The defect
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
The risk
IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED. FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET. ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2004, ADVISING THEM THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2002, 2003 |
| Ford Mountaineer | 2002, 2003 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2002 | 3,295 | 4 |
| Ford Explorer | 2003 | 1,131 | 2 |
| Ford Mountaineer | 2002 | 11 | 1 |
| Ford Mountaineer | 2003 | 3 | 1 |
Other structure recalls in 2004
44 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the structure; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 04V601000 30 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V588000 13 Dec 2004 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 04V569000 3 Dec 2004 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 04V564000 30 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V563000 23 Nov 2004 | VERITRANS SPECIALTY VEHICLES, INC. |
| 04V545000 15 Nov 2004 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 04V533000 2 Nov 2004 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 04V523000 2 Nov 2004 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004