6.4
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $460
- Average Mileage:
- 75,350 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 769 complaints
Most common solutions:
- waiting for Ford to recall (296 reports)
- not sure (205 reports)
- replace panel (117 reports)
- possible class action lawsuit (63 reports)
- call Ford motor company 1-800-241-3673 (27 reports)
- do not buy Ford again (25 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I have two large cracks on the left side of the emblem. The hatch was rarely used.
The high mileage is due to highway miles to and from work. I too can't understand why Ford isn't forced to research EVERY complaint that is identical when presented to them in HUGE numbers. There are hundreds of people who have the EXACT problem so how are they allowed to ignore the complaints or lie and say they are not aware that it is a problem among many owners? Who oversees Ford's obligation to make things right?
- mawelms, North Las Vegas, NV, US
I've bought Fords for years and I've been happy until now. I've personally noticed this problem (Explorer Butt Crack) on most Explorers and I've seen HUNDREDS of complaints online. Ford Motor Company- WHAT THE @#%$!!!! Can't you see that you are chasing away loyal customers? Do the right thing! Fix this defect at your cost, not ours.
- rdonnelly, Ware, MA, US
THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS. I WAS GETTING IN MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND NOTICE THE CRACK. I STARTED TO LOOK AT OTHER FORD EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF FORD VEHICLES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE.
- luckytrell, Norfolk, VA, US
The panel cracking is clearly a defect in the product and Ford should repair. The unfortunate part for Ford is that is it a very visible defect in the quality of their workmanship. Had a similar issue on my wife's Toyota and they fixed it at no charge.
- Jim K., Raleigh, NC, US
Just happened before Christmas on my 04' Eddie Bauer Explorer. We had a really cold night ( for Tennessee) and the next morning there was a crack from top to bottom in the rear panel in shape of a V. Keeps getting wider. It's really annoying when the rest of the vehicle is in great cosmetic condition. Makes this spot stick out like a sore thumb.
- Jeana M., Oldfort, TN, US
My husband and I have 2 Ford Explorers. One is a 2003 and one is a 2004. Our 2003 explorer got the crack in the lift gate about 2 years ago. We ignorantly bought another explorer...this time a different model and a year newer. We have owned it a little over a year and a half. I was so happy that it didn't have or get the crack like the other. Wellllll......tonight while putting my groceries in the back I see it!! THE CRACK!! I am soooo annoyed and even more annoyed to know that Ford won't do anything about it. This is ridiculous. Not only do our Ford's have these cracks, but almost every Ford Explorer I have seen has this same exact crack. Does Ford really think this is going to influence consumers to buy another Ford? I know the next vehicle we purchase WILL NOT be a Ford Explorer or even a Ford at all.
- Misti M., Williamsburg, VA, US
I had no problem getting them to replace the back gate. As long as I brought it in before 100k hit in mileage.
- jat2080, Tulsa, OK, US
I think that its ridiculous that all of a sudden that it just happens to cars and no one knows how. My car was fine and then just out of nowhere it has this huge crack and no one wants to do anything about it. I know have paid attention to other explorers and have seen lots of them like that. Just on this website there were almost 400 complaints when i signed up so why is no one doing anything about it. I definitely think this should be recalled or at the very least looked at.
- missbrit1713, Greenville, SC, US
I have been buying Fords for over 20 years and my kids and wife all drive fords. My wifes 2004 Ford Explorer is always parked in the garage one day when she got to work she noticed a crack next to the ford sign on the panel of the rear window lift gate. We took it to our dealer and they immediately new what i was talking about, but would not fix it. Their excuses were that piece is under stress and my car was 6 years old. First of all the stress that this piece may be under is negligible at best and the way that this piece broke was not due to stress of installation but by stress from the contraction on either side of a defect(microscopic crack) in the panel. When the temperature dropped as it does quite often here in Colorado, the plastic contracted which pulled it apart and created the larger crack.
So one, the Service manager has no idea how simple physics works and the other is Ford's apparent apathetic attitude displayed by their staff in supporting their customers. When a customer pays upwards of 30,000 dollars for a product they expect it to last more than 6 years. Additionally the fact that they know thw problem exists and refuse to address it for their customers is pathetic. When I started buying fords they used to talk about quality being job #1 unfortunately i guess that ideal has evolved since then. I am severely disappointed in my local dealer as well as the Ford corporation. Their conduct and policy regarding this issue is an insult to my long standing patronage and a discredit to their own tradition of excellence.
- Jonathan C., Colorado Springs, CO, US
My rear panel has cracked on both sides of the Ford logo under the window. It continues to get bigger and deeper. The cracked seemed to happend over night. It is amazing to me that Ford has known it was a problem for three model years and has not fixed the problem.
- kymnelson, Milton, WA, US
Called Ford at 800-392-3673 today, it was like talking on deaf ears. The crack in the rear panel is a madder of principle now, and I will let every body know that Ford could less that we have to drive around in there crap. Never again!!!
- fordfixyourcrap, Wellington, FL, US
Well having 6 Fords I was disappointed that even with my extended warranty that Ford refused to repair it. I take super car of my cars,just not fair. Apparently this is a bad design flaw.We bought a Honda.
- drdu, Mattapoisett, MA, US
click to see larger images
I bought my ford explorer new and all I have during this past five years are headaches. now a broken panel on such an expensive SUV.How come Ford has not done anything yet to fix this problem. I am fearful my back window will crack or fall.
- Beatrice R., Behtlehem, PA, US
This is very dangerous. I was driving down a very dark road at 6 am and BOOM! The back glass just popped. I thought it had been shot out. The Sheriff's Department showed up and he thought the same thing. But the only thing we found was between the hydraulics on the window itself, the crack in the panel and temperature outside it imploded. My insurance in KY paid for it, but it took two windows and it still isn’t right. The replacement parts aren’t worth a crap. The panels don’t fit right and the plastic panel bulge from the form. I have always been a Ford girl, but never again will I buy a 2004 model from Ford!
- countrymajah, Central, SC, US
I take very good care of my cars and can't believe the plastic panel below the rear window cracked for absolutely no reason. The car was parked in the garage over the weekend and when pulled out on Monday morning it had a large crack in the painted plastic trim below the rear window. The crack is all the way through the trim piece from top to bottom in the middle, and is very noticeable. Needless to say it is very disappointing to anyone who trys to take good care of their cars. I would like ford to offer to fix this.
Update from Apr 28, 2013: This is causing a very annoying squeaking sound when driving.
- Robert S., Shelton, CT, US
I went out to unload my groceries from the vehicle and closed my hatchback and saw a crack below the window. It just happened since it was not there the day before. I have never seen anything like this. I went online to see if others were having this problem and wow, did I find many people having this problem. There is something definitely wrong to have so many people have this same problem. I believe Ford should fix these problems because I don't know how bad this can get. It should be evident to Ford that there is a problem if this keeps happening. I plan on filing a complaint with several different companies until Ford takes action. This crack was not caused by anyone hitting my vehicle. This seems to be a manufactures defect in the vehicle so Ford should step up to the plate and fix this. I know this is going to give Ford a bad name if they do not take ownership in this problem.
- Harvey F., Oklahoma City, OK, US
Ford Motor Company should own up to the poor quality of these rear hatch panels and recall the affected vehicles. I have noticed that on average, in the DC metro area, one out of every three Ford Explorers in the model years that have these style rear hatches, have the same problem with the cracked panels. This is just plain poor quality / material / workmanship. There is no preventing the problem - I parked my SUV in my garage one afternoon and all is fine; only to go out the next morning to find the crack in the rear panel (vertical, from the bottom of the window to the bottom edge of the upper rear hatch - just left of the Ford Emblem)
- fkegler, White Plains, MD, US
I just bought my Exp used, the panel was already cracked. I am and energy engineer with aviation background. My 2 cents: It is a poor design where there is a base plastic is glued to the glass and an outer (painted) plasic panel that connects to the base. The glass and the plastic expand and contract (with temperature changes) at different rates causing the crack. If you look at the crack on a cold day where the sun is shining on it, the crack will be small. The darker the paint color, the more radiant heat it absorbs. Thats why some of the lighter colored Exp's haven't cracked yet. Sorry, I guess Ford figures there is supposed to be a crack on our back side.
- Robert T., Elyria, OH, US
this is the second time that this has happened. Ford replaced it the first time at their expense. I phoned their customer hotline and they refused to acknowlege that it is their defective design and they should be responsible for full replacement cost. This is not an issue which should be subject to a timed or mileage warranty because this part is not a part subject to wear like tires or brakes. it should last the life of the vehicle and not crack. Ford should issue a recall for this part. It also happened to my daughters 2004 Explorer, she lives in a different state.
If Ford doesn't take responsibilty for this action I am done buying their products.
- ardito, Palm City, FL, US
This vehicle(2004 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer) I inherited recently however the previous one owner was a 70yr old woman who barely drove anywhere (33,400miles right now)....and we had prior to her death in October tried to find out about FORD fixing this but at that time nothing had been done as far as a recall and I've followed up several times on this in the past few months and still nothing to my knowledge as to any recall. This is definitely a FORD problem so they need to fix this!!!!
- Jill G., Lancaster, SC, US