2002 Ford Explorer

I'm experiencing the same problem with the lift gate panel. I have a
vertical crack to the left of the FORD emblem and it extends the width
of the lift gate panel. It was also just my luck that my vehicle
warranty had expired. I'm not sure how the crack occurred but I do
know that I've been experiencing problems closing/securing the glass
lift gate for several months. It requires several attempts to close
the lift gate for it to catch the latch. I informed the Ford
dealership of the problem and they referred me to a local body shop to
make the $700+ repairs. I concur...Ford should step up and accept
this body style/mechanical flaw in their product. It's too much of a
coincidence that several owners are experiencing the same problem and
potentially are in danger of losing the lift gate's glass while
driving. This has the potential to cause serious harm to someone. If
Ford would rather wait until this occurs instead of being pro-active,
so be it. I won't hesitate be a witness in court. My next move will
be to write to the company, the Better Business Bureau, and then the
local TV and radio stations. I suggest everyone else do the same.

My husband and I purchased our 2002 Explorer in 2004 from a Ford
dealership, we also had the liftgate crack and the dealership tld us
Ford would only pay half of the $450 it would cost to repair. While
the truck was still under warranty we also had to have the window
motors replaced. I am curious to know if anyone else has had rear
differential or bearing problems. Our explorer started with a noise
that would come from the rear of the truck while driving, my father
said it sounded like a bearing. We took the car into the mechanic and
we have to have the entire rear differential replaced to the tune of
$3,000. Anyone else have any humming or whirring noise coming from
the rear of their truck? My brother in law has a 2002 Explorer and
have to have a hub bearing in the rear of his truck replaced. If
anyone else hears this noise I advise you have it checked right away
before you have to replace the entire rear differential as well. I am
very disappointed in this vehicle and my husband and I as well as his
family after owning over half a dozen Ford vehicles will not be
purchasing anymore.

Same damage. Same response from Ford. I'm very disappointed with
both Ford and NHTSA. Below is part of the letter I sent to Ford and
NHTSA





I own a 2002 Ford Explorer XLS with 51,300 miles. On 11/23/06 two
long cracks developed in my lift gate panel just to the right of the
Ford emblem. One crack extends the full length of the panel. The
other extends from the top of the panel and extends to the top of the
Ford emblem. See attached photo.
These cracks developed completely without any damage or force being
applied to the panel. The truck was parked in the carport. I
researched my damage and found others with the same model Explorer
with the same damage in the same location. Several of them advised
that Ford would not acknowledge or repair the damage.
The location of the damage poses a real danger if the panel completely
separates. If separation occurs the glass can possibly shatter
causing death or injury. I am convinced the damage is caused by a
structural defect in the panel which is in no way my responsibility to
repair.

My 2002 Ford EXplorer has cracked rear liftgate as well. By research
online this has been reported many times to the NHTSA, and 1 consumer
complaint website has at least 27 complaints of the same for 2002 Ford
Explorers. Ever since the recall was performed to repair the rear
liftgate, the force required to close the hatch was more which I
believe is the reason for the stress cracks in the rear panel. Ford
assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY for this issue which costs approx $450. to
repair as the panel has to be replaced and then painted to match the
vehicle. Also my Explorer paint between the windows (black part) is
peeling and fading, and my vehicle has been garage kept since it was
brand new!! FORD has lost my loyalty, but I will not rest until I make
sure they know how I feel about their inablility to stand behind their
products. If enough consumers report and complain they will eventually
do something about it. My next step is to the local news channel and
every consumer website I can find!

We also had the recall item completed and at the time had no visible
signs of a crack. About 4 months ago we developed the same type of
crack right down the middle of the liftgate. Of course it goes right
through the "Ford" emblem. What can we do? I think that this issue
has to do with the structural integrity of that gate and putting
pressure on that piece of you close the gate from the side and not in
the middle or using the "handle".

Here is my e-mail and I would love to talk to anyone that can help me
and others get Ford to take responsability and fix this. I also got
the run around from the dealer that I could go to a body shop and cost
about $500-1000 to fix.

Thanks,
Michael Z.
mzazzera@altera.com

I had the exact same problem with the liftgate. One crack begins at
the bottom right of the liftgate window and goes all the way to the
bottom of the liftgate a second crack is on the bottom left of the
window and is halfway to the bottom of the liftgate. I'm wondering
what happens when it gets to the bottom. When I took the vehicle in
for the liftgate strut reolacement recall. The Ford bodyshop folks
said the cracks were a common problem, but when they queried the FMC
headquarters they were told Ford would not repair it. On Monday I'm
going to take it to dealership where I bought it and ask the manager
if he stands behind the vehicles he sells. Either way my next vehicle
will have a foreign name on it. If you want this American to buy
American then produce a quality product and stand behind it.

Hi -
My husband and I bought a 2002 Explorer and have some of the same
problems that you describe. We too took our Explorer in for the hinge
recall replacement and at the time showed them a crack in the liftgate
panel on the back door - which they claimed was a paint blemish and
referred us to a bodyshop for fixing (despite the fact that it was
still under warantee at the time). At our most recent tuneup (35,000
miles) we asked again about the cracked panel and they said it would
cost upwards of $600.00 to replace. Now, of course, its out of
warantee. And now its even worse: when we drove our Explorer up to
the snow this weekend the formerly small crack in the liftgate panel
has turned into a major system of about 4 cracks - something about the
snowy environment. I too think that this is a defective part and that
FORD should replace it. I will NEVER consider buying a FORD again,
and am entirely depressed to hear that they were so unreceptive to
your correspondence about your problems with the car.