Have been a loyal Ford owner for many years & am disappointed they haven't had a recall for this. When I first noticed the crack I thought my Explorer had been vandalized and almost filed a police report. Then I came across this website & am glad it saved me from that embarrassment. Funny how once your car has this defect, you notice just how many other Explorers out there have the same issue!

Update from Mar 10, 2010: Ford dealer will fix it for $400 but will not guarantee it won't happen again. He told me that at least it won't rust since it's plastic.

I will never buy another Ford. I am truly unhappy about my truck tearing to pieces and everyone from the people I bought it from to the insurance company giving me the run-around abour why they can't fix it. My panel in the back under the window is tearing to pieces and no one seems to care. I don't want to have ti dish out more money to pay for myself. What happens when it tears up again? Built Ford Tough? LOL, I don't think so. Built tough enough to drive off the lot, then you are own your own with the fixing all their f-ups!

I have a 2004 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer V-8. I recently noticed while walking around the vehicle on a cold morning that a crack had developed around the Ford emblem and had cracked completely through! I thought no way this is happening to my car! I have noticed this in passing other Fords explorers too. As this is clearly a defect either in the placing of the emblem during manufactering of the vehicle or a defect in the materials used to make the door, why haven't this been recalled in ALL Ford explorers. It seems that this part could break off at any time. This is obviously no fault of the owner. What does it take before the coorporations recall something? This problem and other issues I have encountered with this year make and model has left a less than desirable taste in my mouth as to future purchases of anything made by Ford. Was this a bad year or what?

After owning several American cars over the years with absolutely no luck at all, problems up the yin yang, I decided to purchase a used Explorer for my wife. Perfect condition and low mileage a big plus. A couple of months into owning the vehicle I saw the cracked lift gate. I immediately questioned my wife on what she had done. This was news to her. The crack was way too high for someone to have hit her. I come to find out, through Ford, that this is a common problem that they are aware of, but will not fix unless I pay an ungodly amount of money.

I'd like to know how they sleep at night knowing they sold a piece of junk and will not own up to it. This is definitely not helping my perception of American car makers!

On December 11, I went shopping and when I went to place items in the back of my vehicle, I noticed a crack all the way from the back window to the bottom of the panel. I take very good care of my vehicle. There was no indication that the vehicle had been hit as there were no damages. I asked my mechanic to look at the crack and tell me what he thought. He did some research and found that this problem is very common with Ford Explorers. He checked with the local Ford Dealership (Hilbish in Kannapolis, NC and they told him it was not under warranty, but it was such a common occurrence, they gave him a quote for repairs without even looking at the vehicle. I also have 1499 for an extended Platinum Warranty (6 years/72,000 miles. My vehicle only has about 54,000 miles and the 6 years are not up, but I have been told this is not covered by the warranty.

I do not understand why Ford has not issued a recall for this problem. It certainly seems to be a widespread problem. I will file a complaint with Ford and with Better Business and everyone else who has this problem should do the same.

Same complaint as others. Walked out to my explorer (my baby, low mileage, well cared for, no wrecks) to find the panel under the rear window cracked. Crack starts at bottom of window, extends to Ford symbol, and then starts again next to Ford symbol and extends downward. Clearly a stress crack. So angry!!!! Called Ford and logged complaint. They say there is no recall and it is not covered under warranty. Going to log complaint with National Highway Traffic Safety Admin and Better Business Bureau.

Interestingly, we are a Ford family and are having problems with our 2003 Expedition as well. We have had to replace SIX catalytic converters and need another!!! Ford is taking no responsibility. And now this. We are disgusted!