6.4
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $460
- Average Mileage:
- 75,350 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 769 complaints
Most common solutions:
- waiting for Ford to recall (296 reports)
- not sure (205 reports)
- replace panel (117 reports)
- possible class action lawsuit (63 reports)
- call Ford motor company 1-800-241-3673 (27 reports)
- do not buy Ford again (25 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I first thought someone hit it with something...but found out from friends and after hearing I myself saw several Ford Explorers with the same crack by more then over a dozen or more. This brought it to my attention......... and made it known to me that this was definitely a manufacturers defect. I feel that Ford should make this a recall and replace it for their customers who bought in the trust of the Ford name.
- Sheila M., Santee, CA, US
cracked plastic on rear tailgate 2004 ford explorer quoted $500. to repair with no guaratee it won't break again.If not resolved will not by another Ford.
- John M., San Diego, CA, US
I just purchased this 2004 Explorer and tried to convince dealer to fix the rear panel crack, but was told that it would just crack again, so they wouldn't fix it. What moron engineer at Ford sealed this panel to the rear glass, thus insuring it would crack as the window flexed? Unfortunately, that's a rhetorical question.
- rrose73, Katy, TX, US
We came outside one cold morning to find the back panel on our Ford Explorer cracked. As the day progressed and warmed up a bit, the crack became less visible. At nightfall, when the temperature dropped, it was once again HUGE! My husband called the local dealership, who confirmed that many othe had been complaining about the same problem, BUT that Ford was not covering the repairs and it could cost us up to $500. We contacted Ford and never received a response. As the years have passed, I've noticed MORE and MORE...about 85-90%...Ford Explorers driving around town with the SAME EXACT PROBLEM! This is ridiculous. Ford still refuses to cover the repairs and I plan to file a complaint with the BBB. It it NOT a coincidence that most of the Ford Explorers of this make/model have the same issue and that since then, Ford has changed the rear door to exclude this panel.
- abperdue04, Pensacola, FL, US
I've read many complaints about this problem. Ford needs to recall these panels.
- vcathey, Chino, CA, US
I traded in a 2000 Explorer XLT that had approx. 120,000 miles with a bad transmission in June of 2012, for a newer 2004 Eddie Bauer Edition with approx. 121,000 miles on it. Three weeks later with 122,000 miles on it, the transmission went out on IT. It was covered under warranty because I bought it from a Ford Dealer. Yesterday 10/12/2012, there was the "tailgate crack", that I just found out is a common problem. I will be contacting the dealer, ford motor credit and the Missouri State Attorney's General's office to see if anything can be done to find fault with Ford's denial of any manufacturing defect.
- James D., Ofallon, MO, US
click to see larger images
Ours happened at 121,000 to our car,our neighbor down the street same year happened 5 years ago and right now she only has 35,000. There car is outside all the time, ours was always in a garage, that is until a few weeks ago when we had to put the car out for the evening. Next morning we woke up to the crack. When it's hot outside the crack is barely visible. When it's cold, it is huge.
- Brian A., Redmond, WA, US
I had an estimate done to fix it. the dealer said the problem is only cosmetic, and it will not cause rusting or water damage from rain. A replacement would come from a junk yard and cost roughly $350 with labor
- lindaoh, Perrysburg, OH, US
I have noticed many Explorers with this same problem, crack left of the Ford emblem below the glass panel on the hatch and then it happened to me this past winter! When the temp. is very HOT the crack is hardly noticable then it returns with normal temperatures. I haven't heard any recalls from Ford regarding this issue? HELP!!! I would like to have this replaced without cost to me!!!
- Sheryl L., Independence, OH, US
I see it on most all 2004 Explorers some have fallen off.
- ompete, Lapeer, MI, US
Panel on the back cracked on the left side of the emblem it is very annoying to see it everyday but hoping for a recall to get fixed
- Jeremy H., Mechanicsburg, PA, US
Frustrated as I see this broken on many Ford Explorers and cannot understand why Ford fails to recognize the error or offers a valuable solution. It is clearly defunct manufacturing.
- N B., Detroit, MI, US
Ford told me i must have shut the window to hard and refused to fix on my still under warranty car.
- Stacie K., Xenia, OH, US
My rear exterior trim panel below the glass is bowed out on the left side starting at the Ford emblem. Being that it is black, the sun swells it on hot days. The car wash brushes get caught in it also. The entire driver's side came unglued, I have since tried to re-glue with silicone adhesive it but it isn't holding completely. I got the same BS at the local dealer whose only answer was that they see a lot of these and a fix is about $500. Seems unfair that this is an obvious recognized design flaw that was corrected on newer models. I'm thinking about trying to fix it myself by removing it before it cracks or breaks and try to reglue it with some kind of industrial strength automotive adhesive. The only thing stopping me from doing that is that I don't know how involved it is to remove the emblem and trim piece. If I ever get that info and feel ambitious enough to attempt the repair, and am successful, I will update this complaint with pictures and step-by-step instructions, including what product I used to reattach it.
- James D., Spartanburg, SC, US
Every ford explorer this year that I see has same problem. Can't believe ford will not fix. Never buy a ford again because of lousy customer service.
- Mark W., Frisco, CO, US
This is apparently a known defect in the 2002-2004 Ford Explorers and Ford doesn't care. They won't recall, they won't help with replacement costs and they say that it's not their problem.
- katiekatiep94, Sparta, MI, US
The rear hatch stopped closing due to faulty screws that attach the rear window wiper. This panel then started holding water and in the dead of winter the freezing temperatures caused the rear panel to crack. It looks terrible!
- Rebbecca F., Springfield, MO, US
Add my name to this growing list of complainants. It seems apparent that Ford has no desire to resolve this. I found reference to this class action lawsuit if anyone is interested. http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1223-ford-cracked-tailgate-class-action-lawsuit-
I have already had this vehicles doors repainted due to premature fading and have also had to replace the transmission.
I will NEVER own another Ford product and will make sure everyone I meet knows why.
- rowwalker, Xenia, OH, US
I just noticed the crack in the rear panel below the rear window. Ford says that it is not covered by any recall, at this time.
- James E., Normal, IL, US
Broke while sitting in the garage. Not worth fixing but should be a recall.
- 2751exploder, Venice, FL, US