The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LIFTGATE ASSIST GAS CYLINDER BRACKET ON THE RIGHT HAND BODYSIDE OUTER PANEL WAS INCORRECTLY WELDED.
The risk
THE GAS CYLINDER BRACKET MAY NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENT WITH TWO POP RIVETS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1996 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1997 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
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 | 1996 | 1,450 | 6 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1997 | 328 | 6 |
Other structure recalls in 1997
21 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the structure; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 97V232000 18 Dec 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V235001 18 Dec 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V229000 11 Dec 1997 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
| 97V180000 20 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V164000 22 Sept 1997 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES |
| 97V130000 18 Aug 1997 | COLLINS BUS CORPORATION |
| 97V117000 25 Jul 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 97V110000 22 Jul 1997 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997