2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

AFTER ENGINE WAS STARTED AND GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN PARK POSITION VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS UNEXPECTEDLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM STOPPED THE MOVEMENT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

BECAUSE IT PERFORMED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL WHILE IN DRIVE COMING FROM A STOP, I NEARLY ROLLED INTO VEHICLES BEHIND ME THEN WHEN IT SPED OUT OF CONTROL WHEN IT GRABBED DRIVE, I NEARLY COLLIDED INTO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME EVEN WHILE BRAKING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH, VEHICLE BROADSIDED ANOTHER CAR, DURING THE CRASH, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 20 MPH AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION, AND HE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AT 20 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHEN DRIVING STEERING WILL LOCK UP FOR ABOUT 5 TO 7 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

DEALERSHIP LOST KEYS. ON BOARD COMPUTER/SECURITY SYSTEM WOULD NOT ALLOW REMAKE OF KEY. FORD ISSUES A TSB (IGNORING ISSUE HOPING WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE BEFORE A NEW KEY WAS REQUESTED.) 4-WD INOPERABLE. NO 4-WD RELATED INDICATOR LAMPS ON DASHBOARD AT ENGINE START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A WEEK "WAITING FOR A BACK ORDERED SOLENOID". "93 OTHER 2002 OWNERS ARE WAITING FOR PARTS" TO FIX SAME PROBLEM.

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS FAILED. IT WILL NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, AND THE TOP SPEED I CAN GO IT 20 TO 30 MPH. THOUGH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT NOT SO MUCH FOR MYSELF BUT ON BEHALF OF ALL OWNERS OF FORD EXPLORERS. WHILE I WAS RESEARCHING 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I CAME ACROSS THE WEBSITE WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. ON THIS WEBSITE THERE ARE 247 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2002 EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSION HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/INDEX.SHTML MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE WERE MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURES THAT INVOLVED THE THIRD GEAR OR THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/ THIS ALL SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES SENSE, BUT WHEN WE LOOK TO THE 2001 EXPLORER'S COMPLAINTS THERE ARE FAR FEWER HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2001/INDEX.SHTML AND THE 2003 HAS FEWER TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS AS WELL. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/INDEX.SHTML ADDITIONALLY THE 2003 HAS NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SWITCH FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR LIKE THE 2002 DOES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/TRANSMISSION/INDEX.SHTML ADDITIONALLY, THE HOME PAGE OF WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS THE TOP 5 COMPLAINTS OF THE PAST 90 DAYS, AND THE FORD EXPLORER'S TRASMISSION RANKS 2ND. THERE IS A PROBLEM. A HUGE PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/INDEX.SHTML MY EXPLORER IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED, AND I RESEARCHED THIS ONCE THE MECHANIC GAVE ME THE QUOTE. ALL OF THIS BEING SAID, WITH ALL OF THESE LINKS AS PROOF, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT FORD RECALLS THE 2002 EXPLORER DUE TO SEVERE AND COSTLY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP IN THIS WORTHY CAUSE. *CN

DOOR HANDLES KEEP BRAKING/DRS WILL NOT OPEN/ OWN 2 OF SAME HAVE GONE THROUGH 5 HANDLES ON EACH TRUCK / FORD WAS NO HELP/ IN AN EMERGENCY THE DOORS COULD FAIL TO OPEN/ DEALER SAID THEY'RE STOCKING CASES OF HANDLES TO REPLACE W/SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS/ MY 3 YEAR OLD SON TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND IT BROKE / HE COULD NOT APPLY MUCH FORCE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH REAR GLASS HATCH SUPPORTS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TS *JB IT ALSO FELL ON WIFE'S HEAD BUT NO INJURY. ON 3RD OCCASION (1/02), LT STRUT DETACHED AGAIN AND STRUCT GLASS AND SHATTERED GLASS. DEALER REPLACED "ENTIRE" LIFTGATE ASSEMBY. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 5,000 MILES. OWNER GAVE PERMISSION TO RELEASE INFO TO MFR. OWNER WILL CK. DESIGN VERSION OF LIFTGATE DURING REPLACEMENT. 061704_PCO PE04045.PCO

WITH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HAVING MY VEHICLE I HAD TO HAVE 2 TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR IT WAS DONE AGAIN AND THEN I STARTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOISES AND A THUMPING COMING FROM THE REAR DURING ACCELERATION. I NOW KNOW THAT THE THUMPING IS DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLE NEEDING REPAIRS. NOW THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $1,000.00 NOT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION DONE ALSO AT A COST OF $400.00 THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE NOTICED ON THE INTERNET AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WILL ONLY SHUT OFF WHEN IT IS IDLING. WHEN GOING UP HILLS VEHICLE WILL STALL.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION GIVES A TICKING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.8JB

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IS PRODUCING A STRONG "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE TOXICITY AND GENERAL SAFETY OF THE FUMES BEING PRODUCED, NOT TO MENTION THE NAUSEATING EFFECT THE FUMES HAVE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE FORD FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX AND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THE LOCAL DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THEY ARE BEGINNING TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM CROWN VICTORIA OWNERS. I PLAN TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER USING MISSISSIPPI'S "LEMON LAW."*AK

BOUGHT EXPLORER XLS 2002 IN JULY 2001. SINCE OWNING VEHICLE HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN GEAR SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. SLAMMING INTO GEAR. DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE. CHARGED ME $90 TO CHECK COMPUTER. IN 2004 NOTICED A WHINING COMING FROM ENGINE, TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE, REPLACED. 2 DAYS LATER, RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE REPLACEMENT PUMP ALSO FAILED. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFTING HARD, INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WORTH THE MONEY SO FAR. I'VE READ OVER 160 COMPLAINTS, ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS FORD THINKING? DO THEY THINK THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY? *JB

ALMOST HIT SOMEONE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION NOT DOWN SHIFT COMING TO A STOP AND THEN SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR A GOOD 10 15 SECONDS THEN WHEN IT DOES, IT LURCHES . *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 32 MPH ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, CHANGED A MODULE, AND PERFORMED A COMPUTER UPGRADE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS NOT IN GEAR. DRIVERS FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE TRUCK HAS A VERY STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL THAT COME IN THE VEHICLE. MYSELF AND OTHER PASSENGERS HAVE EXPERIENCED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES FROM THE SMELL. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO PREVAIL. THE DEALSHIP SAYS THAT THE SMELL SHOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 10,000 MILES. THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES, CONSUMER APPLIED GAS PEDAL AND RAN INTO A DUMPSTER. *AK

GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES CONSUMER STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND RAN INTO A DUMPSTER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WILL RUN OUT WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

SUN ROOF WOULD RIDDLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKE WOULD SQUEAL ,AND PEDAL WOULD BE SOFT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRUCK STALLED AFTER PUTING IT IN DRIVE, AT RED LIGHT, AFTER STARTING, AT LOW SPEED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. REGAPED THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER.

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS ARE RUBBING AGAINST THE MOLDING WHERE THE SHOULDER HARNESS IS MOUNTED. THE EDGE OF THE SEAT BELT IS CUTTING INTO THE MOLDING CREATING GROOVES IN THE MOLDING AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE SEAT BELT.

ENGINE STALLS IN LOW RANGE GEAR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

FUEL FUMES WERE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN OR DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROAD, STEERING COLUMN AND ENTIRE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE SIGNIFICANTLY AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH AND CONTINUE UNTIL PULLING OFF THE ROAD OR SLOWING TO 20MPH.SHAKING CONTINUED FOR 2 MILES UNTIL BEING ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY.STEERING WHEEL SHAKING IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO SHAKE DRIVERS ENTIRE BODY! THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS. STEERING COLUMN SHAKING HAPPENS FREQUENTLY( DAILY) WHILE MAKING L AND R TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS.COLUMN NOISE IS HEARD ALSO. AT

COLLAPSE OF TAILGATE WINDOW/STRUCTURE ONTO MY HEAD WHILE I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING GROCERIES FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SUFFERED CERVICAL INJURIES AS A RESULT. *AK PE04045.PCO

AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF NORMAL OPERATION THERE IS AN ODOR THAT SMELLS AS IF OIL IS BURNING. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS ODOR IS IT AS IF OIL WAS SPILLED ON A HOT MANIFOLD. THE ODOR CAN BE SMELLED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HEATING/AC VENTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN OPERATING. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE ODOR IS VERY PREDOMINENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE THEY STATE THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE A VEHICLE FIRE FROM THIS UNKNOWN SOURCE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE BURNING OIL SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED THAT ON OTHER FORD TRUCKS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE BEING REPLACED, BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. DEALERSHIP CHANGED SEVERAL PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT PARTS WERE REPLACED.*AK *NM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PERIODS OF STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS. APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE STALLING. EXISTING PROBLEM 5 TIMES, TAKEN INTO THE DELAER. *AK DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP, MAIN CONTROL VALVE BODY, TRANSMISSION OIL PAN, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND PROGRAMMED PCM. VIBRATION LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS KICKING IN. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. OVERDRIVE COMES IN AND OUT AT ODD SPEEDS. NO PROBLEM FOUND.

THERE IS A SULPHUR SMELL COMING INTO CAR WHILE DRIVING. FUMES ARE OVERWHELMING, CAUSING DIZZINESS/ NASEUA, ETC. ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR, THE DEALER TRIED 3 TIMES TO REPAIR. NONE OF THE FIXES WORKED. CAR STILL HAS SULPHUR SMELL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WOULD HEAR POPPING NOISES COMING FROM LEFT FRONT END. DEALER CHECKED AND REPAIRED STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. NOTHING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE IT. MANUFACTURER IS WORKING ON SOLUTION.*AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING POWER AT 70 MPH AND THE DASH LIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHEERED OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ALSO HAS TROUBLE INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS TEND TO BE DIM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW FRONT OF VEHICLE, MECHANIC HAS ADJUSTED HEADLIGHTS TWICE; HOWEVER, HEADLIGHTS TEND TO SET BACK IN DIM MODE. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE ON 8/01. UPPER & LOWER STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED ON 9/14/01. THE FRONT END RATTLES WHEN I AM OPERATING THE VEHICLE OVER NORMAL TERRAIN. STEERING WHEEL HAS A POPPING FEEL WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR TURN RIGHT, FEELS LIKE TH E CAR IS GOING OUT OF CONTROL (AT SLOW SPEED). THE VEHICLE WILL BE BACK AT FORD ON 12/6/01 FOR FURTHER TESTING TO DETECT/CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE, I HAVE DISCOVERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EXIST. I WILL TAKE COPIES WITH ME TO THE DEALERSHIP SUPERVISOR TODAY.*AK

THE LEFT STRUT ON THE GLASS SECTION OF THE TAILGATE BROKE FREE AND SHATTERED THE REAR WINDOW. THE BROKEN GLASS COVERED MY HAIR AND MY CLOTHING, THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS AS THE GLASS COULD SHATTER INTO THE EYES OF SOMEONE CLOSING THE TAILGATE. *AK PE04045.PCO

01 1 010 000/LIFTGATE GLASS BRACKET; WHILE CLOSING TAILGATE BOTH BRACKETS BROKE AND CAUSED GLASS TO FALL ONTO CONSUMER. CONSUMER SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND GIVEN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK PE04045.PCO

ON 8-10-01 I WAS DRIVING A HERTZ CAR RENTAL 2001 0R 2002 FORD EXPLORER ON I-75 TO THE ATLANTA AIRPORT. I BEGAN NOTICING "SHIMMING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SOON AFTER THE "SHIMMYING " BECAME WORSE AND I EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE "PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. LATER, A TOW TRUCK DRIVER DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 5 LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY - - CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO "WOBBLE" SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ROTATING. IF THE WHEEL HAD COME OFF THE VEHICLE, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY SERIOUS INJURY/DEALTH - - ESPECIALLY ON BUSY TRUCK LADER I-75 JUST NORTH OF ATLANTA. JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS MATTER.*AK

ON 8-10-01 I WAS DRIVING A HERTZ CAR RENTAL 2001 0R 2002 FORD EXPLORER ON I-75 TO THE ATLANTA AIRPORT. I BEGAN NOTICING "SHIMMING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SOON AFTER THE "SHIMMYING " BECAME WORSE AND I EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE "PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. LATER, A TOW TRUCK DRIVER DISCOVERED THAT 3 OUT OF 5 LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY - - CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO "WOBBLE" SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ROTATING. IF THE WHEEL HAD COME OFF THE VEHICLE, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY SERIOUS INJURY/DEALTH - - ESPECIALLY ON BUSY TRUCK LADER I-75 JUST NORTH OF ATLANTA. JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS MATTER. *AK

THE REAR WINDOW PISTON SHATTERED THE GLASS IN BACK OF SUV. MY PASSENGERS STANDING BY WERE HIT WITH FLYING GLASS. SUPERFICIAL CUTS ONLY. THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS AUGUST 8TH. I'M WRITING THIS ON SEPTEMBER 3RD. WE STILL DON'T HAVE OUR CAR BACK.*AK PE04045.PCO

SECOND SEAT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE FRAME ARE MISSING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE ORIGINATING POSSIBLY FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY DURING WINDY CONDITIONS. ALSO THERE IS VIBRATION OCCURRING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AT 55 - 60 MPH. THE VIBRATION CAN ALSO BE FELT FROM UNDER THE SEAT WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. *TT

FOUR HOURS AFTER NEW VEHICLE WAS COLLECTED FROM DEALER, GLASS TAILGATE EXPLODED ON BEING CLOSED GENTLY. COMPLETE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT METAL COMPONENTS OF THE DOOR WERE BADLY BENT AND SCRATCHED. GLASS WAS SCATTERED OVER A RADIUS OF 20 FEET, INCLUDING INTO THE BACK SEATS AND ONTO THE ROOF. MY RIGHT LEG WAS CUT IN THREE PLACES. LUCKILY, MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN OR AT THE BACK AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. THE ENTIRE DOOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITHIN FOUR BUSINESS HOURS. UNLESS RECALLED, THIS APPARENTLY COMMON DEFECT WILL RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. *AK PE04045.PCO

WHILE OPENING REAR WINDOW, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDOW POPPED OFF HINGE AND SHATTERED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK LEFT HAND HINGE APPEARED TO BE MISSING THREADS TO ENGAGE WITH BOLT FOR MOUNTING REAR WINDOW ASSEMBLY TO VEHICLE. *YH PE04045_PCO

TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WITH TRANSMISSION AND ONE WITH INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. 1) TRANSMISSION WOULD DELAY ENGAGING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK (LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL") BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO "CLUNK" AND "LURCH" WHEN CLIMBING HILLS. LOCAL DEALER (VISTA FORD) ADJUSTED WITH COMPUTER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND IMPROVED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOW THERE IS STILL THE OCCASIONAL DELAY BEFORE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND AN OCCASIONAL "BANG" (WORSE THAN "CLUNK") ALONG WITH A VIOLENT "JERK" (WORSE THAN A "LURCH") AND THIS NOW HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON LEVEL GROUND. 2) FOR THE ENTIRE 300 DAYS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE "MESSAGE CENTER" DISPLAY IS SO DIM DURING THE DAY THAT IT IS AMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ (DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO FACTORY FIX). THE DISPLAY IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE RHEOSTAT THAT ADJUSTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE GENERAL INSTRUMENT ARRAY SO THE PROBLEM MUST BE WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE LED DISPLAY ITSELF.