The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL ASSEMBLY CAN SEPARATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DUE TO INCORRECT HINGE ENGAGEMENT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SUNROOF INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS PANEL.
The risk
UNEXPECTED SEPARATION OF THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL COULD POSSIBLY DISTRACT THE DRIVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN INSTRUCTION BOOKLET WHICH THOROUGHLY OUTLINES, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR THE REMOVAL, STORAGE, AND REINSTALLATION OF THE SUNROOF'S GLASS PANEL. A WARNING LABEL FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SUNROOF'S LATCH KNOB WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE OWNERS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
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 | 1991 | 609 | 8 |
| Ford Explorer | 1992 | 633 | 4 |
| Ford Explorer | 1993 | 939 | 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. |
| 97V229000 11 Dec 1997 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
| 97V180000 20 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V164000 22 Sept 1997 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES |
| 97V137000 19 Aug 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 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