Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | ||||||
| RQ08003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 06/23/2008 | 10/24/2008 | REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE | ||
| This investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle.ford conducted recall 04v-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.the information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass.odi's review of ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population.a potential defect trend has not been identified at this time.odi will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | ||||||
| RQ08003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 06/23/2008 | 10/24/2008 | REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE | ||
| This investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle.ford conducted recall 04v-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.the information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass.odi's review of ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population.a potential defect trend has not been identified at this time.odi will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE | ||||||
| RQ08003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 06/23/2008 | 10/24/2008 | REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE | ||
| This investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle.ford conducted recall 04v-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.the information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass.odi's review of ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population.a potential defect trend has not been identified at this time.odi will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 01/17/2011 | 62000 | ||
| Crack in rear upper tailgate | |||
| 10/12/2008 | 50000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport. while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that there was a cracked on the hatch back on the body of the vehicle near the window and the emblem. the vehicle was taken to a body shop for the failure. the body shop referred her to us. the contact also stated that the driver's side and front passenger seat belts does not retract at times. she stated she has to keep pulling the seat belts from them to retract. the vehicle has not been taken to a dealer or mechanic for the seat belt failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 70,000. vwb | |||
| 05/02/2009 | 46000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2004 ford explorer sport. the glass hatch has become increasingly hard to close in the last couple of months, because of this at times the hatch is not completely latched and will pop open unexpectedly. this past saturday, 05/02/09, the glass hatch hinge completely broke off when i went to close it. my frustration is that i am willing to pay for problems through normal wear and tear and of course through my own error, but this is manufacturing defect. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 08/07/2010 | 1 | ||
| We were driving down the street and the hatchback/liftgate fell off the hinges. i have not been able to drive this car in over two years due to the fact that i cannot afford to pay for a manufacturer's defect. i have filed numerous complaints on this vehicle over the years. it has been sitting in the garage. i know that you investigated in 2008 rq08003. i hope we get some assistance. my previous complaint file numbers are 05687908: lists the engine blowing up, mirror falling off, cruise control shutting off, etc. but i have received no assistance from nhtsa. i have spent over $3,000.00 on this car for manufacturing defects. (documented). *tr | |||
| 08/07/2010 | |||
| We were driving down the street and the hatchback/liftgate fell off the hinges. i have not been able to drive this car in over two years due to the fact that i cannot afford to pay for a manufacturer's defect. i have filed numerous complaints on this vehicle over the years. it has been sitting in the garage. i know that you investigated in 2008 rq08003. i hope we get some assistance. my previous complaint file numbers are 05687908: lists the engine blowing up, mirror falling off, cruise control shutting off, etc. but i have received no assistance from nhtsa. i have spent over $3,000.00 on this car for manufacturing defects. (documented) | |||
| 02/21/2012 | |||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that the hinge on the rear liftgate was not properly holding onto the glass. as a result, the glass was sliding down into the lift gate panel. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was unknown. | |||
| 02/21/2012 | |||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that the hinge on the rear liftgate was not properly holding onto the glass. as a result, the glass was sliding down into the lift gate panel. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was unknown. kmj | |||
| 02/21/2012 | |||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that the hinge on the rear lift gate was not properly holding onto the glass. as a result, the glass was sliding down into the lift gate panel. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was unknown. sm. | |||
| 04/03/2010 | 127000 | ||
| The rear lift glass hinges on our 2004 ford explorer broke during use of the lift glass. the pin broke right through the hinge. we were not driving it at the time thankfully, and also caught the glass before it had a chance to hit the ground. | |||
| 11/28/2008 | 35133 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport. she stated that the tailgate above the glass cracked. the manufacturer confirmed that there was no recall for her vin. the vehicle will not be repaired since the contact doesn't have a warranty. the failure and current mileage was 35,133. | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 02/24/2008 | 43200 | 1 | 09/24/2004 |
| Noticed that the back panel of tailgate is cracked on friday, february 22, 2008. the crack runs from underneath the rear windshield to the ford emblem and the continues to the handle of the tailgate. the crack is open, and i have cut my finger on it when closing the tailgate. i'm trying to close it another way, but there's no other place to put your hand to close the tailgate because the crack comes down to the middle of the handle. i am afraid that the panel will fall completely off or the rear glass will dislodge and fall out. i am taking the vehicle to the dealership this week to determine how to get it fixed. *tr | |||