become disengaged or the hinge may fracture allowing the glass to fall and possibly break.
Consequence SummaryIf the hinge should fracture, there is a potential for the glass to fall and ultimately break and personal injuries could occur.
Corrective SummaryDealers will have the liftgate glass strut brackets and glass hinges replaced. for the vehicles built from august 1, 2000 through march 3, 2002, the dealers will replace the hinges and liftgate strut bracket. on vehicles built from march 3, 2002 through june 23, 2003, the dealers will only replace the hinges. the recall began on september 30, 2004. a postcard was sent to owners on december 27, 2004, advising them that parts are now available. owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NotesFord recall no. 04s20.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE
1630410/01/200210013074Sun visor rattle / detroit area dealers contact request. *tt04/07/2005
STRUCTURE - BODY
0425112/27/200410014165Aluminum corrosion - service tip. *tt04/28/2005
048501/01/20050524210008546Liftgate glass applique damaged/cracked. service procedure. *tt08/04/2004
1727610/01/200310004920A popping or creaking noise that appears to be coming from the front exterior of the vehicle. *tt01/20/2004
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
1821510/01/200410010730Broken rear cargo storage door lift handle. various models including 2005 explorer/mountaineer. *tt12/07/2004
1619509/01/200210008597Contact st louis assembly plant/st louis vicinity only. *mj08/09/2004
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
0312606/23/200310002687Liftgate glass applique damaged/cracked - service procedure. *tt09/10/2003
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
1721609/01/200310004078Breakage of a liftgate window hinge. *tt11/17/2003

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STRUCTURE
05/02/2012960001
 All 4 of the wheel bearings had to be replaces in a matter of 5 months the rear window has a crack in the fiberglass covering right down the middle said not covered not a health risk but the molding is still cracked from the bottom of window to the bottom of the molding piece brake lights stay on until u get back in and tap the brakes then the light shuts off. *tr
06/27/20121
 Rcall work was done ( ford # 04s045 ) since that time the plastic trim piece attached to the tailgate window cracked which has allowed water to rust out the mounting bracket that holds the latch and wiper assembly. the result is that the widow no longer closes securely and the window latch in-operable. has this been addressed in and other recalls? i have observed that 9 of 10 explorers/mountaineers also have cracked trim pieces. as a result of the rusting bracket i feel that the window could suddenly open and/or shatter. repairs seem impossible also due to the possibility of shattering the window causing injury.
08/27/201168000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while the rear lift gate was open the hinge failed causing the gate to fall on the contacts head. the dealer was stated the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign recall number: 04v442000: structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated the approximate failure and current mileage was 68,000.
08/27/201168000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while the rear lift gate was open the hinge failed causing the gate to fall on the contacts head. the dealer was stated the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign recall number: 04v442000: structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated the approximate failure and current mileage was 68,000. rvk
08/27/201168000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while the rear light gate was open the lift gate hinge failed causing the gate fall on the contact head. the dealer was contact and they advised the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 component: structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments. the vehicle has not been repaired. the contact stated the approximate failure and current mileage was 68,000. li
07/09/201199688
 I bought 2003 ford explorer in 2008, used, and in 2011 i opened my back glass and the hinge snapped on the left side and the glass started falling, and the only thing that saved the glass from breaking was the right side hinge held. i called the ford company and they said that i could take it to a dealer and have it inspected, but there was no saftey recall on my vehicle. i looked online and in 2004 the 2003 ford explorer was recalled for this very problem.
07/13/2011123000
 Tl. the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while opening the rear hatch the lift gate hinge broke off causing the lift gate to hang on with one hinge. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer stated the hinge needs to be replaced. the contact has not had the hinge replaced. the contact stated the lift gate could have feel off while driving. the failure mileage was 123,000. jo
05/09/2011107000
 My 2003 ford exploer limited blew a spark plug right out of the engine. very scary & very loud while going to the grocery store. i thought for sure the engine blew.
08/02/201056000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that a crack had developed on the liftgate of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 56,000.
08/02/201056000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that a crack had developed on the left rear lift gate of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted who referred the contact over to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 56,000. pm
12/25/2010120000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed there was a large crack going down the rear lift gate panel. the crack was located under the lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 120,000. sm.
06/01/200440000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact notice the rear lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the contact would have to cover the costs of replacement. the manufacturer was contacted and stated they would cover half of the costs for repairs. the contact felt he should not cover any costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 40,000. ds
12/25/2010120000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed there was a large crack going down the rear lift gate panel. the crack was located under the lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 120,000. sm.
06/01/200440000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact notice the rear lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the contact would have to cover the costs of replacement. the manufacturer was contacted and stated they would cover half of the costs for repairs. the contact felt he should not cover any costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 40,000. ds
12/25/2010120000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed there was a large crack going down the rear lift gate panel. the crack was located under the lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 120,000. sm.
06/01/200440000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact notice the rear lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the contact would have to cover the costs of replacement. the manufacturer was contacted and stated they would cover half of the costs for repairs. the contact felt he should not cover any costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 40,000. ds
12/25/2010120000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed there was a large crack going down the rear lift gate panel. the crack was located under the lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 120,000. sm.
06/01/200440000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact notice the rear lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the contact would have to cover the costs of replacement. the manufacturer was contacted and stated they would cover half of the costs for repairs. the contact felt he should not cover any costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 40,000. ds
07/15/200938000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked the contact noticed a crack in the body panel attached to the glass of the lift gate. he stated that the crack was small at first but has become worst and another crack has started. the vehicle has not been taken to an authorized dealer or mechanic for the failure. the contact stated the heater has stopped blowing hot air. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer believes the blend door actuator needs replacing. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 38,000 and the current mileage was 46,000. vwb
01/04/200960000
 He ford explorer's most frequent problem - is it cracks in the plastic panel below the rear window. this occurs on explorers from model years 2002, 2003 & 2004. with most affected explorers now past the standard warranty period, most owners will end up having to pay for the repair out of pocket. because the cracked panel is not a safety defect, there is very little chance of a recall. for a short time in late 2006, ford started a special assistance program for out-of-warranty explorers, where ford paid for all but $100 of the ~$450 repair cost. however since january 2007, people calling ford's customer service line began to report back that apparently ford has ended the brief assistance program.
05/18/200770000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the tailgate hatch in the rear of the vehicle. additionally, the contact stated that when attempting to rent a trailer from u-haul, the company would not rent to anyone with a ford explorer which she believed to be a safety concern. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that she would be responsible for repairs. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 120,000. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000-bk
01/04/200960000
 He ford explorer's most frequent problem - is it cracks in the plastic panel below the rear window. this occurs on explorers from model years 2002, 2003 & 2004. with most affected explorers now past the standard warranty period, most owners will end up having to pay for the repair out of pocket. because the cracked panel is not a safety defect, there is very little chance of a recall. for a short time in late 2006, ford started a special assistance program for out-of-warranty explorers, where ford paid for all but $100 of the ~$450 repair cost. however since january 2007, people calling ford's customer service line began to report back that apparently ford has ended the brief assistance program.
05/18/200770000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the tailgate hatch in the rear of the vehicle. additionally, the contact stated that when attempting to rent a trailer from u-haul, the company would not rent to anyone with a ford explorer which she believed to be a safety concern. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that she would be responsible for repairs. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 120,000. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000-bk
01/04/200960000
 He ford explorer's most frequent problem - is it cracks in the plastic panel below the rear window. this occurs on explorers from model years 2002, 2003 & 2004. with most affected explorers now past the standard warranty period, most owners will end up having to pay for the repair out of pocket. because the cracked panel is not a safety defect, there is very little chance of a recall. for a short time in late 2006, ford started a special assistance program for out-of-warranty explorers, where ford paid for all but $100 of the ~$450 repair cost. however since january 2007, people calling ford's customer service line began to report back that apparently ford has ended the brief assistance program.
05/18/200770000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the tailgate hatch in the rear of the vehicle. additionally, the contact stated that when attempting to rent a trailer from u-haul, the company would not rent to anyone with a ford explorer which she believed to be a safety concern. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that she would be responsible for repairs. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 120,000. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000-bk
06/11/200682000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hood of the vehicle has become buckled and big chips of paint also have come off. the buckling is on the front and runs from the driver side to the passenger side. the vehicle has not been repaired. ford was contacted and they stated there was nothing they could do because the vehicle was out of warranty. the current and failure mileages were approximately 82,000. rd
02/06/2010820001
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. the back hatch below the window is cracked. i've seen many with the same defect in parking lots. one woman i spoke with said hers flew off into the windshield of a minivan & caused an accident. i e-mailed ford motor co. they will not issue a recall. this is a safety hazard and with so many vehicles so easily found in parking lots with the same defect is concerning me. i can't afford to have this fixed right now what do you suggest? *tr
01/07/2010820001
 The plastic applique below the rear window of 2003 ford explorer cracked in cold weather. the vehicle was not in motion. it cracked when the rear defroster circuit was activated. internet research indicates this is a widespread problem, possibly affecting 10-20% of vehicles manufactured. it is clearly a design problem. ford, in it's infinite wisdom, glued the largish plastic trim piece directly to the rear glass. in cold weather, when the driver activates the rear defroster, the glass expands and the plastic trim piece, still exposed to the cold does not. this unequal thermal expansion results in the plastic applique piece cracking. this is a problem that should have been easily foreseen by design engineers. in talking with local ford body repair shops, the staff admitted that the issue is widespread. the repair costs about $500. *tr
09/01/20051
 My 2003 ford explorer has peeling paint on its hood .this is a wide spread complaint. *tr
06/30/2008850001
 Horizontal crack in lift gate running from top of piece (bottom of window) to bottom of piece. *tr
04/01/2009438001
 The panel below the glass on the rear hatch of my wife's 2003 ford explorer cracked forno apparent reason. the dealer tells me it will cost $800 dollars to repair plus a body shop expense (paint). i've noticed on many forums on the internet that this is a very common problem and ford should address it! *tr
12/30/20081480001
 Rear hatch below window has cracked from top of panel to bottom this may have been due to cold weather but i'm reading about all kinds of these cracks happening in all provinces and states. when is ford going to accept the fact this is a defect and make a recall? *tr
07/10/20081
 A crack in the rear hatch near the ford emblem on 2003-2005 ford explorers. ford has a tsb (technical service bulletin) on this issue so they know it exists and yet they are refusing to do anything about it. the following website is just one of a few out there regarding this matter... http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2003/body_paint/cracked_panel_below_the_rear_window.shtml. *tr
01/30/2008245001
 After only 24,000 miles, our 2003 ford explorer has experienced two problems with fiberglass & aluminum body parts. below the rear window a crack developed in the fiberglass after closing the window during cold weather. after talking to other owners of the same model, i became aware of the fact that body shop owners are informing them that this is a common defect in that model. since this is a common problem, a recall should be issued and the owner should have their vehicles repaired by ford. my dealer has said ford has not issued any recall on this issue. why has this not happened? in addition, the aluminum hood is now showing bubbling under the paint, and the paint is beginning to peel off the hood. it is apparent ford has either had some defective paint delivered to their plants, or their is an engineering defect along with a manufacturing defect that has caused these problems. this is ford's responsibility, not the owner, and should be covered under warranty or recall regardless of the problem source. after review by ford's zone manager he concluded ford had no responsibility for this problem. please refer to the following web sites for others who have had these problems with ford denying its ultimate responsibility for their mistakes: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=489142&page=2 http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t489142.html http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/ford_explorer_cracked_paint.htm http://cbs5.com/consumer/ford.peeling.paint.2.755918.html how can ford issue
01/05/20091
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. approximately 3 months ago, my wife and i noticed that the plastic trim between the rear window and the ford logo was cracked. i have since noticed it on a majority of 2002 - 2004 explorers. i have also found numerous online posts and other websites describing the same issue with other explorer owners and a refusal by ford to remediate the problem. *tr
09/23/2008558991
 The paint has blistered and is actively peeling off of a substantial area of the hood of my 2003 ford explorer. according to lemonlaw.com, ford motor company had issued a service bulletin indicating a major paint defect in many 2000-2005 ford, lincoln, and mercury cars, trucks, and suv's that use aluminum body parts. the bulletin further states that, some vehicles may exhibit bubbling or blistering under the paint on aluminum body parts. i am not a lawyer, but i do know that warranty or not, this is a clear breach of all expressed and implied warranties due to the fact that the body parts and/or paint were defective from the start since the bulletin states that ford research admitted that the problem stems from iron contamination within the aluminum body part prior to being painted. i registered my complaints with my local dealer and with ford motor company, asking for full remedy of the situation. the only offer they make is a deal on a new car! i hope that filing this complaint will help the consumer who has been clearly hurt and is experiencing economic loss due directly to ford motor company. i have been trying to get this situation remedied since september 2008, but my complaint continues to be pushed aside. i believe they hope all of the consumers experiencing this problem will go away quietly. *tr
09/15/2008430001
 Factory paint blistering on hood. vehicle is 5 years old and has 44,000 miles. there are a large number of complaints about this problem on a long list of internet sites. ford is not acknowledging this issue. apparently this is affecting 2000-2005 vehicles. *tr
09/21/200858600
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked, the contact pressed the button on her key fob to open the glass on the rear hatch. as a result, one of the two hinges fractured as the window was opening. she attempted to close the glass, but apparently it was misaligned. due to excessive pressure, the glass shattered and debris fell onto the contact and the ground. she called the dealer in reference to nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) and was informed that the coverage date for the recall expired. the dealer would have to personally petition to the manufacturer for the vehicle to be repaired. the manufacturer stated that they would not assume financial responsibility for the repair. the contact's insurance company is in the process of notifying the manufacturer on her behalf. as of september 24, 2008, the vehicle has not been properly repaired. the failure mileage was 58,600 and current mileage was 59,600.
07/24/2005160001
 Factory rearend was replaced in my 03 ford explorer. since then the problem of gradual rearend deterioration has not been fixed. if the rearend fails catastrophically then a serious accident could occur. ford motors does not consider this to be a safety concern, but it definitely is. ford should recall all vehicles with the defective rearends and fix their problem. *tr
07/21/200863000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the rear liftgate glass hinge has fractured. the contact opened the rear liftgate glass and, when he attempted to close it, the liftgate would not shut correctly. the hinge split into two pieces. the contact feels that if he attempts to open the rear liftgate, the glass will shatter. he discovered a recall for this failure, but the dealer stated that his vin was not included in the recall. the recall number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 63,000.
07/24/20061
 Crack in panel on rear hatch i see same crack in same sport on all same vehicles. *tr
03/15/2008645001
 Rear door crack in the middle on ford explorer, below the window, probably because the material the frame is made of is just plastic. i keep seeing people in my town with the same problem. i wonder if there is a formal complaint about this defect. i contacted ford corporate, but i was told that no one has complained. this is not just a cosmetic problem, but a safety problem. sometimes when i am driving the door window gets open. please let me know if there is something you can do to help me and other customers who own a ford explorer and who have the same problem. *tr
03/23/2008110/11/2006
 The panel just below my back windshield has a crack in it which has occurred for no reason at all. after speaking with some at the local dealership i was very disappointed to hear that about 99% of these have to be replaced and that it would cost me almost $400 to do so. i called ford and they once again told me that it was a problem but they could not do anything to help me i would have to pay for it. at that time i ask to speak to a supervisor and when speaking with her i was informed that there were no complaints on this issue. (which i find hard to believe since 3 dealers have now told me that this is a re-occurring problem.) my biggest concern is if i do not fix this right away that i will lose this piece and it will end up hurting someone. *tr
05/10/200755000105/26/2003
 I purchase a 2003 ford explorer in the same year. last year my wife noticed a crack on the liftgate directly below the rear window. the crack was about 4 inches long and narrow in width. i took the car to my local dealers body shop and was told by the manager that i see this all the time in all of fords suv's including the lincoln and mercury models. it is a defect from the factory and one that ford will not recall. he gave me a estimate of $350 and advised that i go to the dealer and talk to someone there. i did so and was told by the service manager that there were 2 reasons why they would not fix the car for me. the 1st is that the car was out of warranty and the 2nd was that i did not buy the car from them, i purchased the car as a demo from another dealer. i was given a number to contact ford which i did and was told the same thing that the dealership told me. i then took the car to the dealer where i bought the car and was told by the service manager that he would have the regional rep from ford contact me whenever he was in town. he also stated that if ford would not help me then he would fix the car for half price the cost. i haven't heard from them in a year. i have researched this and there are numerous complaints from people who have explorers with the same problem. as the body shop manager at the dealer said, this is a flaw that ford motor co. is aware of and will not recall. my car now has 3 cracks on the liftgate and i like so many others are not responsible for them. we are desperately seeking help from somebody in holding ford accountable for this. thank you! *tr
11/04/2006110/20/2003
 I own a 2003 ford explorer xlt, and yesterday i noticed that the back panel below the back glass, has a 1/4 crack all the way down it! it is located a inch or two right of the ford emblem. this is ridiculous, i called the dealership and they told me to bring it in for an estimate, since i have 59,000 miles on the vehicle, it isn't covered under the warranty. well, on the ford website under my warranty information it states that corrosion and defective parts are covered for 5 years regardless of miles driven. well what does this fall under? i have put so much money in this vehicle because of other mechanical problems, that i am not going to put more money in it for this. ford needs to cover it, or start some type of investigation for a recall. *jb
02/17/2006109/01/2005
 The rear panel below my window on my 2003 ford explorer cracked all the way through. i went snow sking and after doing research on the internet, i found that this scenario is common. the panel gets moisture behind it and freezes, then cracks. i have a ford manufacturer warranty, and i am still under warranty. i contacted the dealership where i purchased the vehicle, i called the ford customer service line, and contacted the local media, who suggested your website. no one is willing to fix the problem, and one day it will fall off while i am in traffic. currently i have not fixed the problem. i advised the ford customer service people that i would never fix the problem. i would keep it there as a constant reminder of their commitment to customer service. check out the internet (autobeef.com) lots of people are having the same issue. *jb
10/11/2005116001
 Molded running board broken under normal use, one dealer accused me of having a child jump on the running board - reason unknown. another dealer took photos and sent to detroit, warranty repair refused? *jb
11/26/200420000107/19/2003
 While at a stop, the frame separated which caused the rear hatch back window to shatter. please provide more information. *jb ford motor company notified. back portion of the door separated when the windshield exploded. *tc
10/28/200440001101/02/2003
 The vehicle was brand new and there was rusting around the windshield, the power doors and the seats were not working , there was a problem with the cruise control as well. *jb five windshields had been replaced due to constant leaking including the moon roof and the headliner. the power doors did not work. when it would rain, many electrical problems would be present. *sc
09/15/20044000501/02/2003
 The windshield, moon roof and headliner were leaking. the consumer had the windshield replaced at least 5 times. the owner has been corresponding with the manufacturer for several months. owner is asking for a new vehicle. *jb *sc
11/15/200315000
 I was involved in an accident that occured on oct. 14, 2003. i was making a left turn when i was broadsided by a toyota camry going about 20 -30 miles an hour. my explorer tipped onto the driver side. i was terrified it would roll-over (upside-down) i had no idea how easy it was to tip my vehicle over. do you have any data concerning ford explorers? do you have any suggestions as to what i can do? i'm never getting into that vehicle again but i owe $22,000. now trade in value is maybe $16,000. the car is still being repaired and will be covered by the other driver's insurance.
03/18/20042000506/29/2003
 Water leaked into the vehicle on the driver side door. the dealership inspected the vehicle many times and could not duplicate or correct the problem. *ak *sc *jb
STRUCTURE - BODY
11/25/2012110000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured near the window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would look further into the failure. the failure mileage was 110,000.
11/25/2012110000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured near the window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would look further into the failure. the failure mileage was 110,000. kmj
11/25/2012110000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact went to open up the liftgate and noticed that there was a crack on the liftgate near the window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that they would look into the case and to call nhtsa to file a complaint. the failure mileage was 110,000. ap
11/14/200720000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a fracture in the trim that held the rear window in place. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for inspection where they advised that the part was defective and needed to be repaired. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 20,000. kmj
11/14/200720000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the trim that holds the rear window in place. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for inspection and they stated that it was a defective part that needed to be repaired but the vehicle was out of warranty. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 20,000. ap
10/19/201180000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle had developed a crack on the tailgate of the vehicle under the rear window. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated there had not been enough complaints to issue a recall and referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. pmb
10/01/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate window detached from the hinges and crack the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. the dealer also stated that the vehicle was under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred and the door was still cracked. the manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to keep the receipts in case of another recall. the failure mileage was 160,000. pmb
10/19/201180000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle had developed a crack on the tailgate of the vehicle under the rear window. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated there had not been enough complaints to issue a recall and referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. pmb
10/01/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate window detached from the hinges and crack the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. the dealer also stated that the vehicle was under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred and the door was still cracked. the manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to keep the receipts in case of another recall. the failure mileage was 160,000. pmb
10/01/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 for explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate window detached from the hinges and crack the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. the dealer also stated that the vehicle was under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred and the door was still cracked. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that she needed to keep her receipts in case of another recall. the failure mileage was 160,000. ap
10/19/201180000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the tailgate of the vehicle under the rear window. the manufacturer was notified and stated there had not been enough complaints to issue a recall and referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. dt
10/01/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 for explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate window detached from the hinges and crack the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. the dealer also stated that the vehicle was under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred and the door was still cracked. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that she needed to keep her receipts in case of another recall. the failure mileage was 160,000. ap
10/07/201296000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the failure mileage was 96,000. kmj
09/24/2012110308
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle it was found that the hinge for the liftgate was broken. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted who informed him that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the failure and current mileage was 110,308. pmb
10/07/201296000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate was cracked. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the failure mileage was 96,000. kmj
09/24/2012110308
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle it was found that the hinge for the liftgate was broken. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted who informed him that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the failure and current mileage was 110,308. pmb
10/07/201296000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate is cracked. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. the failure mileage was 96,000. ap
09/24/2012110308
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle it was found that the hinge for the liftgate was broken. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted who informed him that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the failure and current mileage was 110,308. pmb
09/24/2012
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while inspecting the vehicle it was found that the hinge for the liftgate was broken. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that their vehicle was not included nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the failure and current mileages were 110,308. mh
08/22/2012130000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinges on the back lift gate fractured and allowed the glass to become disengaged. the vehicle could not be driven. the dealer was notified and informed the contact that there were no recalls on his vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that the vehicle had been repaired under the recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) 8 years prior and provided no other assistance. the failure and current mileage was 130,000.
08/03/201040000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate hinges were fractured. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 82,000.
08/03/201040000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate hinges were fractured. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 82,000. kmj
08/03/201040000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinges on the lift gate fracturer. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 82,000. pm
08/03/2012115000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the hinges for the rear lift gate fractured. the contact mentioned that the glass fell down into the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and had the hinges were replaced. the manufacturer was contacted who stated that there was a recall for the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) but the vehicle was not included since the recall was only issued for the 2002 model year explorer. the failure and current mileage was 115,000. kmj
08/03/2012115000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the hinges for the rear lift gate broke on the vehicle. the contact stated the glass fell down in the window. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and had the hinges replaced. there was a nhtsa recall campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) to repair the hinges on the rear lift gate, but the manufacturer stated the recall was for the 2002 model year and not the 2003. the failure mileage and current mileages were 115,000.rl
07/05/2012900001
 Rear window hinges broke for the second time. they were fixed once with recall and are now broke again. also the back lift gate panel has cracked. *tr
07/05/201290000
 Rear window hinges broke for the second time. they were fixed once with recall and are now broke again. also the back lift gate panel has cracked.
07/05/201180000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated there were two large cracks below the rear liftgate, located near the manufacturer
07/05/201180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated there were two large cracks below the rear liftgate, located near the manufacturer
07/05/201180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated there were two large cracks below the rear liftgate, located near the manufaturer's emblem. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they were unable to provide assistance. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000. js
06/02/201255000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate detached from the hinges of the vehicle. the dealer was notified and stated there was a recall but the contact's vin was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000. kmj
04/30/2012125000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. the contact stated that a crack was found in the rear door panel. the crack was noticed while the vehicle was parked in the contact's garage. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 125,000. kmj
06/02/201255000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate detached from the hinges of the vehicle. the dealer was notified and stated there was a recall but the contact's vin was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000. kmj
04/30/2012125000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. the contact stated that a crack was found in the rear door panel. the crack was noticed while the vehicle was parked in the contact's garage. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 125,000. kmj
06/02/201255000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate detached from the hinges of the vehicle. the dealer was notified who stated there was a recall but the contact's vin was not included in the recall campaign (nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000- structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000. kmj
06/02/201255000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the rear lift gate fell off the hinges of his vehicle. the dealer was notified who stated there was a recall but his vin was not included. the recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000, component: structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 55,000. mw
01/01/201156543
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate panel was cracked due to defective material. the dealer denied assistance with the repair because the warranty expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 56,543 and the current mileage was 60,000. sm.
01/01/201156543
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the vehicle rear lift gate glass panel failed. the panel was cracked due to defected material. the dealer denied assistance with the repair, because the vehicle warranty expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 56,543, and the current mileage was 60,000. li
01/20/2008
 Large crack appeared on hatch door below window. many complaints on internet with same problem.
03/15/2012118000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a loud squeaking coming from the rear window. the contact noticed that the driver side of the rear windshield hinge was crooked and the panel was fractured. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they advised that the hinges need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 121,000. kmj
12/01/201053000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the window on the rear hatch developed a crack and the hinge was bent due to defective material. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the repairs associated with nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) were previously performed. the manufacturer would not provide further assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 53,000 and the current mileage was 64,000. sm.
03/15/2012118000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a loud squeaking noise coming from the rear window. the contact then noticed the left hinge was crocked and the panel had cracked. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they stated that the hinges need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 121,000.cv
12/01/201053000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the window on the rear hatch developed a crack and the hinge was bent due to defective material. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the repairs associated with nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) were previously performed. the manufacturer would not provide further assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 53,000 and the current mileage was 64,000. sm.
03/15/2012118000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a loud squeaking noise coming from the rear window. the contact then noticed the left hinge was crocked and the panel had cracked. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they stated that the hinges need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 121,000.cv
03/15/2012160000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a fracture in the rear lift gate hinge, making it impossible to connect the rear tailgate door to the vehicle. the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but the nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments), did not include the vin. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 160,000. sm.
01/15/2012180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the glass on the rear hatch bottom molding was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 186,000. kmj
03/15/201139000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that she noticed a fracture on the lift gate window. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where they advised her that she would have to have the panel replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 39,000. the vin was unavailable. kmj
03/15/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a fracture in the rear lift gate hinge, making it impossible to connect the rear tailgate door to the vehicle. the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but the nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) recall did not associate the vin. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was approximately 160,000. nw
01/15/2012180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the glass on the rear hatch bottom molding was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 186,000. kmj
03/15/201139000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that she noticed a fracture on the lift gate window. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where they advised her that she would have to have the panel replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 39,000. the vin was unavailable. kmj
03/15/2012160000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a fracture in the rear lift gate hinge, making it impossible to connect the rear tailgate door to the vehicle. the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but the nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) recall did not associate the vin. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was approximately 160,000. nw
01/15/2012180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the glass on the rear hatch bottom molding was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated this was a common problem and they will not repair due to the warranty of the vehicle has expired.there are no recalls on this failure. the manufacturer was notified who offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 186,000. mw
03/15/201139000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that she noticed a fracture on the lift gate window. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and they advised her that she would have to replace the panel. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 39,000. the vin was unavailable. tb
02/27/2012120000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear glass hatch housing was cracked in half. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the rear hatch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the current and the failure mileages were 120,000.
01/15/2012180000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the glass on the rear hatch bottom molding was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated this was a common problem and they will not repair due to the warranty of the vehicle has expired.there are no recalls on this failure. the manufacturer was notified who offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 186,000. mw
03/15/201139000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that she noticed a fracture on the lift gate window. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and they advised her that she would have to replace the panel. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 39,000. the vin was unavailable. tb
02/27/2012120000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear glass hatch housing was cracked in half. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the rear hatch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the current and the failure mileages were 120,000. kmj
05/19/201030000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed a crack at the rear hatch back under the rear window. the contact stated that the crack was becoming wider when the hatch back was opened and closed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 40,000.
02/27/2012120000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the rear glass hatch housing was cracked in half. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the rear hatch needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin was not available. the current and failure mileages are 120000. bml
05/19/201030000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed a crack at the rear hatch back under the rear window. the contact stated that the crack was becoming wider when the hatch back was opened and closed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 40,000.
11/01/201159000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked, the contact noticed that the panel below the rear window hatch was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the rear panel would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
05/19/201030000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed a crack at the rear hatch back under the rear window. the contact stated that the crack was becoming wider when the hatch back was opened and closed. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 40,000. kmj
11/01/201159000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked, the contact noticed that the panel below the rear window hatch was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the rear panel would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
05/19/201030000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer . the contact noticed that there is a crack at the rear hatch back underneath the window . the contact stated that the crack is getting wider and bigger when the vehicles hatch back is opened and closed. the vehicle has not been diagnosed nor repaired or has the dealer responded back to the contact regarding the vehicle. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 40,000.cv
11/01/201159000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked, the contact noticed that the panel below the rear window hatch was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the rear panel would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 59,000. kmj
11/01/201159000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact noticed the panel below the rear window hatch was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. the technician stated the rear panel would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 59,000. ds
01/02/2012110000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear tail gate door developed a cracked. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls related to the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.
01/02/2012110000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear tail gate door developed a cracked. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls related to the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 112,000. kmj
01/02/2012110000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear tail gate door had developed a cracked. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there was no recalls related to the problem. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 112,000. pm
11/30/2011166079
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explored. the contact stated that the rear lift gate glass shield cracked and shattered. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor was it repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 166,079.
11/30/2011166079
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explored. the contact stated that the rear lift gate glass shield cracked and shattered. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor was it repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 166,079. kmj
12/01/201086000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack on the frame of the vehicle starting from the bottom of the rear glass going down toward the manufacturer
12/01/201086000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack on the frame of the vehicle starting from the bottom of the rear glass going down toward the manufacturer
12/01/201086000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack on the frame of the vehicle, starting from the bottom of the rear glass going down toward the ford emblem. the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repair to the defect. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 96,000. nw
10/10/201185000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the rear liftgate glass bolt brackets detached from the hinges, causing the glass to detach. there was a recall associated with the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) but the vehicle was ineligible for the recall repair due to the build date. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
10/10/201185000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the rear liftgate glass bolt brackets detached from the hinges, causing the glass to detach. there was a recall associated with the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) but the vehicle was ineligible for the recall repair due to the build date. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000. kmj
10/10/201185000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the rear liftgate glass bolt brackets detached and hinges causing the glass not to remain engaged. there was a recall associated with the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the vehicle was ineligible for the recall repair due to the vehicle
08/25/201170000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was included in the recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). after the repairs were performed the contact attempted to open the lift gate which separated from the strut and detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the hinges. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
08/25/201170000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle was included in the recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). after the repairs were performed the contact attempted to open the lift gate which separated from the strut and detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the hinges. the approximate failure mileage was 70,000. rvk
08/01/201150000
 My 2003 ford explorer has a cracked rear panel. this is the second time it has happened. the first time it was covered by warranty and ford repaired it at no charge. this time they will not. i was told it will cost approximately $300.00 and it would happen again. the crack develops right in the middle of the panel under the rear window.
09/14/2011117000
 I have a 2003 ford explorer, ran to the store last night to buy groceries. loaded things into my truck, closed the door and things were fine. arrived home to remove the groceries and there was a 6 inch long crack on the rear hatch of my truck right beside the ford logo and rear windshield wiper. i take pride in my vehicle and keep it clean and the outside body is perfect; until this happened. i am disappointed that i called ford and there is no recall in regards to this, but there are hundreds of complaints online about the exact same issue. i want ford to pay for the repair of this. i have been a loyal ford customer and so has by family since the early 1980s. i will probably never purchase another ford as this is just another issue that ford won't acknowledge.
07/08/200942000
 Dear mayzel, i appreciate your timely response, but i must admit that i am more than a little disappointed (and confused). i am reading ford explorer recall #04v442000, ford recalls 2002-2003 ford explorer vehicles for liftgate glass (see below), and it seems to cover my model year and my situation exactly. the lift hinge has stripped out the bolt three time, leaving the glass to hang from the other hinge (and struts). can you explain why this recall would not apply? sincerely, bill dascomb dear william, this is mayzel from ford's customer service department. i have read your email regarding the back hatch glass concern of your 2003 ford explorer. i am truly sorry to hear that you are having this issue with your vehicle. i have personally checked our resources and verified that your vehicle is not involved in any recalls or csp's at this time. many factors are used to determine these such as warranty status, vehicle history, customer contacts, dealership comments and so forth. i have reviewed if any available coverages may assist in your repair request. there is not active esp to cover the part or the repair and the vehicle is outside of any applicable warranty. we recommend that your vehicle be inspected by a ford/lincoln/mercury dealership to determine the cause of any symptoms your vehicle may be experiencing. once you have the repairs completed, i strongly suggest that you keep the original receipt for the repairs, so that in case a recall will be issued in the future, these receipts may be reviewed by your dealership's service manager for a possible refund. thank you for contacting ford. sincerely, mayzel customer relationship center ford motor company
10/16/2010
 The back panel on my explorer cracked by just closing the glass. the temperature was only 65 so considering the more extreme temperatures we have seen in north carolina was did it crack on that day?
06/13/2011133000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was closing the rear liftgate when the rear glass detached from the vehicle. the contact was able to grab hold of the glass to prevent it from shattering. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics or repairs. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) that could have been be related to the failure but the manufacturer stated that the contact's vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
10/16/2010
 The back panel on my explorer cracked by just closing the glass. the temperature was only 65 so considering the more extreme temperatures we have seen in north carolina was did it crack on that day?
06/13/2011133000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was closing the rear liftgate when the rear glass detached from the vehicle. the contact was able to grab hold of the glass to prevent it from shattering. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics or repairs. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) that could have been be related to the failure but the manufacturer stated that the contact's vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
10/16/2010
 The back panel on my explorer cracked by just closing the glass. the temperature was only 65 so considering the more extreme temperatures we have seen in north carolina was did it crack on that day?
06/13/2011133000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact was closing the rear lift gate when the rear glass detached. the contact was able to sustain the glass to prevent it from shattering. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not repaired. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) that may be related to the failure but the manufacturer stated the vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000. ds
10/16/2010
 The back panel on my explorer cracked by just closing the glass. the temperature was only 65 so considering the more extreme temperatures we have seen in north carolina was did it crack on that day?
06/13/2011133000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact was closing the rear lift gate when the rear glass detached. the contact was able to sustain the glass to prevent it from shattering. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not repaired. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) that may be related to the failure but the manufacturer stated the vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000. ds
10/16/2010
 The back panel on my explorer cracked by just closing the glass. the temperature was only 65 so considering the more extreme temperatures we have seen in north carolina was did it crack on that day?
06/13/2011133000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while parked the contact was closing the rear lift gate when the rear glass detached. the contact was able to sustain the glass to prevent it from shattering. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not repaired. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) that may be related to the failure but the manufacturer stated the vin was not included. the approximate failure mileage was 133,000. ds
04/01/201199000
 Crack in rear panel of my 2003 ford explorer
01/26/2011
 Almost every older model ford explorer that i see on the road has the same issue with the cracked panel below the rear glass on the liftgate. for a while i was having a problem closing my back lift gate. there seemed to be a problem with the latch. i later realized that there was a recall (#04s20) on (what i thought had nothing to do with the cracked panel) liftgate glass hinge and ball stud bracket. right after the repairs were done by the dealer on my vehical in january 2011, i realized that the liftgate worked perfect. it was then determined that the misalignment caused problems with the liftgate closing correctly.....which caused damage to the panel.....which resulted in the crack.......ford has done a recall on what has resulted in the crack but they have not stepped forward to take responsiblity for the damage that has occurred due to the defect.....it is unfair for us to have to pay out of pocket for damages due to a maufacturing defect.......please investigate and resolve as appropriate.
11/01/201070000
 Ford explorer rear liftgate panel has crack and it expands during cold weather and it affects rear liftgate latching security as rear liftgate flies open whenever it feels like it when driving.
07/15/200890000
 I was just driving along and i heard a pop noise and the panel under the back window was cracked.
11/01/201070000
 Ford explorer rear liftgate panel has crack and it expands during cold weather and it affects rear liftgate latching security as rear liftgate flies open whenever it feels like it when driving.
07/15/200890000
 I was just driving along and i heard a pop noise and the panel under the back window was cracked.
11/01/201070000
 Ford explorer rear liftgate panel has crack and it expands during cold weather and it affects rear liftgate latching security as rear liftgate flies open whenever it feels like it when driving.
07/15/200890000
 I was just driving along and i heard a pop noise and the panel under the back window was cracked.
11/01/201070000
 Ford explorer rear liftgate panel has crack and it expands during cold weather and it affects rear liftgate latching security as rear liftgate flies open whenever it feels like it when driving.
07/15/200890000
 I was just driving along and i heard a pop noise and the panel under the back window was cracked.
01/11/201175000
 Rear hatch cracked near the ford logo
12/30/201060000
 I have 2003 ford explorer and after 7years a crack has formed from the rear window down to the ford logo on the rear panel or trunk door.
11/17/201089421
 Metal cracked into from liftgate window to bottom of liftgate. just went to work one day and came home to find this huge crack in the liftgate door. i had not opened the liftgate that day. after doing research and personally witnessing other explorers with this problem, i found there are hundreds of ford explorer owners with same problem.
12/28/2009120000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinge that holds the window on the rear hatch was broken. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 ( structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments); however the hinge broke again. the failure began one year ago. both the dealer and manufacture was informed who advised the contact that since the recall was already performed once that any service performed would result in a fee being charged. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 139,634. the failure mileage was approximately 120,000. bw
11/17/201089421
 Metal cracked into from liftgate window to bottom of liftgate. just went to work one day and came home to find this huge crack in the liftgate door. i had not opened the liftgate that day. after doing research and personally witnessing other explorers with this problem, i found there are hundreds of ford explorer owners with same problem.
12/28/2009120000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinge that holds the window on the rear hatch was broken. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 ( structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments); however the hinge broke again. the failure began one year ago. both the dealer and manufacture was informed who advised the contact that since the recall was already performed once that any service performed would result in a fee being charged. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 139,634. the failure mileage was approximately 120,000. bw
10/01/201075000
 Crack in panel below rear glass of 2003 ford explorer. panel just cracked from one day to the next. went to trade in for new explorer and dealer even complained about damage.
12/08/2010105000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked the contact noticed there was a cracked panel below the rear window. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated the panel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. ds
10/01/201075000
 Crack in panel below rear glass of 2003 ford explorer. panel just cracked from one day to the next. went to trade in for new explorer and dealer even complained about damage.
12/08/2010105000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked the contact noticed there was a cracked panel below the rear window. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated the panel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. ds
11/15/2010151628
 Crack developed in the panel below the rear hatch window
10/01/201075000
 Crack in panel below rear glass of 2003 ford explorer. panel just cracked from one day to the next. went to trade in for new explorer and dealer even complained about damage.
12/08/2010105000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked the contact noticed there was a cracked panel below the rear window. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated the panel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. ds
11/15/2010151628
 Crack developed in the panel below the rear hatch window
08/15/2004
 Please be advised that the hatch back of the 2003 ford explorer developed a crack directly in the middle. this defect can be seen around many other 2003 fords. please be advised that the hatchback piece is rattling and seems like it will come off.
01/04/200960000
 He ford explorer's most frequent problem - is it cracks in the plastic panel below the rear window. this occurs on explorers from model years 2002, 2003 & 2004. with most affected explorers now past the standard warranty period, most owners will end up having to pay for the repair out of pocket. because the cracked panel is not a safety defect, there is very little chance of a recall. for a short time in late 2006, ford started a special assistance program for out-of-warranty explorers, where ford paid for all but $100 of the ~$450 repair cost. however since january 2007, people calling ford's customer service line began to report back that apparently ford has ended the brief assistance program.
06/13/201054000
 My 2003 explorer crakced from the back window to the ford emblem. ford told me its not their problem and there is no recall initiated. i have 3 other friends who also have this problem. this needs to be recalled as it is by no fault of the owner and apparetly is a factory decfect.
03/01/200875000
 2003 ford explorer limited edition crack in liftgate below the glass. ford motor company told me there is no recall on it and to repair it myself.
01/03/2010120000
 The upper panel on the back lift gate, cracked for no apparent reason. it has 2 crackes starting from one single one. it happened during the winter, so water must be able to get in under the seal and freeze and crack the panel. i have seen other explorers with this same condition. there has to be some kind of defect in the panel itself to allow this to happen.
04/02/2010102300
 Rear applique rear liftgate panel below the rear window cracked in half. no impact involved.
01/10/2006
 The trunk, on the half part keep on cricking i replace it once out of packet cost because for d does'nt want to pay for the repair
01/12/2005500001
 The rear lift gate cracked down the center. every ford explorer lift gate i see has a crack down the center. this has to be a defect in the gate. there are just too many people with the same problems. *tr
12/15/2009890001
 I have a 2003 ford explorer xlt with the crack in the back panel next to the emblem. i came out to my car and it was cracked all the way from the window seal to the bottom of the hatch. i called the 800 number that ford gave me to call and they told me there is no recall and the part. there are several thousand people with this same complaint. the local body shop told me that the problem is in fords design of the panel. they have zero reinforcement next to the emblem to close the door which is right in the middle of the door, where normal people push to close it. this manufacturing defect in the explorers from 02-03 is very well known and quite possible over time could cause a weakening in the rear window of the vehicle and eventually lose it's support and fall. *tr
12/28/2009700001
 2003 ford explorer , 70,000 miles rear lift gate cracked in middle splitting off in y shape there was no impact done to make this happen. heard loud pop told that ford will not do anything & i will have to pay out of pocket.*tr
12/01/2009410001
 My 2003 ford explorer developed a crack in the rear applique from the bottom of the glass to the liftgate. after contacting my dealer, i was told to email ford, as this was a common complaint. after doing so, ford told me that although that are thousands of other complaints about this obvious defect in the vehicle, there are no recalls for this problem. most of the people have paid out of pocket for the repairs. this is not possible for me. i am not in a position to do so. if the crack gets worse, i will have to put in a claim to our insurance company. upon going online and googling ford defects, there are thousands of complaints about this ongoing problem with the ford vehicles. please let me know, how to get a recall on this. *tr
01/02/2010930001
 Liftgate glass applique damaged/cracked - service procedure. *tr
12/02/2009870001
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. i just noticed a crack in the panel underneath the rear window of my explorer. i have no idea what caused it. i noticed other explorers with the same exact problem. ford needs to fix this. didn't they get bail out money from uncle sam?!
03/27/2009800001
 Our 2003 ford explorer has what appears to be a stress crack on the plate below the rear hatch window, next to the ford emblem. i've seen dozens of explorers since this happened with the same issue, and thousands of complaints online regarding this defect, yet i am told that ford will not pay to repair their defective part, as there is no recall on it. *tr
11/10/2009720611
 I just noticed a crack in the panel underneath the rear window of my 2003 ford explorer. i searched online to see if there is a recall & there is not. i came upon a website, www.carcomplaints.com & noticed several complaints as mine in the same make & model & around same mileage. i contacted ford to let them know my problem, referenced the site i found & how to initiate a recall or financially responsibility. i am the main driver & i can barely close the heavy trunk so i am sure i did not do cause the crack & it is a defect. i have tried to use the trunk as little as possible so i don't know if this would be concerned a safety issue. i have not done any repairs since i wanted to see if ford would take responsibility. our car warranty will only cover the repair if it is a defect since the crack was not caused during an accident or excessive use. i thought i would try your site to file the complaint to see if i can get a resolution. *tr
02/09/2008900001
 I owned a 2003 ford explorer. i was getting ready to go on a trip when i noticed that a vertical crack had formed in the middle upper liftgate panel below the window. i have no idea what cause. however, it appears to the same defect that others are describing in this same model. at the time it was about 90,000 miles on the odometer. ford needs to make a recall on this issue. *tr
03/01/2009700001
 Tailgate is splitting. *tr
01/15/2008800001
 While driving down the street, i heard a loud noise that startled me. it was dark and i did not know what the noise was. i examined the car and a vertical crack had appeared in the back lift door panel that is just below the back lift window. since this incident i have noticed other 2003 ford explores in several different states with the same flaw. the flaw occurs on either side of the ford emblem or right through the middle of it. the flaw seems to occur in other mercury models as well, with the same engineering design. i believe this crack is due to stress and an engineering flaw. i reported it to ford several months ago as i continue to see more and more vehicles with this defect. *tr
05/14/2009970001
 On 5-14-09 at about 7:15am i got my children's diaper bag out of the back of my 2003 ford explorer my hatch door was fine. i then went to work and it was a warm day but not hot. at about 6:10pm the same day i went out to get something out of the back and i saw it. there is 2 cracks the upper part of the hatch in to the left of the ford emblem. one starts at the window and goes down the other starts at the bottom and goes up. at that point i contacted the toyota dealership that i purchased the vehicle from and took the vehicle to them to look at. the service guy said he had no idea what could have made this happen. he stated he could tell it had not been hit or anything and that it wasn't a flex point. he told me to contact the local ford dealership. i contacted apple ford (lynchburg va) on 5-15-09 and was instructed they had seen many cases of this but they can't do anything until ford puts out a recall. i then contacted ford motor company and was instructed they will not fix it but to have a dealer look at it. my concern is if the window falls out because of this what is it going to do to my 1 year old and 3 year old in the back seat or the people in the care behind me on the road. i have done nothing to make this happen. it is a default from the company that could potentially cause harm. i have also researched it on the internet and found via google there are lots of people like me. if water gets down through the crack it could very well rust the latching mechanism and make it fail to work properly. *tr
05/01/2008650001
 The back rear panel of the hatchback cracked for no apparent reason. it is a manufacturers defect which the company is unwilling to pay for. *tr
01/01/2009260001
 I have a 2003 ford explorer it has a crack in the rear panel under window of liftgate i had it replace before for the same problem now ford refuse to fix the crack saying the have no records of this problem. *tr
04/02/20091650001
 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
01/15/2009940001
 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
10/18/2008593241
 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
09/01/20071
 Rear tail gate has a crack in the fiberglass from the window all the way down. *tr
09/01/20061
 The hood on my vehicle is blistering and bubbling off in many areas. *tr
03/14/2009473741
 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
03/01/2008680001
 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
01/13/2009508501
 Plastic body panel below rear window on the lift gate has cracked. *tr
01/17/2009497901
 Rear tailgate/liftgate door panel cracked in two places vertically while in garage parked. *tr
01/18/2009770001
 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
02/16/2008950001
 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
01/07/200998773
 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.
01/04/2009430001
 Applique underneath the rear window cracked next to emblem with no impact. *tr
04/21/2008830001
 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
12/23/2008630001
 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 the fact that a plastic part is glue to a metal part with a different coefficient of expansion. the car is a ford explorer xlt 2003. although the cracked panel does not seem to be a safety defect, the distraction caused by the loud bang noise while driving the car in heavy traffic and stopping in the highway at night to determine the cause of the noise clearly put me and my family at risk. moreover, there is a good chance the rear window panel may separate from the vehicle at speed, being a safety issue for other motorists. *tr
12/16/2008234131
 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
12/10/2008650001
 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
12/04/2008629001
 The rear panel below the window on the hatch just suddenly cracked... it wasn't hit or anything, it just cracked. *tr
02/15/20081
 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
09/05/2008950001
 Plastic body part below rear window glass cracked. *tr
06/18/2001600001
 2003 ford explorer paint peeling. *tr
07/01/20061
 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
11/09/20071
 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
08/14/2008610001
 Paint peeling off my car. *tr
08/06/2008380001
 Vertical crack in the back hatch of my ford explorer 2003 just below the glass and going down. *tr
06/01/20071
 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
06/19/2008980001
 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 strong my leg! anyone interested in filing a class action lawsuit in the state of nh, please let me know, i am going to contact my lawyer today. *tr
06/19/2008980001
 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 notified that the recall was only on the hinges (even though they know the glass is defective as well) and they would not help us out. well im not paying $1,600 out of my pocket for another product that ford knows has a problem and doesn't back up there warranties. *tr
03/10/2008470001
 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
06/08/2006480001
 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 interstate causing wrecks, or will they finally own up to the thousands of 2002-2004 explorer owners that they made an error in production. no one is perfect but we should be responsible for our actions. *tr
08/25/20071
 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
08/27/200720000312/05/2005
 Paint problems paint keeps on blistering and peeling all over the vehicle. *tr
02/09/200748000210/11/2002
 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
09/01/200660000108/01/2006
 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
10/28/200647000103/01/2003
 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
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
12/31/2003107/27/2003
 Numerous problem: brakes, rear window opening, seat belt retraction, heater, rear defrost, body work, etc.. *ph while braking the brake pedal went to the floor and caused extended stopping distance. the rear window hinge failed which caused the window to open while the consumer went through a car wash. the seat belt retracted slowly which caused the belt to become hooked onto the door lock system. as a result the passenger could not get out of the vehicle. the left wiper was not clearing the windshield. the left rear door would not close all the way unless it was slammed hard. *nm
06/12/20033823401/13/2003
 While the consumer was driving at an undetermined speed engine check light appeared on the dash, causing the vehicle to stall. consumer contacted dealer on four occasions, but problem still occurs. *ak consumer seeking or vehicle replacement reimbursement for repairs on engine, right rear door, and center console lid. *la
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
11/11/20041
 On december, 11, 2004, my 10 year old son went to open the back hatch of our 2003 ford explorer. on trying to close the hatch, the left hinge holding the glass part broke, dropping the glass but held onto by my son. on trying to place the glass in a secure position to drive the vehicle back home, the glass exploded and lacerated my older son's eye who was helping to try and correct the issue. the tear to his upper eyelid was extensive enough to require a hospital visit and 7 stitches. ford is now giving me the run around that i would not expect especially since my complaint is based on a faulty hinge (recalled but in supply limbo), broken glass and an injury to a minor. all i wanted was the car to be fixed and secure a loner car. unbelieveable that they will not take responsibility.*ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
06/28/201291793
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed a crack on the rear lift gate panel. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. the approximate failure mileage was 91,793.
11/07/2010130000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack on the rear liftgate from the top of the manufacturers emblem up to the window. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired fro the failure. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 130,000.
03/09/2010770001
 I own a 2003 ford explorer and was closing the window of the back hatch when the rear lift gate hinge failed and broke and the window became dislodged and hit me in the head. my son was standing next to me and thankfully the window didn't fall out completely and land on him! i have contacted ford and they said that although there was a recall for this very same problem, your agency did not identify my vehicle as being affected and they will not repair it at their cost. again, they said it was because your agency did not identify my vehicle as being affected by this defect. at the present time, the window is hanging by the struts and the left hinge. further, i have gone online and seen that many other people have had this very same problem and it was not covered by ford's recall. this is a major safety issue as that window could have fallen out and landed on my son! thankfully, i was not seriously injured. i can't believe that this has not been recalled more extensively. i think it is reasonable to expect that a window or a door is not going to fall off a hinge and potentially cause a serious injury. safety is a reasonable expectation! *tr
08/10/200375000
 Tl-*the 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the paint portion on the liftgate has cracked in several places just under the glass. the contact feels this can be a potential safety hazard because there have been other vehicles whose rear glass has broken. the failure mileage was 75000 and the current mileage was 80000.
01/22/2010820001
 2003 ford explorer xlt - overdrive light starting flashing and now the transmission slips when shifting from 1st to second gear. engine revs to 3200 rpms and makes a loud noise before feathering the gas to get the transmission to shift into 2nd gear. vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass. no impact to tailgate occurred-crack just appeared. *tr
12/28/2009700001
 2003 ford explorer , 70,000 miles rear lift gate cracked in middle splitting off in y shape there was no impact done to make this happen. heard loud pop told that ford will not do anything & i will have to pay out of pocket.*tr
12/29/2009115000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the contact was examining the vehicle she noticed that there was a large crack on the panel under the rear window. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 115,000.
01/10/2010116000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the lift gate which includes a plastic part just below the window. the ford manufacturer informed the contact that there were no recalls and he should call nhtsa. the failure mileage was 116,000. updated 2/26/10 *cn
12/04/200928700
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the rear window panel has fractured. the dealer was contacted, and he was advised that the ford manufacturer did not recognize this failure as a defect. no assistance was provided. the failure mileage was 28,700.
12/23/200839000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed that the rear liftgate was cracked on her vehicle. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that it was not defective; therefore, she would have to pay for the repair. the contact disagrees and believes the manufacturer should pay for the repair. the manufacturer stated that there was no defect and will not assist with the repair. the failure mileage was 39,000 and current mileage was 54,300. updated 03-04-09 *bf the back of the liftgate panel below the window cracked. updated 03/04/09. *jb
01/07/2009987731
 I have a 2003 eddie bauer ford explorer. last night, when my son was attempting to close the rear lift gate glass door, the hinge on the passenger side broke off. the glass liftgate is presently being held up by the other hinge and it won't be long before that one breaks also. i spoke with an andrea at ford 1-800-392-3673 and she basically told me that i was out of luck, that i would have to pay for the repairs because my vehicle was not included in the recall. i don't understand why, i told her the description of my vehicle. i have a friend who owns a ford explorer and he had the same problem, and since his was included in the recall, he didn't encounter any problems in having it repaired. you wonder why so many people buy japanese cars and trucks. here is one of many reasons. ford motor company is obviously attempting to save money at the expense of our safety. *tr
08/22/200860000111/01/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed that the liftgate glass applique was damaged and cracked. the dealer stated that because there was no recall for the failed component, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 60,000. updated 10/16/08. *lj updated 10/17/08. *jb
05/01/2008610001
 There is a vertical crack that just appeared in the rear hatch of my 2003 ford explorer. we take very good care of our vehicles and this truck is rarely driven. it is also parked in our garage except when being driven. i have read that this problem is very common in this truck. our door ajar light and warning regularly indicates that the door is not closed properly. it has even flung open while we are driving. we have the third row seat in this model and keep my two 5 year-olds in that seat. it was very frightening when this happened and we had to pull over suddenly to remedy the problem. there is a serious defect in this design which can cause injury to those in the vehicle or around you since the hatch opening out of no where is startling. *tr
06/01/20071
 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
03/01/2008106/01/2003
 The rear hatch has developed a crack through the middle of the panel just below the visible glass of the hatch. this crack encompasses the rear ford logo. this crack occurred without any damage to the vehicle. *tr
09/02/2006420001
 Rear door hatch has cracked from the bottom of the window to the bottom of the hatch. *tr
03/05/2007108/23/2003
 I have a 03 explorer. and my hatch cracked in 07. when i took it to the dealership after seeing other models with the same problem. i was informed there was no recall on the part and it cost me roughly $800.00 to fix. i feel as though ford should recall the part and refund all the customers who has had the same problem, and had to spend $$ to get it fixed. *tr
03/14/200844000303/15/2005
 The rear hatch on my 2003 ford explore xlt cracked in 3 separate places. the vehicle is primarily housed in a garage. i called ford to report the problem. they told me they would not fully cover the defect. they would help since it was out of warranty. i feel the cracks are a flaw in manufacturing or product design. they should be covered entirely by the manufacturer. *tr
03/03/200625000103/03/2003
 Crack in body of tailgate with no cause; crack starts at the bottom of the back window and runs to the bottom of the plastic panel. i took it to the dealership and they said it is a know defect, but will not fix it. in my neighborhood alone, there are at least 4 other explorers with the same issue. ford needs to fix this ! it takes away from the trade-in value of my car. *tr
01/18/200880000109/22/2007
 Body panel below rear glass on lift gate is cracked from top to bottom. i noticed this on many explorers of the same approx. age while shopping for this vehicle. *tr
02/25/200842500111/15/2002
 Rear tailgate molding below window cracked. appears to be a prevalent flaw based on internet research. called ford and they advised it was a known problem however were not planning to recall. i believe this is related to the prior recall of rear liftgate glass as this part was new post recall. *tr
07/04/2007111/04/2002
 Panel below glass on lift gate develop a crack. *tr
07/12/200747000109/22/2004
 I own a 2003 ford explorer xlt 4wd. approximately 12 months ago, the rear trim panel beneath the rear window crack down the middle. i contacted my nearest dealer who informed me that while ford had recognized that it was a problem, they did not plan to issue a technical service bulletin or recall. the dealer service reps even agreed that there is a significant problem with explorers and mountaineers. i have seen many other explorers and mountaineers with the same problem as well as many complaints on-line. today the rear hatch left latch broke off causing the entire rear lift gate window to nearly fall off. the problem could possibly be related due to the earlier crack causing the weight of the rear glass to shift, place too much strain on the left latch. the dealer is repairing the broken latch, window molding and rear hatch struts, under an extended service plan but still will not repair the previous cracked trim panel. this is indicative of ford's failure to back up their product and they have lost a long term customer. *tr
02/02/200854634208/12/2003
 2003 ford explorer cracked rear hatch without impact. weather conditions were colder than normal. there are two vertical 1/4 cracks that appeared suddenly below the rear hatch lift gate window. we had not used the back lift door or the lift gate window in several days. *tr
01/28/2008100300110/26/2005
 Cracked hatch on 2003 ford explorer. worried that panel will fall off. ford does not want to take care of this problem that is obviously a defect. have read that many other people around country have same problem no matter what climate is. feel that it is a safety hazard with the possibility of panel falling off while driving and creating an adverse incident which could cause injury. *tr
01/18/2008540002
 Rear glass applique under rear hatch has cracked twice, first time under warranty, second time it is not covered. *tr
01/25/200868000210/30/2002
 Crack in liftgate of 2003 ford explorer; note: 2nd time it has cracked, after replacement once...now about 25,000 miles later, same problem with new liftgate. crack just appears. *tr
01/25/200851000101/01/2003
 When i got to my car this morning, the middle of the back rear panel of my '03 ford explorer eddie bauer series had cracked from between the window to the latch - right under the ford emblem. there was no accident - nothing that could have caused this damage. luckily there are only 51k miles on the truck, and the dealer is willing to fix with a $75 deductible. *tr
01/21/200839000111/15/2003
 Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2003/body_paint/cracked_panel_below_the_rear_window.shtml the link above is basically what i experience - a crack in my back body panel - no wreck - nothing to cause it - just sitting there! ford will not replace - they claim it is out of warranty - as if a body panel should crack by itself! *tr
12/09/200768400103/09/2003
 Back hatch split on 2003 ford explorer. *tr
07/20/200640000108/30/2003
 In july 2006, my husband and i noticed a hairline crack above the ford emblem on the back window/liftgate panel. within 1 week, the crack had gone all the way through the liftgate. in hot weather, the crack is barely visible (because the plastic seems to swell); in cold weather, the crack is at least 1/8-1/4 wide. i'm concerned of wear on remaining components since i have no idea if water/snow just go through the crack or get inside the panel itself. is there a fix offered by ford for this since it is apparently a design/component flaw?*cn
12/20/200768300109/15/2003
 2003 ford explorer- the trim piece below the rear window cracked vertically for no reason. the vehicle was not hit, bumped, or slammed. the crack simply appeared. the dealership stated that the car was not under warranty and that the extended warranty does not cover the damage. it is my understanding that this is not an isolated incident.*cn
12/18/200759000102/01/2003
 Went out to load some things in the back of my explorer and noticed a crack in the rear liftgate under the glass. it goes from the glass to just above the license plate. *tr
02/15/200748000206/28/2006
 We purchased a certified used 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer 4x4 in june 2006. one morning in mid-feb 2007, we discovered a crack in the lifegate glass applique that started from the top down, approximately 8 left from the center of the gate. there was no evidence of impact to the plastic, but rather a stress crack. since that time, the crack has grown wider and all the way through the plastic applique. now, another crack has started on the right hand side approximate 6 from the center of the liftgate. we contacted the local dealership in mid-feb 2007 and they stated we would have to pay for the cracked liftgate and it would cost approximately $800. we continue to observe other ford explorer's in the local area with similar cracks in their liftgate plastic applique. *jb
10/02/200782000109/04/2003
 The rear window on the liftgate of my 2003 ford explorer imploded as i was waiting at a traffic light. the window did not just crack...it shattered into pieces. my car was not hit by another car or by an object. an initial problem arose before this event. a crack formed on the molding just below the window where the ford symbol is located. this is an issue i have read about from other people with explorers. i have read other cases of the liftgate window shattering but more often during opening or closing of the window. in this case, i was completely stopped at a traffic light when this happened. *tr
09/25/200749000107/03/2003
 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer ~49,000 miles. vehicle was parked and shows no evidence of impact. weather conditions were near standard. plastic panel below rear window split in two and has ~1/16 gap. split is vertical and very near center of panel. it passes under center of ford oval symbol. not sure if there is danger of rear window or broken panel pieces falling off vehicle. no repair has been undertaken, still attempting to get manufacturer to repair apparent defect. *tr
09/25/2007970001
 Panel below rear window cracked while vehicle was parked. i'm concerned of a safety hazard after reading on internet that the panel can fall off after this crack. it has not been fixed yet because ford claims it is not covered under its extended premium warranty. *tr
04/06/2007107/23/2006
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. six months ago i notice a split on the back of my vehicle near the rear window. the split was on the body of the vehicle. at first i thought someone damaged my vehicle. then i noticed when it gets really hot the split closes up and disappears. i called ford to see if there was a recall they said no. i tried to explain to them that there ought to be. i took a survey. there were at least 1 out of every 5 ford explorers had the same issue. i contacted the dealership and they said that it was caused by stress on the vehicle(what ever that means) i think ford needs to repair this problem because it can become unsightly *jb
03/01/2007800001
 The plastic trim panel on the rear hatch of my ford explorer xls cracked from top to bottom, with no provocation. i understand this is a common problem. my local dealer service rep said they had repaired dozens of them, after he told me ford would not stand behind this obvious defect. the crack expands and contracts noticeably with temperature changes, and i believe the composite is not properly formulated resulting in instability of the material during temperature changes. clearly, this is a manufacturing defect for which ford should provide a remedy. my explorer still looks great, and this is the only blemish. at the quoted cost of over $700 to replace the entire hatch assembly (the only option offered), i will live with the annoying crack and tell everyone i see about ford's unwillingness to help. *jb
05/10/200760000106/30/2003
 2003 ford explorer. liftgate panel cracked from right under glass all the way to bottom of panel right thru the middle of ford emblem. appears to be common problem with this model. from all i read ford will not fix problem even though it is their fault. *tr
04/01/2007101/21/2003
 I have a 2003 ford explorer. i have, or it looks to be several stress cracks below the back glass of the hatch. they range anywhere from an inch to seven or eight inches. i took this to the ford house in haltom city, they said there was nothing that could be done but to check with other owners to see if this is happening to their explorer. i have since noticed literally at least 75 explorers with the same thing. the ones i have spoke with have the same problem. ford does not want to replace this cost. i think after 2003, ford changed the way they made the back hatch and it doesn't have the same seven or eight inch molding under the glass. i am afraid that if i open the glass section on mine or close it, it will break the glass or the glass will come out. what can we do about this?*jb
05/01/2007340004011/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact noticed a seven-inch crack in the plastic molding of the hatchback door hinge. recall # 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) was found. the dealer stated that his vin was excluded from the recall, however the contact feels that it should be included. the current mileage is 46,000 and failure mileage was 34,000.
03/15/20073100012/10/2003
 I have 2003 ford explorer xlt. one morning in mid-march of this year, i observed a crack in the platic panel under the window on the tailgate. my wife and i knew we had not had any type of impact in that area that would have caused the panel to crack. i took the vehicle into the ford dealership and spoke with a service technician about it. since the vehicle was just over 3 years old and have just over 30k miles on it, the cracked panel was not covered under warranty. however, the technician told me that he had seen a number of these problems and it was caused by the way the panel was attached. i had the crack repaired - cost over $400. i sent a letter to the ford customer response center in detroit with pictures and copies of the repair invoice asking them to reimburse me for the repair cost. after 30 days, i had not heard from them. so i sent copies of the letter by certified mail to the ford dealership, the customer response center and to the ceo of ford. the dealership called me and said this was a ford problem, not a dealership problem, so the dealership was not going to take any action. i finally received a call from the ford customer response center, and they wanted to know if i would accept a 50% reimbursement for the repair. i agreed only to find out the next day from the ford dealership that information about this problem could be found all over the internet. i am very upset that the ford motor company could be so unethical to negotiate a settlement that is clearly evident a design flaw. i believe they should should be required to reimburse any owner of a 2003 ford explorer who has this cracked panel repaired. i also think a class action suit should be brought against ford seeking compensatory and punitive damages for failing to reimburse for the repair and acting unethically by trying to place some of the blame on the owners by trying to negotiate the reimbursement amount for a flaw that is clearly their own fault.
05/17/20071
 Without impact, '03 ford explorer liftgate panel cracked from glass, around ford emblem, to bottom of panel. very common problem. no cooperation from ford. *tr
05/12/2007101/07/2004
 Cracking in the liftgate panel. the panel below the glass on my explorer has cracked down the middle. *ak
01/07/2007315000108/23/2003
 Rear liftgate had a crack just below the glass on the 2003 explorer. i am concerned that the glass will become loose and fall out and hurt someone. this same problem happened on my 2002, ford explorer. i have seen several explorers with this same crack. ford should replace the liftgate with a better designed one.*ak
12/01/2006106/21/2003
 Plastic under (attached to) rear liftgate window cracked. crack runs top to bottom, around the ford emblem. entire liftgate needs replacing. ford says i have to pay for it. i have seen several explorer on the highway with the same defect. don't really know if this would be a safety issue, but i'm sure the integrity of the structure would be compromised in a rollover. *tr
01/30/200743000509/05/2003
 Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2003 ford explorer with 43000 failure mileage) a crack on the rear of the vehicle made the hatchback fly up while driving. there was recall 04v442000, but this vehicle was not included. the vehicle had not been taken to a dealer about the crack, or the hatch flying up. the current mileage was 44264.*ak
02/15/2007120000505/15/2004
 Tl*- the contact stated that there was a crack on the panel on the rear gate underneath the window on the 2003 ford explorer. when opeing s the liftgate it felt shaky and unstable. the contact stated this causes the door ajar warning light to remain illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the dealership, and they informed her the back panel on the rear liftgate needed to be replaced. the vehicle currently has 120,000 miles. *ak
02/23/2007105/08/2003
 Crack in back hatch by ford emblem. *nm
10/01/200653000206/01/2003
 Cracked panel below glass on 2003 ford explorer, both on mine and my wife's explorer, both bought brand new within a month of each other. *nm
01/08/200678100106/06/2005
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. the plastic panel just below the tail gate window has cracked from top to bottom. upon doing some research on this problem it appears that there are 100's of similar incidents. *jb
01/29/200756107101/15/2004
 2003 ford explorer xlt vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass no impact to tailgate occurred-crack just appeared while driving. transmission had to be rebuilt at 50000 miles. *jb
12/03/200662000106/01/2005
 Upon going out to my truck this morning to put my sons stuff in the back, i noticed that i have a crack in the panel just below my liftgate glass. this struck me as unusual as i don't even use the liftgate window. i decided that i would do a search for a recall that i may not have been privy to...and i have found hundreds of complaints, but no recall. the dealers are refusing to replace this item even when it is under warranty, they say it isn't covered. if there is obviously a defect and this many people are having the same issue ... why isn't something being done about it. if it keeps cracking the glass is going to fall out!! the dealerships are saying that if you still have warranty that they will replace it no charge, but at the same time even if you do have warranty ... it isn't covered. there should be a recall on this...as it does pose a hazard if the window falls out due to the crack in the structure. does anyone know if anything can be done about this or who we need to contact??? *jb
12/18/2006380001
 Just noticed a large crack in panel underneath rear window of 2003 ford explorer xlt. the crack just appeared without any reason. dealer refuses to pay for replacement. we have not repaired yet because we are seeking dealer reimbursement. there are a huge number of cases of this same problem in 2002 and 2003 explorers. one website that lists many others with same problem is autobeef.com. dealer estimate was $648. please acknowledge receipt of this complaint and inform us on how to proceed. *jb
12/05/200642196108/31/2003
 Rear liftgate body panel below glass window developed a crack from top to bottom today after closing the liftgate. the dealer says it is not covered and they have seen this before. this is clearly a design defect since this panel is broken but not the glass in the liftgate. *jb
06/01/2006600001
 The panel directly below the rear window in my 2003 ford explorer has developed large cracks in it. after talking to the dealer, it was very evident that this is a common defect as they said they see a minimum of 10 per year and that ford will not fix it unless it is under warranty. my vehicle has 68,000,miles on it. i also have seen this defect listed multiple times in automobile defect websites such as www.carcomplaints.com. *nm
06/28/200612000502/23/2003
 Hello. i have several complaints regarding my 2003 ford explorer including several safety issues. the first complaint is regarding the driver's seat which shifts routinely on acceleration and de-acceleration. this concerns me if i get into an accident and the seat malfunctions. the second complaint is regarding the gear shifter not going into park easily. i have to jiggle it to into park. i am concerned that this might not properly engage park and my vehicle might roll. thirdly, my rear lift gate trim has had to be repaired at least 3 times. i am concerned that although the dealership says there is no safety issue, there possibly could be due to the rear lift gate hinges being recalled and representative informing me that the reason that i continue to have a crack appearing is due to design flaw. this concerns me b/c i frequently utilize the lift gate to retrieve groceries and other items and do not want the window to fail and fall on my head. the remainder concerns are regarding the function of my vehicle. i have had to have 3 of the window motors replaced under warranty. the transmission has had to be fixed twice (shifting module malfunction). finally, the fuel gauge had to be repaired due to improper fuel readings. i guess all these items could be very problematic as well b/c i could run out of gas and be stranded with my child, my vehicle might not shift properly leaving me stranded. please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. ps. i would also like to add that as i was completing this process i remembered that my vehicle had a high pitched whine that had to be repaired. i do not remember exactly what had to be repaired but it was covered under warranty. *nm
05/05/20061
 Rear hatchback was taken to ford for a recall regarding the hatchback. prior to that, there were problems with the hatchback, i.e. accidentally opening. now just below the rear window of the hatchback, it is cracking. similar to many owners listed on this site. *nm
02/25/20061
 Plastic under (attached to) rear liftgate window cracked. crack is 10 to 12 inches long. entire liftgate needs replacing. ford says i have to pay for it. i have seen several explorer on the highway with the same defect. *jb
02/17/200635000108/11/2003
 After having about of freezing weather my wife noticed a crack on the plastic panel attached to the bottom of the rear hatch back window. i took it to our local ford dealer upon which i was informed that this is a defect in manufacturing and that they replace quite a few of these every year. but being that my warranty expired in august of 2005 they will not pay for replacement. i feel ford should be held responsible. *jb
02/27/2006106/01/2005
 This morning i noticed a crack in the tailgate of my 2003 explorer xlt. it was not there two days ago. i took the vehicle to my local dealer and he said that the part is not covered under warranty or recall so i will be responsible for the charges. he has personally seen many of these. i have been on several forum sites and know that i am not the only one having this problem. is anything being done from ford's side? *jb
01/25/200645023101/02/2003
 Our ford explorer was parked in our garage like it is every night. in the morning we went out to put something in the back of the explorer when we noticed that the back top hatch was cracked. it cracked right down the middle of the ford sign. when we closed the hatch after noticing it it pinched my fingers. we contacted the dealer where we bought the vehicle and we were told that it was a service bulletin but not a recall and that he understood that it was dangerous and told us to contact ford customer service. my husband contacted them and was told that they could not fix the problem. ford gave us an estimate to fix it and it would be about $400. the problem with the hatch being cracked is that if someone was sitting in the third row seat at any time the glass could pop out and hit them in the head. when you do open the hatch your fingers get pinched if they are in the wrong place. we have not gotten the problem fixed yet. *nm
12/21/200566000102/28/2003
 I have a 2003 ford explorer xls. the rear lift gate on this vehicle has cracked directly below the rear window. we have spoken to the ford dealership here and they say they are not obligated to fix this piece due the vehicle being out of the initial warranty even though i have the premium esp plan and the fact that temperatures got to below freezing (27 degrees f). this is an engineering defect that should be dealt with since the piece located on the exterior of the vehicle and should be able to withstand freezing temperatures. this is a part i believe should be coverage against defect. cost of $57.00 plus installation and painting. i would like any help in this matter. *jb
05/02/2005111/01/2003
 2003 ford explorer rear hatch glass shattered while parked.*mr *jb
02/17/2005180001
 After receiving a recall letter for the liftgate, the consumer is unable to obtain repair, since the part is not available. liftgate recall nhtsa 04v442000
12/22/20031
 The consumer heard a wind noise coming from the rear of the vehicle when being driven, then suddenly the liftgate opened by itself. *jb *ak
08/16/20032
 Glass of front windshield leaking, we had it resealed and it is again leaking and the new seal is lifting. the rear liftgate window was leaking and the water was leaking in between the inner and outer panels. when the liftgate is opened one gets an unexpected shower. this too required repairing.*ak dup
12/03/200314200103/01/2003
 Plastic under the rear liftgate (rear hatch) cracked when closing in cold weather. the two cracks were over 6 inches long. the entire liftgate will need to be replaced. *nlm
01/19/20031
 Plastic under (attached to) rear liftgate window cracked in cold weather. crack was ~10 inches long. entire liftgate needs replacing.
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
02/08/201070000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while the contact was closing the rear lift gate the hinge broke without warning. prior to the recent failure the vehicle was taken to the dealership where nhtsa campaign id #04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/lift gate: hinge and attachments) repair was performed on the vehicle. the repair was insufficient and failed to address the safety defect. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection where the dealer refused to repair the vehicle free of charge. the current and failure mileages were 70,000.
12/14/20091040001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate/applique split down the middle which caused water to enter the vehicle, also known as a cracking fracture of the panel. recall number 04v442000, structure, body, hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments is related to the failure; however, the vin was not included. the contact expects the manufacturer to be responsible for the repairs since there is an existing recall. the failure mileage was 104,000. updated 01/12/10 *bf updated 01/15/10.*jb
06/16/2009130000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinges for the rear liftgate fractured and almost caused the glass to disengage and cause injury. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments); therefore, they would not assume any responsibility. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 130,000.
05/19/20091
 My wife and i own a 2003 ford explorer. under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000, the liftgate glass struts brackets and glass hinges were allegedly repaired. one of the glass hinges that was allegedly replaced had failed. the hinge pin for this hinge has been sheared off in a similar manner to the problem with the original hinges covered under the above referenced recall. my ford dealer and ford are entirely unwilling to address this issue under the original recall, stating that they have met their obligation. since the
04/02/20091650001
 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
02/26/200974555109/30/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the liftgate hinge broke on the right side and the left side of the glass was wedged inside the roof. if the hatch had not been wedged, the glass would have shattered onto her feet or caused injuries. the dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments), although the failures were identical. the vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. the failure mileage was 74,555 and current mileage is 74,575. 4/01/09 *nj updated 04/07/09. *jb
05/07/200870000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. when the contact opened the liftgate, the right hinge swung out and became detached. the hinge nearly struck his child. he called the dealer and was notified of a recall on his year, make, and model vehicle for this identical failure. he called the manufacturer and was informed that his vin was not included in the recall. the contact believes that if the failures are the same, his vin should be included. the recall number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 70,000.
05/14/200811330105/30/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 55 mph with the cruise control activated, the cruise control failed without warning. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and they stated that the cruise control wiring failed. there is a recall for the vehicle speed control, but his vin was not included. the recall number was unknown. the current mileage was 11,550 and failure mileage was 11,330. updated 06/25/08. *lj the consumer stated after the dealer fixed the recalled rear hatch probelm, the cargo hatch flew open while driving down the highway. a
03/07/20048000107/21/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear window hatch has a piece of plastic under the glass, which holds the window in place. the plastic has cracked all the way through the window. the current mileage was 75,000 and failure mileage was 8,000. updated 04/02/08. *lj
02/26/200872000106/18/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the rear liftgate window suddenly blew out while the vehicle was parked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that it was a common failure, but they could not explain the cause. the vehicle is currently at the shop being repaired. the contact has pictures of the failure. the current and failure mileages were 72,000. updated 03-31-08 *bf after doing some research, the consumer discovered the gas in the struts that hold the top portion of the rear hatch can explode when cold weather is a factor. updated
01/01/19011
 2003 ford explorer with bad recall repair work. consumer stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle wrong. he states that the hinges were supposed to be replaced. dealer replaced the struts and hinges. *kb when the consumer tried to get the problem fixed the first time he was told the struts looked fine. however, the driver's side hinge began to separate and the whole liftgate subsequently shifted; the gap between the liftgate and the body was no longer symmetrical but was significantly increased on the driver's side while decreased on the passenger side. as a result, the liftgate no longer latched or would only latch with a great deal of pressure applied when closing it. the consumer stated it was the two hinges at the top of the real hatch glass section that attached to the roof or body of the vehicle that were broken. the consumer stated the liftgate latch, trim panel and the rear taillight were damaged as a result of the defective hinge and should be fixed without charge. recall# 04v442000 *jb
02/15/200748000206/28/2006
 We purchased a certified used 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer 4x4 in june 2006. one morning in mid-feb 2007, we discovered a crack in the lifegate glass applique that started from the top down, approximately 8 left from the center of the gate. there was no evidence of impact to the plastic, but rather a stress crack. since that time, the crack has grown wider and all the way through the plastic applique. now, another crack has started on the right hand side approximate 6 from the center of the liftgate. we contacted the local dealership in mid-feb 2007 and they stated we would have to pay for the cracked liftgate and it would cost approximately $800. we continue to observe other ford explorer's in the local area with similar cracks in their liftgate plastic applique. *jb
09/14/20031
 2003 ford explorer. consumer states that the vehicle bottom rear liftgate is cracked. consumer believes concern is related to recall on the hinges for the liftgate. the consumer believed the cracks on the liftgate were due to weakness. updated 07/08/07. *jb
05/10/200732000111/27/2006
 2003 ford explorer has structure: body: hatchback 6 vertical crack in plastic below hatchback window. recall 04v442000 does not apply to my vin number however is same problem. spent 40 minutes on phone with ford and they stated that i must complete a complaint form. *tr
12/19/200653000112/31/2002
 Rear hatchback was taken to ford for a recall regarding the hatchback hinges. the stress of the failed hinges has caused cracks to develop below the rear window in the facia, it is cracking. *jb
12/03/200531600402/23/2003
 The lift gate trim piece needs to be repaired for the 4th time not including lift gate recall which would be the 5th repair. i have been informed by local dealer that this is design flaw and ford has yet informed them how to correctly repair the problem. *jb
08/11/2006110/05/2002
 After opening the hatchback to put groceries inside, the window fell. after inspecting it, it turns out the hinge on hatchback broke causing the window to fall. it hit my left arm and forearm causing severe bruising, other than that nobody else was hurt and the window did not fall off completely. i called the dealer and was asked to drop it off for inspection. was eventually fixed. but i can't help to wonder if it will happened again and if the consequences will be worse. *jb
06/09/200652000103/09/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked at home the rear lift gate window exploded. during the incident the temperature out doors was about 70f. last year, the vehicle was taken to the dealership who replaced the gates defective hinges, according to recall # 04v442000 instructions. the contact expressed concern about the incident because it could have caused a serious accident. *ak the consumer was told poor quality glass may have used to perform the recall work. the consumer had the window repaired at his expense, however days later he heard a noise and upon inspection, the consumer discovered the inside panel of the liftgate was very loose and it looked as though it was about to fall off. updated 08/02/06. *jb
12/15/200549000108/15/2003
 Panel under tailgate window cracked and split while vehicle parked in driveway on cold day. vehicle had previously had tailgate hinges replaced under recall. dealership advises that manufacturer denies any responsibility to repair/replace. dealer estimate of $401 to repair. *jb
12/06/2005105/01/2003
 Dt: the contact states while the vehicle was parked she heard the liftgate glass explode. nothing hit the glass and the hydraulic shaft released. the vehicle is currently at a local mechanic, but they have not diagnosed what happened. the dealership and manufacturer were not willing to assist with repairs, therefore, the insurance company was repairing the vehicle. *ak
04/01/20051
 Complaint regarding recall 04s20 relating to the rear lift gate.*** no answer required***. *mr the consumer still had not received a call or letter as to when to take the vehicle in to have the recall work performed. *jb
02/22/200538500110/30/2002
 The plastic molding around the rear glass on the liftgate cracked. consumer was concerned that the glass may fall out while opening the liftgate or while driving. the dealer was notified.*ak.....the consumer was advised by dealership that this happened to a lot of people. if not under warranty the consumer must pay. the consumer's gas gauge failed with only 2500 milles over warranty. *ak
10/07/2004300001
 Nhtsa recall campaign 04v442000, consumer received a recall for the hinges on the liftgate. consumer has been unable to have the vehicle repaired since the dealer has made not contact with her for the service date. *ak *tc
01/23/200576500112/26/2002
 Received recall notice for hinges on rear window of hatch and was advised not to open until hinges were replaced, which i did not. noticed the fiberglass under the window cracked approximately 4 inches to the left of the latch. took the vehicle to ford dealer and the warranty administrator said the fiberglass was not covered under recall. the warranty administrator said he would send a request for ford to repair the fiberglass under the glass but doesn't know if they will since they have denied paying for a few of these that he has already submitted. i am convinced this damage is a direct result of the defective hinge and feel that ford should repair my vehicle. *jb
10/10/20041
 Consumer received recall campaign 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass. however, consumer was waiting since october 2004 for repairs. ford continuously told her that the parts were not in. *ak
01/18/20051
 The consumer was experiencing problems with the liftgate latch. she then took vehicle to get serviced. recently while she was driving, the back window literally came off. she was aware of a recall for this vehicle. nhtsa's recall #04v442000. when the consumer contacted the manufacturer, they denied that there was such a recall. *jb
10/04/200414000103/03/2003
 The consumer received a recall letter for the liftgate, and no parts were available to make the repair. nhtsa liftgate recall 04v442000 *jb *sc
01/11/20051
 Complaint received via e-mail.i have a 2003 ford explorer and the rear glass hatch has a recall. recall # 04s20 we first brought the problem to hawkinson ford's attention sept 2004. in oct 2004 we received a notice and were told the hinge had to be redesigned and would take several months. jan 11, 2005 we had the repairs done to the hinges. the next day the very first time the hatch was opened both hinges moved i drove right back to the dealership. i spoke to paul's the assistant manager and showed him this problem, he was amazed. we set up another appointment to have it checked and repaired. my concern if this is their new design, wow it lasted 1 opening and now i have moisture in my explorer because the window doesn't close properly. i can only used the lift gate and have to worry if i drive could bumps cause the window to fall out. i would like to talk to someone on the subject in regards to my options. *nm
01/10/200520000103/10/2003
 Consumer was unable to have the liftgate bracket repaired since no parts were delivered to the dealer since receipt of nhtsa recall 04v442000. *ak....consumer was advised not to use tailgate window. however the remote operated window was one of the reasons for purchasing the ford explorer. consumer complained that to wait four months for repairs was radiculous. *ak
09/15/200427000112/20/2002
 The right hinges attached to the vehicle body and the liftgate broke. dealer was notified. consumer was waiting for the part since september, and no part was available. consumer was concerned that the liftgate may fall unexpectedly and cause severe injuries to someone when opened.*ak
12/23/2004112/29/2002
 Received recall notice for hinges on rear window of hatch and was advised not to open until hinges were replaced, which we did not. noticed the fiber glass under the window cracked from the window to bottom of where window lifts. took to ford dealer and service writer said the fiber glass was not covered under recall but he felt the crack was a result of hinge failure. he opened the rear window on the hatch and was unable to close it. the dealer had to replace the hinges before we could drive the vehicle. the service writer has sent a request for ford to repair the fiber glass under the glass but don't know if they will. i am convinced this damage is a direct result of the defective hinge and feel that ford should repair my vehicle. *jb
11/15/2004311/15/2004
 Rcall 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass: consumer was unable to get this recall honored by the dealer because no parts were available.*ak
10/01/20042
 Consumer has been waiting for recall 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass repair'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>glass repair since october. consumer contacted ford several times, and was told the parts have not come in. also, while driving and upon depressing the accelerator pedal and releasing foot off it vehicle surged forward. *ak recall campaign *tc
12/02/20041
 Consumer was waiting three months for recall 04v442000 concerning liftgate parts to come in. he contacted ford manufacturer, and was told they do not know when the parts will be available. consumer was very concerned. *ak
08/01/20042
 Consumer has been waiting for the repair parts to come in for recall 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass for four months. was told the parts should have been here late november. however, the parts were not here, and the problem recurred. *ak
10/01/20041
 The liftgate window would open when no one was near it and on several occasions the vehicle was in motion. bf the consumer received the liftgate recall and hopes that the repair will also repair the window. *nm campaign id number : 04v442000 *tc
10/08/2004945551
 The glass blew out of the back rear trunk window. after going to the dealer for repair, the manufacture stated there was a recall, however, the consumer was never notified. please provide information. *jb
10/13/20041
 The lift gate sheared off the hinges while pressing the remote. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer. the mechanic informed the consumer the parts were not available at this time. please fill in additional information. *jb
08/05/200438000106/14/2003
 2003 ford explorer...when opening glass portion of hatchback, the right hinge failed, causing the window to fall on my wife's head, giving her a concussion. ar has 38000 miles and has not been in an accident. hinge failure due to bolt shearing off at window. going to get it looked at tomorrow. *ak pe04045.pco
06/21/2004530001
 The liftgate glass shattered when consumer's son was closing the liftgate. the glass landed in consumer's son hair and face. technical service bulletin #10004078 was issued on this problem. manufacturer was contacted. *ak this is a my2002 vehicle and not my2003 per consumer_081704.pco pe04045.pco
06/21/200410000107/01/2003
 While opening the tailgate window, the right and left hinges broke. *ak pe04045.pco the back window was hanging by the pistons. when popping up the window using the button it did not go up automatically. the tailgate window does not shut properly.*mr *jb
04/30/2004360001
 While parked rear liftgate glass exploded. *ak
10/11/200312110/11/2003
 We bought a ford explorer xlt late saturday night october 11th. that late night after bringing the xlt explorer home we pressed the blue liftgate button for liftgate. the glass went up by itself and the shock rod disconnected from the ball bearing slamming back down. luckily no one was injured but this is a serious safety concern that needs to be addressed because some could seriously get hurt including children when the weight of that glass comes down. i contacted ford and have only received a merry go round and no suitable answers. i had taken the vehicle back to the dealership and have gotten it checked out... with no suitable answers except it was factory related. please investigate. we do not this to happen to anyone else or someone from getting seriously hurt. please investigate and forward to all other regulatory and safety agencies federal/ state/local so a thorough investigation is done. *la factory mis-installation of struts causing lift cylinder detachment at first use.pco
200001
 Consumer states that vehicle had been sitting for 40 minutes when the rear hatchback window exploded. cause unknown. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
01/01/20100
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. she stated while utilizing the rear liftgate to remove items from the trunk compartment, the rear liftgate fell causing the glass to shatter. the contact was not injured. the manufacturer was contacted and although the exact same failure of her vehicle is related to nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000- structure, structure body, hatchback/liftgate, hinge and attachments as a result of nhtsa action number pe04045, her vin was not included. no repairs were made to date. the failure and current mileages were unknown.
03/16/200784800111/08/2002
 There appeared without warning a big crack in the rear liftgate of the 2003 ford explorer. the crack goes from the bottom of the glass all the way to the bottom of the liftgate. the crack expands and shrinks according to the temperature. so far it got as wide as 1/4 inch. . the crack is in the shape of a peace sign.*ak nothing hit the vehicle; it's stored in a garage everyday. i went to mallouf ford dealership in north brunswick nj and they said i'd have to pay $800 to fix it. there was another person in the dealership at the same time with the same problem. i went online and found a slew of other ford explorer owners with the same problem. my concern is the glass of the rear lift gate not being properly supported and will eventually become loose, crack or fall out. let's not wait for something horrific to happen before this growing problem is fixed.
02/18/2005200001
 When cold, below 35 degrees f, the rear hatch will not fully open. the hatch stops at head height. i've hit my head twice. ford has said because the hatch opens when it's warm, there is nothing they can do. it's a minor head bump, but has potential to damage an eye because of the way the hatch sheet metal protrudes. the suv is a 2003 ford explorer.*ak
01/08/20051
 Nhtsa recall campaign 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass. owner received notification from the manufacturer in october 2004. owner has been in touch with the dealership, but is constantly being told that parts needed to repair the recall are unavailable. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD
12/10/200633333110/07/2006
 Paint bubbling up on front of hood on 2003 ford explorer. *tr
04/15/200425000107/06/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated that the paint on the edges of the vehicle front hood was bubbled and peeled. the service dealer determined it was caused by corrosion. the manufacturer was contacted and requested the vehicle owner to provide a report on the paint issue from the service dealer. the contact was waiting for the report from the service dealer
05/06/2006106/01/2004
 Explorer limited. six months into owning this car, bought at approximately. 32,000 miles, i noticed there was bubbling on the hood of car. it was on the front of the hood on both sides above head lamps as well as in the middle (point of the of the hood). even though this is a manufacturers defect kenny ross in pittsburgh will not work with me in getting repaired. one of their collision men said i was out of warranty. i spoke to the manager he said if it is under warranty not a problem. then the head guy of the collision department said even if i had a warranty the hood would have been covered only under the 12 months, 12,000 miles warranty (???). just the basic run around and they insult your intelligence. the paint is now cracking and peeling off. i noticed the bubbling at about 39,000+ miles and just reported it to ford may of this 2006, although i did mention it to the guy that sold me the car a year or so ago. in addition i purchased the extended service plan from this so called dealership thinking i was getting an extended warranty, which was implied, only to find out that the extended warranty and the extended service are two different things. buyer beware but they should have to disclose the difference. why would i buy an esp when i can extend the warranty for just about the same price. *jb
04/27/200640000111/08/2002
 Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle's paint looked bubbly like a blister on both the driver and passenger sides of the hood. the corrosion was located on the side of the hood closest to the head lights. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined that it was a manufacturer's defect. the manufacturer directed the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for repair. the dealer refused to repair the defect at no charge because the vehicle's warranty had expired. there was a vast amount of information on the manufacturer's website regarding the defective paint which was observed by the contact. the vehicle was not involved in a crash or fire.
09/08/20031
 While driving hood flew up which impaired visibility. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE
04/21/200760000110/24/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. in an attempt to drive the vehicle, the contact noticed a crack in the tailgate below the rear window. the dealer was notified and stated that there were no recalls. the current mileage was 80,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.
01/20/2007105/30/2003
 2003 ford explorer, after having service completed , jan '07 noticed after several weeks vertical crack on rear hatch panel right of ford emblem. didn't think much of it because there was road salt coving the back hatch and i couldn't confirm what had happened.however there was no impact marks. i have noticed a number of other same year explorers with the same vertical crack. iwill try to pursue with ford. *cn
12/06/200760000110/01/2003
 2003 ford explorer xlt vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass (no impact to tailgate occurred - called dealership and they noted this is a common problem). *tr
11/01/200790000107/29/2004
 The rear tailgate on my ford explorer has a vertical crack that runs through the ford medallion on the back. my neighbor had the same problem with his explorer and replaced it. when i looked on a google search, i find this is a common problem with explorers. not replaced, the piece will fall off and possibly create a road hazard. *tr
04/01/2006112/20/2002
 Following the actions taken by the ford dealership to correct the fault with the rear door/liftgate recall, a large crack developed on the liftgate from the bottom of the glass to the bottom of the liftgate. i have noticed this same crack on several other explorers. i have been told that this is not something that ford recognizes as an item for recall. i am unsure of the integrity of the structure of the rear door/liftgate. *jb
02/01/2006450001
 Crack in body of tailgate with no cause; crack started at the bottom of the back window and ran to the bottom of the panel. *jb
11/15/200630000205/23/2003
 Ford explorer 2003. tailgate cracked in half below window. no precipitating cause. car under warranty, dealer stated this was manufacturing defect. replaced at no charge, apparently with another defective tailgate. tailgate cracked again 9 mos. later. dealership required payment of 20% from owner since vehicle out of warranty (38k miles) even though it was admittedly ford's manufacturing defect. ford replaced the tailgate with a third defective tailgate that will undoubtedly crack again. both ford facilities stated that they'd wish that ford would do a recall and accept responsibility for the defect. they'd replaced one a month at the small dealership and many at the larger dealership. pictures available per e-mail if desired. *nm
01/12/20071
 The panel below the rear window of my 2003 explorer has cracked/broken into pieces. the 6-8 inch break runs to the right of the ford emblem. apparently this is a very common defect in 2002-2003 explorers which ford refuses to acknowledge. *jb
11/30/20042
 Consumer received manufacturer's recall 04007, nhtsa recall 04v129000 concerning tailgate cables. no parts were available.*ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
07/01/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. she stated that when she purchased her vehicle the hinge on the back of the window was broken. the dealer told her that there was a recall and that it could be repaired. the dealer later advised her that her vin was not a part of the recall. last year the dealer stated that they would not repair the broken hinge. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and current mileage was 129000.
03/03/200877950108/01/2003
 I own a 2003 ford explorer. first, i noticed a small crack in the tailgate below the rear window. within two days, the crack spread the entire length of the applique and through the ford emblem. i contacted ford and they are aware of this defect, however, they have not issued a recall. we purchased an extended 75,000 mile warranty, but this crack happened at 78,000 miles. ford said they would not fix because warranty expired and no recall on their end. *tr
02/11/200855000209/22/2004
 I own a 2003 ford explorer xlt 4wd. approximately 12 months ago, the rear trim panel beneath the rear window crack down the middle. i contacted my nearest dealer who informed me that while ford had recognized that it was a problem, they did not plan to issue a technical service bulletin or recall. the dealer service reps even agreed that there is a significant problem with explorers and mountaineers. i have seen many other explorers and mountaineers with the same problem as well as many complaints on-line. today the rear hatch left latch broke off causing the entire rear lift gate window to nearly fall off. the problem could possibly be related due to the earlier crack causing the weight of the rear glass to shift, place too much strain on the left latch. the dealer is repairing the broken latch, window molding and rear hatch struts, under an extended service plan but still will not repair the previous cracked trim panel. this is indicative of ford's failure to back up their product and they have lost a long term customer. *tr
04/24/200769500112/07/2003
 The rear tailgate on the 2003 ford explorer cracked when i closed it after taking an item out of the back of the car. i had seen many other vehicles of the same make and year with this problem but did not know what may have caused the problem until it happened to me. i did not abuse the tailgate ,and i did not use any extra effort to close it than i normally would. i called my local ford dealer , and they told me to bring it and they would fix it at no charge. when i called later on the day i dropped it off. they informed me they had performed the recall work on the hinge and ball pivot, but they could not repair the tailgate because the vehicle was out of warranty. i contacted ford and they told me they were aware of the problem with the tailgate situation on this vehicle but it had not been posted as a recall item. *ak
10/18/200645000108/10/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated while parked in a driveway unloading the vehicle, the rear gate hinges fractured and the glass dropped. the manufacturer was contacted, and informed there was no recall for this defect. the contact expressed concern because the hinges held the glass and the incident could happen while driving affecting other vehicles on the road.
12/01/20042
 Consumer received manufacturer's recall 04007,nhtsa recall 04v129000 concerning tailgate cables. no parts were available.*ak. window part of tailgate could fall down an dhurt consumer if he wa susin git to load groceries. consumer suffers from arthritis in hands and fingers, and uses ths window constantly since the whole tailgate is too heavy to close. warning indicated not to use the window. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
01/21/2008101/21/2008
 Crack developed without apparent cause in plastic panel below the rear window. i've noticed this in many other explorers of similar years. *tr
04/06/200760000104/15/2005
 2003 ford explorer. the back door panel that has the ford emblem on it is cracked in half from the top to the bottom next to the emblem. i see many of them like this. ford wants me to pay for this defect. it's their defect.*ak updated 09/16/08.*lj
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
11/26/201075500
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear hatch door has fractured under the glass. she noticed the fracture once the temperature had became cooler. the vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 75,500. tb
08/11/200410000
 Water runs down front passenger seatbelt apperatus, inside the car. water damage seen on interior roof from water leaking inside the roof of the truck.
05/01/2008605251
 Just happen don't no why the bottom frame of the lift gate has two cracks and im afraid that one of these days the glass may fall off the frame and cause an accident, thanks hope we get help with this problem. *tr
06/05/20081
 Lift gate frame cracks right in the middle. i was told by cortese ford in rochester that they have seen several ford explorers with this defect and they believe it ha something to do with how the frame is put together. *tr
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
11/18/20031
 Vehicle was involved in a accident and the frame cracked. dealer notified.*ak

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