2002 Ford Explorer Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED THE PART. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SUN ROOFS WERE DISCONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11040441

Incident

Aug 11, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10967162

Incident

Mar 19, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

"EXPLODING REAR WINDOW" - MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND I WENT OUT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT. I SIMPLY OPENED THE HATCH AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY FACE.

NHTSA ID

10928105

Incident

Nov 25, 2016

Mileage

156,000 mi

DRIVING ND STEERING WHEEL FELL APART BRAKE SWITCH STOPPED WORKING 3 TIMES HAD NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRE PUT ON BACK WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917406

Incident

Oct 19, 2016

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY THE BACK WINDOW (LIFT GATE WINDOW) WAS RAISED TO REMOVE THINGS FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS THE WINDOW WAS BEING CLOSED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN IT EXPLODED AND SENT GLASS FLYING ALL AROUND OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BOTTOM PIECE OF THE WINDOW WITH THE WIPER WAS HANGING FROM THE ELECTRICAL CORD EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GONE. THERE WAS NO FORCE ON THE WINDOW AND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING IT THE WHOLE THING JUST EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. LUCKILY NO ONE IN THIS SITUATION WAS INJURED. MY FAMILY HAVE SPENT HOURS REMOVING ALL OF THE SHATTERED GLASS FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND YARD. IT SENT GLASS FLYING AS FAR AS TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10903796

Incident

Sep 5, 2016

Mileage

157,000 mi

WHEN I TURN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THEY STAY ON LOW AND WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS I TURN THE TRUCK OFF WITH THE WIPERS IN OFF POSITION. MY O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I TURN THE TRUCK OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT GOES OFF, BUT COMES ON A LITTLE BIT LATER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10854990

Incident

Apr 2, 2016

Mileage

206,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW WAS CLOSED AND IT SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. UPDATED 03/21/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10806733

Incident

Nov 22, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. UPON OPENING AND CLOSING THE REAR HATCH, THE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,043. UPDATED 1/15/16 *CN

NHTSA ID

10787789

Incident

Oct 31, 2015

Mileage

111,043 mi

THE REAR WINDOW SHUTTERED INTO 100 PIECES DURING THE DRIVING. THE REAR PANEL HAS CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706551

Incident

Apr 18, 2015

Mileage

127,000 mi

WHILE PUSHING UP ON THE REAR PANEL THE GLASS MAKING UP THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED - SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683716

Incident

Feb 16, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

CRACK IN REAR LIFT GATE PANEL THAT LED TO SHATTERED REAR WINDOW UPON NORMAL CLOSING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651968

Incident

Nov 2, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

BACK TAILGATE PANEL WAS CRACKED (DEFECT) AND THE BACK WINDOW JUST EXPLODED WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616078

Incident

Jul 24, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 PM, A BRIEF RAIN SHOWER BEGAN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE WIPER MOTOR, AND SIGNIFICANT TROUBLESHOOTING, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE GEM MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL DAYS OF LIGHT, MODERATE, AND HEAVY RAIN PRECEDING THIS ISSUE, DURING WHICH THE AUTOMOBILE WAS NOT DRIVEN. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE DOOR-AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, AND THERE ARE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532580

Incident

Jul 14, 2013

Mileage

140 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE HINGES FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,738. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,229. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502444

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

140,738 mi

WE OPENED THE REAR WINDOW TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK, LIFTED THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED AND CRASHED ON MY HUSBAND'S HEAD. IT SEEMS AS IF THE HYDROLICS FAILED ON EACH SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW. GLASS JUST SHATTERED AND WAS EVERYWHERE. MY HUSBAND'S HANDS WERE CUT AND HIS HEAD WAS BANGED UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10497794

Incident

Feb 10, 2013

Mileage

98,559 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACTED MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE CLOSED OR OPENED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,983 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 206,000. UPDATED 11/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 11/07/12

NHTSA ID

10480596

Incident

Jun 19, 2010

Mileage

149,983 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE HEATER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE HEATER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEATER BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10480102

Incident

Sep 17, 2012

WHEN CLOSING THE REAR HATCH GLASS, THE GLASS EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE OUR GARAGE ATTACHED TO OUR HOUSE. WE WERE UNLOADING PACKAGES AND WHEN WE WERE DONE WE REACHED UP AND PULLED THE WINDOW TO CLOSE. THE GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450032

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

155,000 mi

NONE OF THE WINDOWS WILL WORK, THEY WERE OPERATING PROPERLY AND JUST QUIT. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, IN AN EMERGENCY, (SUCH AS A CRASH). THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE. IF A FIRE OCCURRED THE RESULTS COULD BE TRAGIC. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE. YET THEY CHOOSE NOT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY OF THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF MILES ON IT, BUT THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE HAPPENS ON LOWER MILEAGE VEHICLES ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448800

Incident

Feb 21, 2012

Mileage

143,000 mi

THE REAR HINGES GAVE WAY, AND THE BACK HALF GLASS EXPLODED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439364

Incident

Aug 13, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE GLASS ON ALL FOUR DOORS EXHIBITED PERMANENT STREAKS WHICH DISTORTED HIS VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE SIMILAR STREAKS ON THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN AUTO GLASS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ACID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3. ALL GLASS HAS A FOG TYPE FILM AND STREAKS WHICH OBSCURES VISION DURING NIGHT TIME AND INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVING. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10422381

Incident

Apr 7, 2002

Mileage

3 mi

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS 8 TIMES NOW. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE NOONE IS TOUCHING IT AND WILL NOT GO BACK UP. I HAVE JUMPED THE WINDOW UP AND DISCONNECTED THE PLUG UNTIL I COULD AFFORD IT EVERY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE COST IS ABOUT $200 TO REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS SO FREQUENT AND UNTIL A PERSON CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO JUMP YOUR WINDOW AND DISCONNECT THE PLUG, ALLOWING NONE OF THE WINDOWS TO GO DOWN. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND PUTTING A WINDOW DOWN WAS THE ONLY WAY FOR AN ADULT OR A CHILD TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? TO ME THAT IS DANGEROUS! AND TERRIFYING! IN 8 MONTHS OF OWNING A VEHICLE THAT I PAID $6,500 FOR I HAVE NOW PUT $1,600 INTO ON TOP OF IT! AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DO SO IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RECALLED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT GARAGES AND THE ONLY "FIX" OPTION I AM GETTING IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH! THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS IF THE SWITCH IS GOING BAD EVERY MONTH OR MORE! THIS LAST TIME IT TOOK A WHOLE 3 DAYS FOR THE SWITCH TO GO BAD AGAIN! I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS OR IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT LETS BE REAL HERE.....IF THE PLUG IS NOT CONNECTED THE WINDOWS CANNOT GOT DOWN. SO IF THERE IS A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT PEOPLE MAY DIE!! SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY TO JUST KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND IT IS NOT TRULY FIXING WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS! FORD MADE THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10400920

Incident

May 14, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WHEN IT CLOSED ON ITS OWN AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE SEVERE INJURIES BUT SUSTAINED A HEADACHE AND CUTS ON HER HEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E104000 (COMPONENT: VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) ON THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IF THE TECHNICIANS DETERMINED THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY, THEY WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF THE GLASS BUT IF THEY WERE DONE CORRECTLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,263.

NHTSA ID

10378489

Incident

Jan 23, 2011

Mileage

58,263 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EXT WAGON. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AN AWKWARD MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO STATED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. THE WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING NORMALLY. THE LIFTGATE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 3 WINDOW REGULATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10375130

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW ACCORDING TO RECALL 01I010000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10369113

Incident

Nov 29, 2010