Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
12/05/201069000
 This problem is very stressful on a senior citzen with a heart condition who's heart is functioning at 60% and on medication everyday.upper back hatch has factory defect crack next to the lock, in the last couple of months it has been unlocking itself at random, while siting still or driving. no injuries, muggings ,theft,kidnapping of grandchildren and/ or escape or theft of fur children yet!!!. i do not have the extra monies to fix..it is fords factory defect that i see on explorers everywhere. i have contacted them , and they still claim no safety issue.
02/10/2010700001
 While trying to put my 2005 ford explorer in reverse, the gear shift broke within the steering column. after looking online, i found this to be a common problem. *tr
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - DOORS - LATCH
02/01/200841000109/01/2006
 Locking mechanism on the inside of the driver door stopped working after only 41 thousand miles. when vehicle was taken to the dealer for the problem to be addressed, they advised that the wires for the lock mechanism were caught inside the door jam, and had to be replaced. the locking and unlocking button on the inside drivers door would not unlock or lock the car. this is obviously a safety hazard as if there is an accident the button would not work to unlock the door and allow the passenger to get out of the car. i contacted ford motor company and they advised this is not currently a recall, therefore i am submitting this request for review and follow-up for potential safety defects. no accidents led up to this event, it was just a sudden onset where the locking mechanism failed after very little use. thank you very much for your time and assistance. *tr
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - LOCK
01/08/20072004/08/2006
 2005 ford explorer, rear liftgate glass will open by itself while i am driving down the road. it has happened multiple times since we have purchased the vehicle. i can be going 30 mph or 60 mph, doesn't matter. does not appear to be any pattern as to when it happens, so is unpredictable. this creates a very dangerous situation if it happens when i am on a 6 lane exchange. also, if i have my dogs in the back or anyone sitting in the 3rd row, another dangerous situation is created. there is no way to bungee the glass portion to secure it. you can only bungee the lower portion of the hatch- not the glass portion. living where we can have a high wind gust at any moment creates yet another problem should it pop open and i cant get pulled over fast enough. the vehicle is now at the dealer for the 3rd time for this problem. i have even called the ford company itself, and they have opened a file. (for what good that has done me) they can not identify a problem, so they tell me there is nothing for them to fix. will the vehicle continue to be returned to me unfixed until my warranty period is up, and then it truly becomes my financial problem? these vehicles are too expensive to have this type of problem continue. will it take a disaster and someone being injured because of this failure, for corrective action to be taken? *jb
06/14/200610924108/01/2005
 Dt*: the contact stated the rear hatch liftgate glass opened without warning while driving various speeds. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the latch lock on the liftgate hatch door glass needed replaced. the problem persisted and the vehicle was returned to the dealer. the dealer replaced the latch switch for the rear hatch glass which corrected the problem.
09/13/2005608/04/2005
 Both the rear lift-gate and back door has opened on me, while driving on the expressway and residential roads, 6 times on my 2005 eddie bauer explorer. the vehicle has only 6,500 miles on it and i'm very concerned that one day i'll be transporting something and the back door will fly open and cause an accident because my personal belongings have flown out the back into traffic. there is no pattern to when this occurs - it's very sporadic. the message center does warn me the liftgate is ajar (too bad i'm already driving and it's too late), and then the back hatch or back door will open up. i have taken the suv to the dealership to have it repaired, but they refuse to do anything about it and claim that they cannot identify a problem - therefore are unable to do anything about it. *jb
07/20/20051700904/02/2005
 Rear liftgate (glass door section) opens by itself when the car is being driven. first a warning sensor lights liftgage ajar then the door opens. this has happened multiple times. the vehicle which is a 2005 with 3,500 miles has been to the dealer 3 times & they cannot identify the problem or fix it.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - TAILGATE - LATCH
07/13/20052004/23/2005
 While driving down the road, the liftgate (glass portion) of my 2005 explorer will pop open. there are no patterns (i.e. hitting a bump) to when it will open. my fear is i will be hauling something - the back will come open and everything will fall out onto the raod. my dogs travel back there to and from dog shows. i took it to the dealer, they adjusted the strike plate. it stopped for a while but now it is happening again. the dealer can't define the problem so they refuse to work on it.
02/04/20051680211/10/2004
 Back door latch on my ford explorer 2005 has come open twice while i was driving. *jb