Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. MY REAR TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE CAR HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES, WARMING UP. I LOADED MY ITEMS INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE TAILGATE WINDOW. WHEN I WAS DONE, I CLOSED THE WINDOW. BEFORE IT WAS EVEN CLOSED, THE WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. THERE WAS GLASS ALL OVER. THE WINDOW WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR
THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS A REAR HATCH THAT INCLUDES A GLASS SECTION THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO BE OPENED TO LOAD ITEMS INTO THE TRUNK AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THREE SEPARATE TIMES THE REAR WINDSHIELD HAS BLOWN OUT AS IT HAS BEEN OPENED / CLOSED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD IS MADE OF TEMPERED GLASS AND WHEN IT BREAKS IT EXPLODES INTO THE PERSON OPERATING THE WINDOW. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY INJURIES BESIDES A FEW SMALL CUTS, BUT HAVING GLASS EXPLODE INTO A PERSON IS DANGEROUS. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE THE GLASS WAS SIMPLY REPLACED. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE REAR GLASS WAS OPENED. AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE GLASS WAS CLOSED. THE THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED 12/1/2013, IT HAS YET TO BE FIXED. THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE GLASS WAS CLOSED. *TR
WHEN I OPEN THE BACK GLASS WINDOW, ONE HINGE BROKE OFF. I TRY TO SET THE WINDOW, THE OTHER HINGE BROKE. I HAVE TO TIE A ROPE TO KEEP THE GLASS FROM FALLING OFF. *TR I FIND ON LINE THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2002 - 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND STRUT BRACKETS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD DEALER AND FORD COMPANY, THEY SAY MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. IF OTHER FORD EXPOLORERS ARE COVERED, WHY MY VIN IS NOT COVERED? IS IT BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER FORD EXPLORER SPORT BUILT, AND LESS PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM? I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD EXPAND TO COVER ALL EXPLORER BUILD IN 2002 - 2003.
WHILE UNLOADING ITEMS FROM BACK I HAD THE HALF GLASS OPEN, AS I WALKED AWAY THE BACK GLASS JUST SLAMMED DOWN AND SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HINGE WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW HINGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
I WAS OPENING THE REAR GLASS ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WHEN THE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL ON MY ARM. I WAS LUCKY TO CATCH IT BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND. I NOW HAVE A HUGE BRUISE ON MY ARM. I CONTACTED FORD THE SAID MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE OF WHERE IT WAS BUILT. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IN 43 DEGREE WEATHER WITH NO TEMPERATURE CONTROLS BEING USED WHEN MY REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO THE VEHICLE. I THEN PULLED OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION AND INSPECTED THE BROKEN GLASS. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE INDICATING MALICE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT A 2000-2004 FORD VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS KIND OF AN ISSUE. AGAIN, THE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 43 DEGREES, MY VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, AND NO TEMPERATURE CONTROLS WERE BEING USED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE STANDING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR TO MODERATE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. HOWEVER SHE HAS TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. FRIDAY, OCT. 24TH, 2008 WE HAD TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN ABOUT 2 HOURS AWAY FROM OUR HOME. WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME AND WE WERE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A HUGE BOOM AND THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED. WE DID HAVE THE POLICE COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR ANY INDICATIONS AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I GOT HOME WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. WE DID FIND THAT IN 2001 FORD RECALLED THOUSANDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. WE CONTACTED FORD AND WERE TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY DIRECTED US TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO OUR ISSUE BEING ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS RECALL. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WE HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND AT THIS TIME WE BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS, HINGES, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM, STRUTS AND ANY OTHER PARTS AFFECTED ARE BEING REPLACED. WE HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE AND OUR INSURANCE IS COVERING THE BALANCE OF THE COST AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS OVER $1000. WE WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE DO FEEL THAT OUR VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS THE 2001 RECALL. *TR
AIR CONDITIONING/FAN CONTROLS KNOBS & FACE OF CD PLAYER ON DASH GETS INCREASINGLY HOTTER AS THE VEHICLE RUNS. THE PANEL WITH THE CONTROL KNOBS IS VERY, VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND BEGINS TO SMELL VERY HOT WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. I AM CONCERNED OF A FIRE AS MY SON IS A PARAPLEGIC AND I HAVE READ THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS FIRES. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T SEEM CONCERNED. *TR
THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS FELL OFF THE HINGES. THE FALLING GLASS DAMAGED THE REAR DEFROSTER WIRES (CAN NO LONGER BE USED) THE HINGE HOLDING THE GLASS BROKE OFF FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE GLASS TO FALL TO THE GROUND. IT COST $130 AT THE FORD DEALER. NHTSE RECALL 04V442 INVESTIGATED THIS EXACT COMPLAINT AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT FORD INFORMED ME THAT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN A FACTORY NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE NHTSE SHOULD CONSIDER RE-OPENING THIS CASE AS IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE SAME EXACT MAKE AND MODEL. ALL INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE OF THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HINGES SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THEY OPENED THE HATCH AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW BACK INTO THE HINGE. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER THE LEFT WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES DETACHED FROM THE WINDOW SEAL WHICH HELD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND WILL SUBMIT THE CASE NUMBER WITH THE HARD COPY OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 44,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,989. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPENING THE BACK WINDOW, THE LEFT SIDE HINGE FELL OFF. THE WINDOW WAS HANGING BY ONE HINGE. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SECURE THE WINDOW, BUT WHILE THE WINDOW WAS BEING ADJUSTED, THE RIGHT HINGE FELL OFF. THE WIRING FROM THE BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER HELD THE WINDOW IN PLACE AND KEPT THE WINDOW FROM FALLING TO THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED AND DETERMINED THE HINGES WERE STRIPPED. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT HINGE KIT TO REPAIR THE WINDOW.
FORD EXPLORER 2002 BACK WINDOW POPPED OUT OF VEHICLE--BREAKING BRACKETS THAT SECURE IT( CLASS) TO LIFT GATE--LOOKED TO SEE IF THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL---THERE IS FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED UNTIL MARCH OF 2002--MINE WAS APRIL--EVEN THOUGH ITS A PROBLEM--DEALER SAYS FORD NOT RESPONSIBLE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS BEFORE THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER 70 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETRERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES WHERE CUPPING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO DRIVE THE UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS LIMITED TO NO HIGH SPEED TRAVELING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE A REFUND. THE TAILGATE KEEPS LOCKING AND THE REAR DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW RATTLES WHIEN IT IS ALL THE WAY UP. *TC
THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. DEALER MADE REPAIRS THAT TEMPORARILY FIXED THE WINDOWS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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