I have a 2002 ford explorer and the panel below the back window hatch has multiple cracks. I found on the internet that this seems to be a common problem for the 2002 ford explorer. I contacted ford and ford said that because it's out of warranty that they won't cover the repair. This seems to be the common answer that ford is giving to everyone that is experiencing this problem too.
2002 Ford Explorer body complaints
Page 6 of 17: complaints 131 to 160 of 486, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Unexplained crack in the rear hatch lid.
The liftgate cracked in 3 places. It started a year ago with one crack, then another crack appeared 6 months later. A few weeks ago a 3 crack appeared. The ford dealer refused to help and a call to ford was not returned.
2002 ford explorer lift gate clip on applicator is and has been splitting from top to bottom every time some one closed the lift gate I saw this on many other ford explorers and it cost {us -s 300 dollars to install a new one at the dealers shops to repair. Some thing need to be done ford manufacture need to reimburse to fix this problems now and in the future I cannot afford to fix my explorer so I am waiting to see if ford can fix this problem for me and others like me who cannot afford to fix the problem I believe something should be done. Please for a reply at my email thank you sincerely e j.
Cracked panel on below window on 2002 explorer.
Cracked tailgate applique (under rear glass). Dealer won't replace, car under extended warranty. Was never hit or abused.
I have a 2002 ford explorer and the panel below the back window hatch has cracked for seemingly no reason. I found on the internet that this seems to be a common problem for the 2002-2004 block of ford explorers. I have just over 100k miles on my vehicle and ford said that because it's out of warranty that they won't cover the repair. This seems to be the common answer that ford is giving to everyone that is experiencing this problem too.
I have not been involved in any accident, nor any incidences of property damage. It happens that on a saturday during the summer, I noticed a crack in the liftgate of my vehicle. It is a clean and totally straight crack directly under the glass, measuring approximately 6 inches long and 1 to 1/12 wide. While driving and everytime I see an explorer, I look to see if there is a defect in that particular area of their vehicle and I have seen several, which prompts me to think that this is in fact a defect. I took the vehicle to the repair shop and am told that it would be over $1800.00 to have repaired as they will need to order an entire lift gate vs. Repairing the one that on their currently. Have you had any reported incidences such as this? I noticed this in july of this year.
My door was frozen shut, I pulled it open and now I cant close it. It "bounces" off the door hinges when I try. It happened when I got out of work at midnight and I drove all the way home with my car door opening and closing as I was driving. Good thing it happened in the middle of the night because no one was driving around. If someone was I probably would have hit them with my door. I had to hold my door shut with the window down while driving. I had to drive 10 MPH the whole way to my house. Taking turns was very hard because even though I was holding the door, it still was opening. What happened to me was very dangerous. I could've hurt myself and others. Hopefully this is something to get fixed quickly because I have finals this week and I wont be able to get the school without my car.
A crack appeared on the rear hatch door under the rear window. The crack just appeared one morning without any direct action. Now I have 2 cracks. A search on the internet showed that this problem is happening to many 2002 ford explorers.
1. Due to a recall (ford recall no. 04s20. ), the liftgate glass operation system was replaced in 2005. Since early 2007, the same glass struts and hinges are apparently having problem -- first it took extra effort to raise the glass to the fully opening position, then while the glass is lifted open, it unexpectedly dropped down. I got hit 3 times at my head or hands by the sudden dropped glass and frame; it coursed bleeding on my hand once. This is certainly of serious safety concern. I really doubt if the ford dealer (gainesville ford in gainesville, fl) correctly performed the recall job in 2005, as they have a reputation of low standards of service and technique . But, ford, as the manufacturer, should have also taken the responsibility of enforcing the recall job meet the standard. Otherwise, what is point of going through the recall? 2. Since july of 2008, I started to notice that the back liftgate panel start having cracking under the rear window. I suspect that this is related to the malfunction of the liftgate glass struts or hinges, the same system that was previously recalled. Nonetheless, this is clearly a safety issue as well, since the crack appearing reflects the liftgate being unstable and the glass having much higher risk of accidentally breaking, therefore coursing injury. This vehicle, with only 60 k miles, has been taken good care. Through searching internet, I found this appears to be a quite common issue for explorer 2002 model. It is absolutely not acceptable to have this kind safety issue ignored by ford for so long. Please help to get ford to truly realize their responsibility and give the massive affected public justice. Thank you very much! *tr j. James jia
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. When the contact closed the rear hatch, the left hinge failed and the glass shattered. Nhsta campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments) was referenced. The insurance agency was notified, but the manufacturer was not. The failure and current mileages were 124,996.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that when he lifted the liftgate on the rear of the vehicle, it would only hold for a few seconds before coming back down. The failure occurred on several occasions, one of which injured the contact's back. The manufacturer stated that they would not assist with the repairs because the failure was not deemed as a safety related defect. The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 93,000.
2002 ford explorer rear hatch has a crack in it.
2002 ford explorer rear liftgate panel cracking below glass.
Ford 2002 explorer has large crack on liftgate panel running from just of the left of the ford insignia to the bottom of the rear window. Ford will not help with replacement despite the obvious safety concerns and the admission that this is a widespread problem with explorers. The liftgate was recalled a few years ago for an unrelated problem with the cylinders.
I own a 2002 ford explorer xlt I was lifting my rear glass window not the whole liftgate just the glass I was about 3/4 of the way up when I heard this loud noise and was showered by falling glass and then eventually struck by the bottom of the door. I called ford they say there is nothing they will do to fix this issue I have done some research on this and it seems that I am not the only person with this issue.
On the 2002 ford explorer I have a crack on the back panel under the lift gate. I have done some researching and find that this is not uncommon. I believe it has to do with the liftgate hinge recall. I am afraid that the panel being broken may cause it to come off and hit a car behind me. I feel that this crack may cause serious problems if I was in a wreck. I feel that there are many people who are out there with the same problem and ford will not do anything to replace this part. They have received many complaints as I can see from the research I have done.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. When the contact opened the liftgate on the vehicle, the rear glass suddenly shattered. There were no injuries; however, a piece of glass landed in the contact's hair. The insurance adjuster was notified of the failure. The vehicle was inspected and it was discovered that the liftgate glass strut brackets failed. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired for the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). The recall remedy has not corrected the safety defect. The vehicle will be taken to an authorized dealer for repair. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 63,000. Updated 12/15/08. *lj updated 12/15/08.
Crack developed in area below lift gate glass. Now the door ajar light goes on and off, as well as the buzzer. The glass does not shut properly and is inoperable and the area below the glass has completely fallen away.
2002 ford explorer - rear applique (plastic trim) under the rear window cracked, and a portion of it fell off the vehicle traveling 70mph. Same problem as reported at http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/body_paint/cracked_panel_below_the_rear_window.shtml. Ford has said it was temp related, however, I'm in florida, the vehicle never saw any temp below 40, freezing wasn't considered. Tsb 0485 if I'm reading it correctly.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the molding on the rear of the vehicle was cracked. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 77,000 and failure mileage was 65,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. When the contact manually closed the liftgate, the rear glass exploded unexpectedly. The vehicle was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 011010000; however, it failed to sufficiently correct the safety defect. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 76,249 and current mileage was 76,259.
On 10-14-2008, took vehicle in for routine nys veh inspection. Midas mech informed me that a 5 inch piece snapped off at the bottom of the pass side rear coil spring . You could see that the coil spring wasn't seated right anymore. Vehicle mileage was approx 66,400. Never used off road. Mech informed me that 2002 ford explorers are notorious for defective wheel hubs (which is true because I recently just replaced both about 1000 mi ago at $1400) and for the strut coil over springs snapping. Enough already!! When will the gov make ford own up to design and safety failures !!!??? I could have been traveling on the highway when this coil spring piece snapped off and could have punctured the tire or the brake line or the fuel tank!!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While attempting to close the rear door, the rear liftgate and hinge on the top left side became loose. The rear glass fell out and shattered all over the contact and her child. She took the vehicle to her mechanic and was notified of the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). She called ford and was informed that her VIN was not included in the recall; therefore, they would not be responsible for the repair. The contact feels that the repair should be made for free since the failures are identical. The current and failure mileages were 69,000.
My 2002 ford explorers hood is corroding. It's been over a year since the first spot appeared. I really didn't pay much attention to it because I thought it was just from wear and tear, but then 2 months ago 2 more spots appeared. On 10/3/08 I went to a body shop to see how much it would cost to paint, and I surprised to hear him tell me that the problem is really a ford problem because it looked like the hood is made of aluminum and the paint isn't sticking. That same day, I went to the ford dealer nearest to me and I was told that indeed there is a problem with these hoods and confirmed what the guy at the body shop said. He then told me that since my car is a 2002, 5 years has passed and I cannot have it replaced for free. This is unfair. I was not aware of the problem, and no one at ford informed us. Had I known that it was their problem, I would have had it replaced when the first spot appeared.
Same as noted from other ford explore 02 owners.....the bottom of the rear window is cracked shortly after purchase in 03. I have now attached a sign using stick on letters that read on the back panel "ford quality' with an arrow pointing to the crack as the dealer and ford will not do anything about it as evident by all the complaints. I think ford needs this type of publicity!
Right below the rear window cracked from window down to the bottom of door. (top half) I thought at first that someone must have tried to break in using a pry bar. Went through the car wash and when I came out I noticed the crack. Pissed me right off..I hate driving damaged cars.. This was not called for..why did it crack?
I have a 2002 ford explorer that has several cracks on the liftgate that just appeared one day. I have seen several other explorers with the same problem and am not sure why this has not become a recall.
Rear gate plastic that is directly below the rear window snapped due to cold weather most likely. Don't know why there is glass underneath this section, the whole thing should be metal.
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