2004 Ford Explorer Visibility Problems

I HAVE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY LIFT GATE . EACH TIME I USE THE HANDLE TO LIFT THE CRACKS BECOME WORSE. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS ONLINE ASKING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. EVERY ONE I SEE IN A PARKING LOT OR ON THE ROAD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REPORTS THAT IT AFFECTS 1997-2007 EXPLORERS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY REFERRED ME TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. SOME OF THESE CRACKS I HAVE SEEN REACH TO THE BACK WINDOW WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11174477

Incident

Nov 6, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ALMOST TO MY PARENTS HOUSE WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND. I LOOK IN MY MIRROR TO DISCOVER THAT MY REAR WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT A ROCK HAD HIT IT BUT WHEN I GOT OUT I DISCOVERED THAT THE HYDRAULIC ARMS HAD EXPANDED AND PUSHED OUT THE SIDES OF THE HATCH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SHATTERING OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR BUT FORTUNATELY THE GLASS ONLY EXPLODED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AND NOT INTO THEIR SEATS.

NHTSA ID

10809892

Incident

Dec 13, 2015

Mileage

172,000 mi

SUN VISOR BRACKET CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATED LEAVING SUN VISOR BLOCKING MY VIEW. HAD TO PULL OVER AND DISCONNECT THE WIRE AND REMOVE VISOR. 2ND INCIDENT, PRESSED BUTTON TO OPEN REAR GLASS AND THE HINGES SNAPPED EJECTING THE HEAVY GLASS PANEL AT ME. HAD A CHILD BEEN OPENING IT, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AS IT WAS, I CAUGHT THE GLASS PANEL.

NHTSA ID

10758636

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW GLASS HATCH THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE BROKE ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO FALL OUT ON THAT SIDE. THE REAR GLASS HATCH WINDOW IS HEAVY AND COULD HAVE EASILY BROKEN THE HINGE SIDE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. A PREVIOUS FORD RECALL ON THE VERY SAME COMPONENT COVERED VEHICLES UP TO 2003. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO THIS 2004 VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP OWNERS OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE HINGE LET GO, THERE WOULD BE A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682231

Incident

Feb 9, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

SUN VISORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. HORIZONTAL PLASTIC PANEL WITH THE FORD LOGO HAS CRACKED AND BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CURRENT ONE ON VEHICLE IS CRACKED. SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY "TOO BAD--OUT OF WARRANTY ". FORMOCO HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH THE FORD AND MERCURY BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. AND OF COURSE THIS " DAMAGE " WILL LOWER THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE WHEN I SELL/TRADE IT FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679888

Incident

Sep 11, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER, THIS APPARENTLY IS SOMETHING THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667900

Incident

Dec 22, 2014

Mileage

123,000 mi

LEAVING WORK AT END OF DAY, PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND REAR GLASS SHATTERED. THE EDGES OF THE BACK HATCH PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRUCK AND CURLED UP CAUSING THE GLASS TO BLOW INTO THE TRUCK. A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC OF THE HATCH (WHICH I HAVE SEEN ON MANY OF THIS YEAR MODEL) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND I HAVE EMAILED FORD MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR FEAR OF WATER GETTING IN BEHIND THE PANEL. MY BELIEF IS THAT WATER DID GET BEHIND THE PANEL AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE PLASTIC PANEL TO PULL AWAY AND BLOW IN THE GLASS. LUCKILY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT SITTING IN THE 2ND OR 3RD ROW SEATING OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THAT FLYING GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667027

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

105,900 mi

EVERY SINCE WE'VE FINANCED THIS LOUSY SUV 08/2012 WE'VE HAD A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE REAR AND STILL CANT FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT IS,BUT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD,WE HAVE REPLACE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND ABS SENSOR JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THE BEARING IS BAD AGAIN AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HAS A BAD BALL JOINT AND THE VISIBILITY THRU WINDSHIELD IS HORRIBLE,ALWAYS HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING, CNA ONLY SEE A FEW INCHES AHEAD!!! THIS CAR NEEDS SERIOUS RECALLS THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING IN LESS THEN A YR!!! AND WE BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONLY 68,506 MILES!! WE ALREADY SPEND OVER A GRAND FOR A FUEL PUMP!!! THIS CAR SUCKS!!! PLZ HELP WE STILL OWE THOUSANDS AND EVERYTIME WE BLINK AN EYE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF WHEEL PROBLEMS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10627161

Incident

Jan 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER OPENING THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE WINDOW, THE TWO PLASTIC HINGES ATTACHED TO THE WINDOW FRACTURED CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,500.

NHTSA ID

10618786

Incident

Aug 2, 2014

Mileage

141,500 mi

UPON OPENING THE REAR GLASS HATCH, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HINGE BROKE WHEN FULLY OPEN AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN, HITTING ME IN THE HEAD. THE PANEL BELOW ON THIS SAME WINDOW TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD LOGO PLATE HAD ALSO CRACKED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608317

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

108,800 mi

THE REAR WINDOW LATCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE FACING THE VEHICLE BROKE OFF AND NEARLY CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE TO ALSO BREAK. I AM UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR THE WINDOW FAILED OR THE LATCH JUST BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608114

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

111,000 mi

WHILE OPENING THE SMALLER WINDOW IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE WINDOW STARTED TO FALL. LUCKILY THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE TO CATCH IT. I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE WAS BROKEN. WE USUALLY TAKE OUR INFANT AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE CAR WHILE WE LOAD THINGS. FORTUNATELY, WE HAD ALREADY BUCKLED HER IN. HAD THE GLASS FALLEN OR WE NOT PAID ATTENTION , IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED HER OR US. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605470

Incident

Jun 23, 2014

Mileage

125,500 mi

IN WINTER THE BLEND FOR ACTUATOR WENT OUT IN EXPLORER AND LEFT ME WITH NO GREAT SO WHEN I DRIVE I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND WIPE FROST OFF OF THE INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN WINTER AND ALWAYS WIPING WINDOWS ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT NIGHT AND AS SOON AS YOU PASS A CAR THE CARS HEADLIGHTS MESS WITH FROST ON WINDOW AND IT IS BLINDING NOT TO MENTION WHEN IT RAINS AND THE WINDOWS STEAM UP AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEN EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605448

Incident

Nov 28, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS UNEXPECTEDLY SHATTERED WITHOUT ACCESSING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. ...UPDATED 04-10-14 *BF UPDATED 04/22/14

NHTSA ID

10574390

Incident

Mar 20, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE, THE HYDRAULIC ARM FAILED AND THE GLASS OF THE LIFT GATE STRUCK A PASSENGER IN THE HEAD. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A LACERATION TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10565205

Incident

Feb 20, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISORS BECAME FRACTURED, MAKING THE VISORS UNUSABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE DEFECT HE WAS UNABLE TO REPOSITION THE VISORS IN ORDER TO BLOCK THE SUN WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10562429

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY 13 YR OLD WAS LOADING GROCERIES WHILE THE WINDOW WAS POPPED UP IT FELL W/O WARNING SEVERELY HURTING HER HEAD RT BRACKET ON UPPER WINDOW BROKE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554301

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

103,000 mi

I OPENED THE LIFT GATE WINDOW TO LOAD GROCERIES WHEN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW SUDDENLY LET GO UP NEAR THE HINGE. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW TO DROP AND THEN THE LEFT HINGE BROKE, CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW TO DROP. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT SO IT DIDN'T BREAK AND EVENTUALLY RELEASE THE SUPPORT STRUTS SO I COULD GET IT INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE FASTENER NEAR THE HINGE WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE WINDOW THE WEIGHT WAS FINALLY TOO MUCH FOR IT SO IT SNAPPED, RELEASING THE WINDOW ON THAT SIDE. FORTUNATELY THIS FASTENER FAILED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON A FREEWAY OR THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW MAY HAVE COME OFF AND POSED A DANGER TO THE CARS BEHIND. FORD HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODELS WHICH USED THE SAME HINGE ASSEMBLY, DON'T KNOW WHY 2004 WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515884

Incident

Jun 9, 2013

Mileage

139,000 mi

ON MAY 31ST OF 2013 AT APPROX. 4PM, AFTER REMOVING SOME ITEMS FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER VIA THE WINDOW HATCH, I PROCEEDED TO SHUT THE WINDOW AND I HEARD A SNAP FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT SIDE (AS I AM FACING THE VEHICLE)OF THE WINDOW FALL. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE WINDOW AND BEGAN TO TRY AND LINE THE WINDOW BACK UP AND CLOSE IT BY SECURING IT TO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AT THE BASE. NOTICING ME STRUGGLE WITH THE WINDOW A GENTLEMAN CAME OVER AND BEGAN TRYING TO HELP ME, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT BUDGE DUE TO THE RIGHT SIDE (AS I AM FACING THE VEHICLE) SHOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT BEING FROZE. WE COULD NOT GET THE SHOCK TO RETRACT WHICH PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM CLOSING. WHILE I CONTINUED TO HOLD THE WINDOW UP THE GENTLEMAN WENT TO GET HIS TOOLS TO REMOVE THE SHOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT. WITH THE SHOCK/ SUPPORT/ STRUT REMOVED WE COULD THEN ALIGN THE WINDOW AND CLOSE IT BY LOCKING IT INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AT THE BASE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE SOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE FREEZING UP, IT PREVENTED THE WINDOW HATCH FROM CLOSING PROPERLY WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE TO SNAP UNDER THE PRESSURE. I HAVE NOT OPENED THE REAR WINDOW HATCH SINCE AND WILL BE CONTACTING FORD AS TO WHAT THEIR COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE FOR SUCH A FAILURE. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515393

Incident

May 31, 2013

Mileage

155,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN VISOR BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510534

Incident

Feb 12, 2013

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE WINDOWS WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 05/29/13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10507533

Incident

Mar 7, 2013

THE REAR WINDOW HINGE PIN (PASSENGER SIDE) HAS CORRODED AND BROKEN ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO FALL OFF OF THE REAR TAIL GATE. I NOTICED THE BROKEN HINGE BEFORE USING THE LIFT GATE WHICH HAS PREVENTED IT FROM FALLING OFF THUS FAR. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489450

Incident

Dec 20, 2012

Mileage

83,658 mi

AFTER A DAY OF SHOPPING I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED MY SUV. I WENT TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WHEN THE LEFT SIDE CAME APART FROM THE VEHICLE AND LANDED ON TOP OF ME. FORTUNATELY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW WAS ABLE TO STAY INTACT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO RUN TO MY AID TO LIFT THE DOOR UP. I AM FOUR MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY THREE YEAR OLD SON WAS STANDING BY MY SIDE. I HAVE READ THAT MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE FORD CORPORATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY CONTINUE NOT TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE AT HAND; WHILE LEAVING VEHICLE OWNERS HELPLESS WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS. I READ THAT THIS WAS A GOOD AVENUE TO REPORT THIS ISSUE SINCE FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND WONDER IF MY HUSBAND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN SHOUTING DISTANCE WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPEN TO MY SON, UNBORN CHILD AND MYSELF!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10483942

Incident

Nov 10, 2012

Mileage

77,614 mi

REAR HATCH WINDOW HINGE (LEFT SIDE) BROKE AND RELEASED THE GLASS WHILE DRIVING. WINDOW FELL TO ONE SIDE. I HAD TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY STOP. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PROP WINDOW TO A SAFE POSITION AND LOCK DOWN. IT MUST REMAIN LOCKED DOWN UNTIL I CAN FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483459

Incident

Oct 19, 2012

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE OFF AND THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW FELL ON MY WIFE. THE HINGES ARE MADE OF A WHITE TYPE OF METAL THAT HAS CORRODED AND SHEARED OFF. THE PINS INSIDE APPARENTLY BROKE AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE FALLING OFF, IT JUST CAME OFF. THE WINDOW HIT MY WIFE IN THE ARM AND LEG. WE WERE LUCKY IT WASN'T ONE OF OUR KIDS CLOSING THE GATE AT THE TIME OR THAT THEY WEREN'T INSIDE WHEN IT HAPPENED OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE AND HUNDREDS OF POST OF INJURIES INCURRED FROM THIS. FORD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME PART AND YET THE 2004 WAS NEVER INCLUDED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. A PART OVER TIME SHOULDN'T BREAK OFF AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482036

Incident

Oct 23, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi