2004 Ford Explorer Structure

THE BODY OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC XLT HAS RIVETS ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF THAT HOLD WATER. INSTEAD OF BEING A FLAT SURFACE WHERE RAIN CAN NATURALLY FALL OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF IT SITS IN THESE RIVETS AND ACCUMULATES RUST. THIS LEADS TO A LOT MORE PROBLEMS.

REAR GLASS LIFTGATE HINGE BROKE CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OUT OF POSITION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND LIFTGATE GLASS WAS BEING OPENED WHEN THE HINGE FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER THIS HAPPENED TO. THE FIRST ONE WAS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER.

BOUGHT A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN MARCH 22, 2017 FROM LBSI AUTOMOTIVE. SEEN A CRACK IN REAR PANEL, DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. ON JULY 9 2017 WENT TO OPEN LIFT GATE AT WALMART AND HINGE BUSTED AND WINDOW SHATTERED ON ME AND MY HUSBAND HIT MY FACE GLASS ALL OVER ME, CUT MY HUSBAND IN FEW PLACES, . LOOKING ONLINE TO REPLACE IT AND SEEN THAT THE CRACK IN REAR PANEL WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS. I HAD A 3 MONTH OLD SON IN BACK SEAT AND THANK GOD IT DIDN'T GET ON HIM. MY OPINION THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS AND TOLD US.

I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I POPPED MY BACK WINDOW, SO I COULD GET SOME ITEMS OUT OF MY BACK PART OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE THE BACK WINDOW, MY WINDOW FELL SIDEWAYS, ALMOST BUSTING ME UPSIDE MY HEAD. I'VE READ A FEW THINGS SAYING THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT FINDING OUT IF THAT IS CORRECT OR NOT. IF IT WASN'T RECALLED, IT SHOULD OF BEEN.

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). *TR

THERE IS A CRACK RUNNING VERTICALLY THROUGH THE ENTIRE REAR PANEL JUST BELOW THE WINDOW. IT RUNS RIGHT ALONG SIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS HAPPENED IN DEC. 2014. I DO NOT KNOW/RECALL IF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR NOT. I JUST DISCOVERED THE CRACK. I THOUGHT THAT IT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE WE WERE VISITING BEND, OR AND IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD. THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE I DON'T BELIEVE. BUT, GIVEN I SEE AT LEAST ONE EXPLORER EVERY 2-3 DAYS WITH THE SAME CRACK IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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. *TR

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.

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HINGE HOLDING THE REAR WINDOW BROKE. IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT BUT THE HATCH WINDOW FELL ON ME.

REAR CRACKED PANEL ON 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER -WHEN IT RAINS WATER FRY THE REAR TAILLIGHTS . *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *JS

REAR GLASS LIFT GATE: CRACKS APPEARED IN THE REAR HATCH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR FORD LOGO.( I NOW NOTICE MANY FORD EXPLORERS WITH SAME CRACKS). TOP RIGHT GLASS HINGE TWISTED SIGNIFICANTLY AND TOP LEFT GLASS HINGE TWISTED SLIGHTLY. THE FASTENING BOLTS FOR BOTH GLASS HINGES ARE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS RESULTED IN THE REAR GLASS WINDOW SHIFTING, APPARENTLY CAUSING THE CRACKS IN THE TAIL GATE. I CONTACTED SUNSHINE FORD'S SERVICE DEPT. IN NEWBURGH, NY AND WAS TOLD FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING/REPLACING THIS DEFECT. THEY CHOSE THEIR WORDS CAREFULLY. THEY EMPHASIZED THAT "MY MODEL YEAR" WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. I ASKED IF "ANY" EXPLORERS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THEY WOULD NOT SAY; BUT INSTEAD REPEATED,"MY MODEL YEAR" WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. NHTSA HAS ALREADY RECEIVED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF INJURIES FROM OWNERS WHOSE LIFT GATE GLASS BROKE OFF ITS MOUNTING HINGE WHILE OPEN, AND CAUSED HEAD INJURIES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A REAR LIFT GLASS PANEL DETACHES FROM AN EXPLORER IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. THAT COULD EASILY LEAD TO A MULTI VEHICLE ACCIDENT ALONG WITH MULTIPLE FATALITIES. I CHECKED AND FORD HAD A SIMILAR PART RECALL FOR 2002 & 2003 EXPLORERS. FORD CHANGED THE PART THEN AND HAS NOT MET THE # OF COMPLAINTS TO BE FORCED TO RECALL 2004 AND UP EXPLORERS. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK MANY EXPLORER OWNERS CHECK WITH THE DEALER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS/IS A RECALL AND GIVE UP UPON HEARING NO. WE NEED TO GET ANYONE WE KNOW WITH THIS PROBLEM TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOME INNOCENT PERSON DIES AS A RESULT OF THIS "KNOWN" DEFECT! AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR WHICH FORD IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST. *TR

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 *JS

THE REAR LIFT GATE ON MY EXPLORER CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE GATE CRACKED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A HABIT OF LOOKING OVER MY VEHICLE. THE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I INSPECTED MY VEHICLE BEFORE GOING INTO MY HOME. ON MY NEXT SERVICE VISIT I ASKED MY FORD DEALER IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD NOT GENERATED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THERE MAY BE THOUSANDS OF EXPLORERS WITH THIS DEFECT, I SEE THEM EVERY DAY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FORD COMPANY FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS DEFECT. I HAVE PURCHASED MY LAST FORD. *TR