2 vertical cracks in upper rear hatch below window

- Wynnewood, PA, USA

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.

- Detroit, MI, USA

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.

- Boonsboro, MD, USA

My rear hatch in the back of my Explorer has a crack in it. Which I think has caused the back window to shift which in turn has caused my door ajar light to flash while the door chimes go off and the interior flicker while you are driving down the road but there are no doors open. The lights flickering make it hard to drive in the night. I think Ford should fix this problem for everyone.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

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.

- Sun City, CA, USA

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.

- Salem, UT, USA

Rear cracked panel on 2002-2005 Ford Explorer -when it rains water fry the rear taillights.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

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.

- Keller, TX, USA

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.

- Waldwick, NJ, USA

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Cleveland, NC, USA

Vertical crack down the middle area of the rear lift door around the Ford emblem.

- San Diego, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after opening the rear glass lift gate window, the two aluminum hinges fractured causing the lift gate to fall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired since the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

- Wilton, NY, USA

The car was parked in a grocery store lot. I used the remote to open the back latch to store my groceries. It did not open. I tried again. Suddenly the back window exploded and the back hatch came off it hinges. I am unable to drive the car until it is repaired. I found many stories online that said the same thing has happened to other 2004 Explorer and Ford has not done anything with the complaints. This episode could have been very serious had it occurred while driving or if someone had been hit by the flying glass debris.

- Madison, WI, USA

The rear hatch door cracked and noticed so took to auto body shop and they told us it was a Ford defect and if fixed it would crack again due to the make of this car.

- Concord, NC, USA

The back hatch window doesn't seem to line up with the latch. The back hatch also cracked right near the Ford logo. I have seen many of the Explorer that this has happened to. Its time Ford fixes this defect. Also while doing around 60-65 mph my timing chains broke, all 3 of them at the same time. I could understand 1 maybe but all 3 ? this to has to be a manufacturer defect.

- Cameron, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear wheel wells and frame were rusted. And the rear hatch was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 09/30/14 the consumers stated the transmission jerks into gear. Updated 02/25/2015

- Green Belt, MD, USA

When closing rear panel, the panel cracked.

- Lynn, MA, USA

Rear glass lift gate: Cracks appeared in the rear hatch on both sides of the rear Ford logo.( I now notice many Ford Explorer 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" Explorer 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 Explorer. Ford changed the part then and has not met the # of complaints to be forced to recall 2004 and up Explorer. 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.

- New Windsor, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured directly on the logo where the lift gate lock was located. The defect could have caused the rear lift gate to open while driving. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 14,000 and the current mileage was 16,000.

- Fredericksburg , VA, USA

Rear lift gate plastic cracked through Ford logo with no contact. Third row seatbelt stuck and hard to release.

- Washington, DC, USA