Problems with 2002 Ford Explorer STRUCTURE

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the liftgate glass shattered without warning. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. one year later, the contact noticed a fracture through the middle of the liftgate and the liftgate would not close properly. the dealer was contacted and they advised him that were only mandated to repair the failure under the recall once. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 135,000. the vin was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the lift gate window was shattered on the ground. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. after diagnosis they advised him that the hinges fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 140,738. the current mileage was approximately 149,229. *tr

Ford explorer cracked rear panel. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact noticed that the lift gate panel was cracked. the manufacturer was aware of the failure; however, informed the contact that there were no related recalls and offered no additional assistance. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who informed the contact that the entire lift gate needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 154,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the vehicle was parked when the contact noticed a large crack on the rear lift gate. the crack was located directly under the rear lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have the failure diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 60,000.

Rear panel cracked in half, vehicle was not hit it just happened. *tr

Vertical crack rear life window assembly near 2002 ford explorer logo. vertical crack goes between window glass and bottom of lift window. i feel the whole rear window glass will fail on the highway and seriously effect other drivers with the hail of glass. recall of hinges had been completed right after original new purchase. *tr

The plastic panel below the rear window cracked. found out it is a very common problem. ford motor company and local dealership will do nothing to help out. my repair cost will be about $500. it is obviously a design defect. ford should repair at no cost to me.

On the afternoon of dec. 10, 2010 at approximately 2:45 pm i noticed a large crack on the rear panel of my '02 ford explorer - eddie bauer ed. i had assumed that this was vandalism and reported it to the police department. on monday i googled the description of the damage to my vehicle and come to find out that it was actually a defect in ford explorers - '02 - '04. i contacted the ford company who took my complaint and referred me to my nearest ford dealership. in speaking with the rep at the dealership they informed me that this was not a "safety defect" and they could not do anything about it. i was told that the estimated cost would be between $450-500. i also read that back in 2006 when this defect occurred that ford was providing a "special assistance out-of-warranty" on explorers where they would pay all but $100. now apparently since jan. 2007 they have stopped this and not the owners are to pay for the full cost of the repair. i do not see this as being fair due to the fact this damaged was not due to my own doing or another party. ford should be responsible for this repair if not all, at least half. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that while parked, she noticed a large crack from the rear liftgate panel going down. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the current and failure mileages were 65,916.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked when she noticed a large crack in the rear lift gate, directly below the rear window. the failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or repaired. the failure and current mileages were 92,000. updated05/04/11 *bf updated 05/09/11

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that when using the rear liftgate, it would not stay open and it would close unexpectedly. the vehicle had previously been repaired according to recall 04v442000 structure body hatchback/liftgate, hinge and attachments. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that the repairs had been done according to the recall and he had to pay for the repairs at his own expense. the current and failure mileages were approximately 82,000.

My ford 2002 explorer has excessive bubbling and peeling of paint on the front edge of the hood. reported three times to ford only to be told, "not covered by my warranty". seen hundreds of similar complaints on internet. *tr

Vertical crack in hatch of 2002 ford explorer. i look at other explorers in the same time pereiod and they all have the exact same crack!! *tr

While raising the glass section of the liftgate on my 2002 ford explorer, the left strut became disengaged, and the back glass exploded. we were very lucky that no one was hurt, as my brother literally had the glass in his hands when it exploded, and my daughter and i were standing right next to him. please note, the glass did not merely shatter. it exploded. i bought this vehicle from carmax last year, and found that there were a couple of recalls on the vehicle that had not been taken care of, one of which included the replacement of the strut brackets and hinges on the liftgate. upon reviewing my service invoice, i found that only the liftgate hinges were replaced; the strut brackets were not. i had the vehicle towed to the ford dealership who performed the recall service originally, and they notified ford. ford claimed that the struts had been replaced in 2002 ~ which was two years before the recall even occurred. therefore, they would not cover any of the repair. how do i know that faulty struts were not installed in 2002, since the recall didn't even occur until 2 years later? i have read other complaints online about this, and it is amazing that ford gets away with this! this is my last ford, that's for sure! this is my second explorer, and i have been a very loyal customer, but no more! ford does not stand behind it's product and they apparently do not care about the safety of their customers. *tr

Vehicle recalled for a part causing engine fires. transmission failure, makes the vehicle unable to shift cost of repair i cannot afford at this time ( new is $ 3000 ). *tr

Crack in rear window surround, near center at a bottom. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the panel under the hatch fractured and allowed water to penetrate the vehicle. the water then made contact with the electrical components. the vehicle was taken to a private dealer where it was found that the panel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was 50,000.

I have purchased a 2002 ford explorer that was in mint condition on the outside and fair on the inside, well after having the truck a few months one day i noticed a huge crack by the ford emblem on the back of the truck. there was no evidence of tampering, and i had not been in any accidents, so this troubled me knowing that this crack had just all of a sudden appeared on my truck. well i went to the store later that day and passed another consumer on my way out of the store and noticed they were driving the same kind of truck, and lo and behold they had the same crack in the same place. i got their attention and asked if there was some kind of incident that may have caused it, and they responded by saying that it too just appeared on their truck, i have noticed many ford explorers ranging from 2002- 2005 having this same crack, keep in mind these are nice vehicles that have not been damaged. i do not know if this could be a potential safety issue or not, by it being so close to the rear window, but it does concern me that i pay money for a nice vehicle and there are defects that the company will not address. i have been out on the internet and there are many many complaints about this same mysterious crack with pictures in the same place on the truck, and i think ford should recall this defective plastic and repair the cracks. please help us , the consumers in resolving this matter. thank you so very much. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked the contact noticed the rear lift gate and window would not engage properly and it would also wobble. the electronic power door locks would not work because they would detect the lift gate was not closed engaging and a warning sound activated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) that may be related to the failure; however, the dealer stated the vin was not included in the recall. the approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

2002 explorer's panel on the back gate between the window and the bottom half of the gate is cracked in two different spots. i am afraid that this will come off and cause a traffic crash or worse. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated the hinges on the rear lift gate fractured in half and the window glass fell and was hanging from the rear of the vehicle. the contact tied down the glass to prevent it from falling and shattering. the contact was advised by the dealer that his vin was not included with nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/lift gate: hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 119,000.

Re nhtsa # 04v-442. 2002 ford explorer. liftgate glass hinge sheared and glass fell on me. i was told by service dept that ford recall 04s20 (performed in 2004) was only warranteed for 1 year, so i purchased new hinge kit (2l2z-78420a68-aa) and installed myself. after examining old parts, i noticed significant redesign. after discussion with a ford service manager it appears that initial recall repairs were insufficient and by his estimate the hinges last about 3 years. there were several modifications to the recalled parts and procedures since 12/04. my vehicle was repaired 12/20/04 so the most recent procedure was not followed at the time and most recent parts were not installed. ford will not compensate for additional expenses once any recall repair was completed. i was not injured because i was opening the hatch slowly and had not let go before the hinge broke and the glass fell. i believed that the safety defect had been repaired. this is not the case. the danger still exists. i suggest a warning notice be sent to all owners that had recall performed before the final procedures (rcrit-04v442-7848) were developed. it would also encourage ford to cover the cost of repairs for the defective recall repair - including glass breakage - as they did for the original recall. *tr

Rear passenger side door will not open from inside vehicle. *tr

about a year after i purchased my explorer ltd, the rear logo panel started coming loose. i used special adhesive to attach it, but it just wouldn't stick. i tried pulling it off, but it wouldn't budge on the other side, so i tried a different adhesive. it stuck for a while, but as i was going down a busy street, it flew off almost hitting the car behind me. this very easily could have caused an accident and serious injury. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the rear window fell off track. he attempted to keep the window in place by using duct tape. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. the contact found nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000, structure body, hatchback/lift gate, hinge and attachments which was related to his year, make and model vehicle; however, he was unable to confirm if his vin was included. the approximate failure and current mileages were 112,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear liftgate panel was ajar when the pistons failed, causing the liftgate to slam shut and shatter the rear window glass. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the pistons were not covered under warranty nor was there a recall for the failure therefore; the contact would be liable for the $700 in repairs. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 156,000.

I have 2 issues with my 2002 ford explorer..the first issue is with the transmission. i bought this last year and took it back to where i bought it 2 days later and they had the transmission shop they deal with look at it and was told there's nothing wrong. when i go to put it in drive or reverse the vehicle wont move. once i start driving the transmission keeps slipping and when stopped at red light or stop sign i have to be very cautious because it wont go and wants to drift backwards and wants to stall and i don't want to cause an accident by drifting into someone. i have to deal with this everyday and it's getting old now. the second issue is the rear hatch/door.. today i took notice that there is a crack right under the window where the rear ford emblem is located. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was an extended crack on the liftgate exterior panel. the defect became progressively worse over a period of time. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was unavailable.

I own a 2002 ford explorer, there are cracks on the back panel below the rear window, these seem to happen in cold weather. i have seen many other ford explorers with similar cracks. i got an estimate and it is 1500.00 to fix. ford should fix this! *tr

I opened the liftgate glass to my ford explorer in order to load groceries into the back. the glass came down on my head and i pushed it back up off of me when it exploded all over the place. the molding came down onto my head and my back (i was still leaning into the car). because it was very cold out, i was wearing a heavy coat with a hat and the hood pulled up onto my head, so this cushioned the impact onto my back and head. glass was everywhere. there have been several recalls on this piece of equipment since we have had the truck, but the last one was about 5 years ago. the dealer told me it would be my responsibility to fix. i don't believe that liftgates should just be falling off of cars or exploding, even if the car is 8 years old. *tr

2002 ford explorer -- a crack appears in the panel below the rear tailgate window glass. *tr

2002 ford explorer rear window - the hinges or the slides on the side did not hold the window up for the window section of the rear door. while parked, the glass door came down onto the head of a person, the glass in the window exploded hitting the person in the head, causing the person to fall backwards into the bottom frame of the rear window assembly. the person suffered a large knot on their head and glass cuts. the ford dealer service department advised this is a "common problem" they have with this vehicle and that ford is aware of it but has not done anything about a recall or to repair the problem. *tr

Rear defroster had been on to un fog the glass. rear liftgate glass shattered after pressing the release button to release the liftgate. vehicle is a 2002 ford explorer. weather was 19 degrees f with windchill of 10 degrees f. *tr

A vertical crack in the lift-gate below the rear window. no apparent other damage to vehicle. discovered when preparing to open rear hatch. extends from window downward to latch/release point. *tr updated ivoq 01/08/10.*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. cracks have developed under the rear window door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but no assistance was provided because there were no recalls.. the failure mileage was 40,000.

I have a 2002 ford explorer. the rear hatch upper glass plastic trim cracked next to the ford emblem. this allowed water into the trim that caused the bolts holding the latch to rust through and completely fail. i replaced the entire glass last spring (2009). the replacement part also cracked in two places after a few months of michigan winter. the latch bolts in this unit are now rusting as well. it is obvious that the plastic trim expands and contracts at a different rate than the glass. since they are bonded together, the weaker plastic fails. the cracks contract and expand depending on the temperature. *tr

Following the nhtsa campaign #04v442000 recall replacement of the hinge on the rear hatchback of my 2002 ford explorer, cracks in the body have appeared in the paneling around the rear tailgate window. these cracks appear to be stressed induced and may pose a hazard to the rear window if the framing around the window continues to degrade and crack. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. when he attempted to turn the ignition switch, the steering column fractured. secondly, the rear lift-gates panel split in half. thirdly, the transmission intermittently slipped out of gear. none of the failures have been remedied. he previously filed a complaint. the failure and current mileages were 80,000.

Driving on highway, no debris, and our sunroof exploded. as the screen was closed no injuries, but potential for cut and eye injuries by razor sharp glass. no one behind us affected. huge noise very startling. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. when the contact lifted the hatch on the vehicle, the glass stuart brackets popped off and cut his head and wrist. there is a recall for this failure. the nhtsa campaign id number was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 139,000.

I got a ford explorer 2002 and the hatchback door is cracked, i had a ford explorer 2003 before and it had the same problem and i had seen other fords explorers from year 2000 to 2004 with this problem. i contacted the ford headquarters company and i was told that they couldn't fix the crack because i had to contact you to complain so this will become a recall and they will fix it for me otherwise they are unable to fix it. i only buy ford cars because i like american cars and also i feel i am helping the economy keeping jobs for the american people but i could buy any other brand! i really appreciate you taking the time to read my complain and maybe find a solution for this problem. thank you. *tr

Back tailgate window is crooked, air pressure thing fell off on right side causing a lack of support on that side and hinges are starting to bend to the left also. who knows when this window will fall off or how much longer it will be supported without the support on the right. it's just scary, we don't use this tailgate window at all so it may be fine? it is like this while stationary, in motion, on a city street or highway, turning etc.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. when entering the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear liftgate below the window was cracked. he was concerned that the window panel would fail and cause the glass to slide out and shatter. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer and notifying the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were 83,000.

The rear panel below the rear window of my 2002 ford explorer cracked. while in the car wash, two thirds of the rear panel fell off the back of the vehicle. i have found out that this is an expensive replacement and that ford has been made aware of the problem. my concern is if it fell off in a car wash what would happen if it fell off while i was driving 55-65 mph on the highway? also, i am not thrilled about the idea of having to spend $500 to fix a piece of my vehicle that should remain intact. *tr

My wife opened the rear hatch to get groceries out. it started falling on her. her friend reached to lift it up and it exploded on my wife when she tried to lift it off my wife. i am debbie's husband. we bought the car in 2004. they recalled it in 2006 to put the new hinges on, that were supposed to be ford's recall fix for the problem. it did not resolve the problem. it appears that people are still having the issue after their so called fix. its time for ford to really fix the problem or pay consumers for their loss through a class action suit. i tried to tell my wife to stick with gm suv's. the ford has been a big disappointment in many areas. it never got the mileage we were told it would get. we get 16 to 17 on the highway. we were told we could get 24. the chevy vortech does get the 24 mpg and our safari van does it daily. *tr

We have a ford explorer xlt 2002. the rear window lift gate would not stay up on its own, so my son pushed it up, and the rear window glass exploded. he and my husband received minor cuts and it came very close to my sons eyes. i did some research online and found that others had very similar experiences at www. carcomplaints.com in 2004 we took the vehicle to the dealer secondary to a recall regarding the shocks on the rear window. we took it in and they supposably fixed it. i don't know why it my window exploded, but what would have happened it the glass had gotten in my sons eyes we will be calling the dealership in the morning to see what they say. by the way it is going to cost 1400 dollars to get it repaired. *tr

Noticed what appeared to be a small scratch just below the glass on the plastic portion of 200 explorer liftgate. on friday feb 6, 2009 there was a split from top to bottom. ford is doing nothing about this problem even though it seems to possibly be related to the liftgate hinge recall already issued by the nhtsa. *tr

Crack in hatchback directly below window. *tr

This 2002 ford explorer has only 62,153 miles and the wheel assembly hubs have failed. the problem is in the design of this part because it has no axle and is assemble to the frame by three bolts. if this part goes bad on the interstate and the wheel will come off , god help the driver and the people on the same path. this suv needs to be recall! *tr