I hate the way it looks!! And I see it on so many Ford Explorers on the road!! I think if that many people have the same problem it's obviously Fords problem to fix. Also I think it effects the latch. Sometimes when I try to close it the latch stays engaged and the window bounces off of it and wont close. I have to push the release button several times to disengage the latch hook! Frustrating!!! I do hate to say it around my car, but I will never buy another Ford!! Cause this is definitely not the only problem I'm having with this car! See other complaints...Check engine light on, gas gauge stopped working, tire pressure sensor fault light on all the time.

This panel piece flew off the back of my car and broke into many pieces when I was going through a car wash this morning. I don't know how it didn't hit the truck behind me. It was not cracked as I've seen other people saying. It just started making a loud rattling noise and then a loud pop noise and flew off. Very scary and dangerous!! How is this not the responsibility of Ford to fix this known defect?? The guy at the car wash told me he has seen this a million times with Explorers but Ford won't recall because they don't consider it a safety hazard!! How is a piece of your vehicle flying off and disintegrating not a safety hazard??

We just bought this car used today and didn't notice the crack in the applique panel until actually viewing the vehicle (the online photos you couldn't really see it). Of course we bought it as a third vehicle and got it for a great price so I wasn't too surprised to see it on a vehicle that is 7 years old and has 113,000 miles on it, but since I do a lot of the repairs myself to the vehicles in our household ( we also own a 2003 Ford Expedition) I figured I'd fix it myself. I first went on line to see if I could even get the part ( yes, I can for $163.33) and thought I'd surf other sites and that's when I came across this complaint forum. Now after reading about 100(figured I wouldn't read anymore because they all were saying the same thing) I've decided I'll wait on replacing this part because it sounds like if I replace it, it will just do the same thing again. Is it the emblem causing the stress and then finally causing the fracture???? That is a good question and you all are right. Ford should fix this issue at their expense. My husband and I had a run in about almost 20 years ago on a 1996 F150. Thank god we were parked and just getting into the truck, when I closed my door and my husband's airbag blew for no reason. Ford took the truck for weeks trying to get it to repeat what it had done. They never did figure out why it did it but did say it was from me slamming the door closed(my side didn't have an airbag). And yes, I'm not a big burley woman. I'm only 5'6" and weigh 125lbs. so if they think that I'm am strong enough to set off an airbag just by closing my door, I would say, don't hold your breath on seeing any resolution to this issue on their behalf either. It's unfortunate that a corporation as large as they are, can't take responsibility for something that is an obvious defect. Shame shame on you FORD!

I really don't see how Ford doesn't want to do any call backs on any of the Ford Explorers that are having trouble with the back panel that is cracking. ford is such a big corporation with millions and they don't want to take any responsibility in what is happening to our means of transportation especially for the ones who can't afford to go ahead and buy a new car or the money to fix it.

I am very concern that water can start accumulating inside and then what am I suppose to do. Ford should take full responsibility.

All you hear over and over is how we should purchase American made cars but when I purchased my Explorer I never realized that Ford would ignore such a noticeable defect. I can drive around my area and notice how many other Ford buyers have this same defect. The dealers are not interested in helping and of course the BIG Ford company isn't interested either as they already made their money off of us. Why should they going to have to spend their money on satisfying their customers. Next time, I'm buying foreign!

NEVER AGAIN FORD!

This is my third Explorer, and the second one for the rear panel to crack. Ford fixed the first one because the SUV was still under warranty, unfortunately, not the case for this one. My Ford dealer says it will cost $1500 to repair. They said I could take it to a body shop to fill the crack in, but that it probably woudn't hold. I can't justify a $1500 repair for a six year old vehicle. I'm getting ready to trade vehicles this summer and don't think it will be another Ford. I'm afraid to find out how much the trade-in value is going to be impacted. I've written directly to Ford, but don't have any high expectations for any help. From the complaints I've read on this site, looks to me like Ford just doesn't care about its customers any more. It's very depressing to someone who has been a Ford owner for over 35 years. I may be an old dog - but I can learn new tricks - Look for me at the NON-FORD dealers this summer.

Update from Mar 5, 2012: I'm even madder now. I received a three sentence form letter back from Ford Co saying 'Feedback from our customers is important to us, and helps us to provide higher quality vehicles and improved service to our customers. We recognize that we must meet the needs of the buying public if we are to be successful in today's competitive market. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us." Letter doesn't even reference the problem - just a generic form letter. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'll be buying elsewhere this summer.