I looked at the back of my 2004 ford explorer, ltd one morning (10/11/2016) and there was a crack straight down the back panel. The vehicle was parked in my driveway. After discovering the split in the panel I started to notice that there are several explorer with this same problem. I asked my dealer and they said there was no recall and the only suggestion would be to get it repaired myself. This is clearly a ford issue. Now while driving a hear rattling and hope the entire panel doesn't fall off. I did call the ford customer service today to register my concerns. They also told me there were no recalls at this time but he would file my concern and gave me a case # [xxx] for future reference. I am on a retired income and this is something I can't afford to have repaired then keep receipts in hope that ford will do the right thing and recall and/or assist me with the repair expenses. In reading on-line after several owners had the panel replaced, it cracked again later. Please advise me and help me get assistance with this issue with my 2004 ford explorer, ltd back panel splitting for no obvious reason. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
2004 Ford Explorer body complaints
Page 2 of 15: complaints 11 to 40 of 426, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Significant front end impact with no airbag deployment. Vehicle was moving forward at the time of the accident on a city street.
Cracks on rear panel happened a few years ago. I was told it's a common known problem with ford, but they won't repair it and it's not needed. Now the hatch won't fully close or lock shut due to the parts behind the ford emblem rusting out due td the cracks. Water has gotten behind it, also the rear wiper will not work due to the water getting through from the cracks. I can now not drive my only truck that fits my family. We were leaving to go out to a family advent, and I noticed the back hatch was open, that is when I found out how damaged it was due to the panel being cracked. I called ford, they told me I would have to repair it out of my own pocket at a ford dealership. This could cause a huge issue if I drove and the back widow fully came off while driving, it could have severally hurt someone or damaged another vehicle and or person, or persons. This common issue needs to be corrected and recalled. I'm not the only one!
The panel under the rear lift gate window has cracked 3 times now. This panel cracks near the ford emblem on either the right or left side. I called ford and filed a complaint and was told that they have no information on this being an issue. My panel has cracked for the 4th time and ford is refusing to do anything about it. I have had the vehicle since 2005. I can submit photos if needed to support this matter. The panel appears to crack due to the lift gate flexing when it is opened and closed. In the past 3 years, I have observed "all" the fords around that year have busted panels and they're telling me there is no problem.....another cover-up in the making!
Paint peeling roof hood differential replaced twice bearings wear out repaired twice back of tailgate panel cracked replaced 3 times
I have replaced the panel under the rear lift gate window 3 times at a cost of over $ 400 per time. This panel cracks near the ford emblem on either the right or left side. I called ford and filed a complaint and was told that they have no information on this being an issue. I am an auto insurance claims adjuster and I see this problem daily on my insured's vehicle. My panel has cracked for the 4th time and ford is refusing to do anything about it. I have had the vehicle since 2006. I can submit the invoices for my repairs and photos if needed to support this matter. The panel appears to crack due to the lift gate flexing when it is opened and closed. The local ford dealership said they try to put something behind the panel when they replace it to help reinforce it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. After opening the liftgate window, the contact noticed a crack on the driver side hatch. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.
My car was parked in front of my residence on the street, it had not been driven that day. The back window in the tailgate exploded, causing damage to the tailgate. No one was driving it, it had not been touched that day. There was a prior crack in the tailgate which I have seen on other explorer's, and since learned that it is a defect in the care.
The rear hatch hinge holding the rear window broke. It happened in a parking lot but the hatch window fell on me.
Sun visor bracket cracked and disintegrated leaving sun visor blocking my view. Had to pull over and disconnect the wire and remove visor. 2nd incident, pressed button to open rear glass and the hinges snapped ejecting the heavy glass panel at me. Had a child been opening it, they could have been killed. As it was, I caught the glass panel.
Went to open rear window hatch and right hinge snapped off causing whole rear window panel to fall on me. The left hinge managed to stay in place and was able to get center latch reattached to keep the window panel from completely falling off. Only a matter of time until left hinge snaps. Taking it in for repair but both hinges could have easily snapped and potentially fallen into the roadway. This is a heavy load bearing hinge and if broken when a child opened it could have caused serious injury. I notice this is not uncommon with this particular vehicle and is a danger not only to the owner but potentially to those on the road behind this model.
2 vertical cracks in upper rear hatch below window
I went to open small window type rear gate and the left hinge broke. I caught the gate before it hit the ground and had to drive very slow to get car home safely.
Car was parked. I opened rear hatch (just the window part) and the passenger side hinge broke causing hatch to fall down on my head (quite painful!). About a year ago this same thing happened with the drivers side hinge (though I was able to catch it before it hit my head). I had that side repaired, but now it looks corroded so I worry it will happen again.
My rear hatch in the back of my explorer has a crack in it. Which I think has caused the back window to shift which in turn has caused my door ajar light to flash while the door chimes go off and the interior flicker while you are driving down the road but there are no doors open . The lights flickering make it hard to drive in the night. I think ford should fix this problem for everyone.
There is a vertical crack on the top rear lift gate 10" to the left of the vehicle logo toward the rear door. In cold temperatures, the crack is barely visible yet in warmer temperatures, the crack would expand.
The liftgate glass hinge on my 2004 ford explorer broke as I was closing the rear window glass. Without warning it just came undone with the screw popping loose. Cheaply made material of the liftgate glass hinge was clearly the cause, along with a faulty design that allows the bolt to strip out of the hinge.
Cracked rear hatch. I had heard about this problem and my hatch didn't crack till after this cold winter. But, this is the first winter that this explorer has been kept outside, not garaged. My garaged is under my house and insulated. It never gets below freezing in the garage. I called ford and asked them if they can help financially with the repairs. They said no.
Had my used 2004 ford explorer for one week and the liftgate latches both broke. If it hadn't been for the shocks that were on the liftgate, the window would have crashed to the ground and shattered in a thousand pieces. From what I'm told, I'm going to have to contact the dealership and pay god knows what to have it fixed. Can't even use my trunk now. The dealership is a joke.
Rear cracked panel on 2002-2005 ford explorer -when it rains water fry the rear taillights .
Liftgate has a crack and the hinge to the liftgate broke due to crack. It is hazardous to drive due to possible falling while driving or parked.
I noticed one day that the rear panel of my 2004 ford explorer xlt was cracked. There was no crash nor indication of damage from outside source. I believe the cracked formed because of the expansion of water which seeped in throughout the year. There is no recall for this problem and I see the crack on every explorer on the road within a few years of mine. I need to get a recall in order to fix this problem not caused by me and which everyone else I know who has this model have the same problem.
The back hatch has split next to the ford sign. It got cold and when I got up to crank my truck I saw it.it was not hit and was in the shed when this happen. I was told it had a recall from someone that has the same thing happen to her. We also have had the transmission replaced.ford really need to fix this .I can say I will never buy another ford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rear lift gate window of my 2004 ford explorer exploded while the vehicle was parked. According to the ford dealer, this apparently is something that is known to happen.
Leaving work at end of day, pulled out of parking space and rear glass shattered. The edges of the back hatch pulled away from the truck and curled up causing the glass to blow into the truck. A crack in the plastic of the hatch (which I have seen on many of this year model) has not been recalled and I have emailed ford many times about this problem for fear of water getting in behind the panel. My belief is that water did get behind the panel and that is what caused the plastic panel to pull away and blow in the glass. Luckily my children were not sitting in the 2nd or 3rd row seating or this would have been a much larger problem. I believe ford should have this problem addressed and recalled before someone gets seriously hurt from that flying glass.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the rear hatch opened without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 01/09/15*lj the consumer stated the glass has shattered once before. The liftgate developed a crack. Updated 9/28/2015
Vertical crack down the middle area of the rear lift door around the ford emblem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear liftgate back panel developed multiple cracks, which caused the liftgate windshield to become very unstable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Exact dates are various , vehicle has 39000 miles on it presently , have multiple vehicles , drive over the road truck driver ... Changed brakes and rotors twice , emergency brake not working , had fixed , had to have ekg replaced and some exhaust sensor , tires wore out at 29000 , exhaust system replaced , both ball joints replaced , pinion gear gasket leaking from rear end , both cv joints leaking , appears right cv joint needs replacing , gets 14 mpg ( 4.0 liter ) paint peeling from roof for quite awhile now , rusting around fuel tank door , as all are ...... Vehicle has been a nightmare , getting rid of this at 39000 miles , ford has a better idea , buy another one !
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that after opening the rear glass lift gate window, the two aluminum hinges fractured causing the lift gate to fall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired since the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
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