The rear hinges gave way, and the back half glass exploded.

- Benton, ME, USA

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.

- South Hamilton, MA, USA

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.

- Stockton, CA, USA

Vertical crack in hatch of 2002 Ford Explorer. I look at other Explorer in the same time pereiod and they all have the exact same crack!!

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear hatch was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the vehicle could be repaired but he could not guarantee that the failure would not recur. The manufacturer was contacted who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 110,000.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

The back panel below the rear window has cracked.

- Pocatello, ID, USA

Ford Explorer cracked rear panel.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

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

- Parlin, NJ, USA

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.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

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 Explorer with similar cracks. I got an estimate and it is $1500 to fix. Ford should fix this!

- Spokane Valley, WA, USA

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 Explorer - '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 Explorer 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.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

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.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

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.

- Cos Cob, CT, USA

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

- Portola Valley, CA, USA

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 Explorer 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.

- Cordova , TN, USA

1. I took our 2002 Explorer in for the recall of the back window. When they installed it they put a small crack in panel in the back below the window. 2. the crack grew until finally the whole panel cracked in half. The edge is quite sharp and the panel is a bit loose now. 3. Ford refused to fix it. We track 2002 Explorer with this problem and have found that 1/6 have it. I saw another today prompting me to send this. Here are related articles: www.fordproblems.com/Explorer/cracked-rear-panel.shtml www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2003/body_paint/cracked_panel_below_the_rear_window.shtml.

- Southport, NC, USA

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.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

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.

- White Lake, MI, USA

Appeared out of nowhere. Large crack in vehicle below rear window possibly due to previous recall in Oct 2004 - safety recall 04S20.

- Natick, MA, USA

2002 Ford Explorer -- a crack appears in the panel below the rear tailgate window glass.

- Langley, WA, USA