2002 Ford Explorer Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED THE PART. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SUN ROOFS WERE DISCONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

"EXPLODING REAR WINDOW" - MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND I WENT OUT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT. I SIMPLY OPENED THE HATCH AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY FACE.

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY THE BACK WINDOW (LIFT GATE WINDOW) WAS RAISED TO REMOVE THINGS FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS THE WINDOW WAS BEING CLOSED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN IT EXPLODED AND SENT GLASS FLYING ALL AROUND OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BOTTOM PIECE OF THE WINDOW WITH THE WIPER WAS HANGING FROM THE ELECTRICAL CORD EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GONE. THERE WAS NO FORCE ON THE WINDOW AND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING IT THE WHOLE THING JUST EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. LUCKILY NO ONE IN THIS SITUATION WAS INJURED. MY FAMILY HAVE SPENT HOURS REMOVING ALL OF THE SHATTERED GLASS FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND YARD. IT SENT GLASS FLYING AS FAR AS TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW WAS CLOSED AND IT SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. UPDATED 03/21/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. UPON OPENING AND CLOSING THE REAR HATCH, THE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,043. UPDATED 1/15/16 *CN

THE REAR WINDOW SHUTTERED INTO 100 PIECES DURING THE DRIVING. THE REAR PANEL HAS CRACKED. *TR

WHILE PUSHING UP ON THE REAR PANEL THE GLASS MAKING UP THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED - SHATTERED. *TR

BACK TAILGATE PANEL WAS CRACKED (DEFECT) AND THE BACK WINDOW JUST EXPLODED WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE HEATER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE HEATER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEATER BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHEN CLOSING THE REAR HATCH GLASS, THE GLASS EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE OUR GARAGE ATTACHED TO OUR HOUSE. WE WERE UNLOADING PACKAGES AND WHEN WE WERE DONE WE REACHED UP AND PULLED THE WINDOW TO CLOSE. THE GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER. *TR

THE REAR HINGES GAVE WAY, AND THE BACK HALF GLASS EXPLODED. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS 8 TIMES NOW. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE NOONE IS TOUCHING IT AND WILL NOT GO BACK UP. I HAVE JUMPED THE WINDOW UP AND DISCONNECTED THE PLUG UNTIL I COULD AFFORD IT EVERY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE COST IS ABOUT $200 TO REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS SO FREQUENT AND UNTIL A PERSON CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO JUMP YOUR WINDOW AND DISCONNECT THE PLUG, ALLOWING NONE OF THE WINDOWS TO GO DOWN. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND PUTTING A WINDOW DOWN WAS THE ONLY WAY FOR AN ADULT OR A CHILD TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? TO ME THAT IS DANGEROUS! AND TERRIFYING! IN 8 MONTHS OF OWNING A VEHICLE THAT I PAID $6,500 FOR I HAVE NOW PUT $1,600 INTO ON TOP OF IT! AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DO SO IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RECALLED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT GARAGES AND THE ONLY "FIX" OPTION I AM GETTING IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH! THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS IF THE SWITCH IS GOING BAD EVERY MONTH OR MORE! THIS LAST TIME IT TOOK A WHOLE 3 DAYS FOR THE SWITCH TO GO BAD AGAIN! I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS OR IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT LETS BE REAL HERE.....IF THE PLUG IS NOT CONNECTED THE WINDOWS CANNOT GOT DOWN. SO IF THERE IS A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT PEOPLE MAY DIE!! SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY TO JUST KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND IT IS NOT TRULY FIXING WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS! FORD MADE THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WHEN IT CLOSED ON ITS OWN AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE SEVERE INJURIES BUT SUSTAINED A HEADACHE AND CUTS ON HER HEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E104000 (COMPONENT: VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) ON THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IF THE TECHNICIANS DETERMINED THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY, THEY WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF THE GLASS BUT IF THEY WERE DONE CORRECTLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,263.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW ACCORDING TO RECALL 01I010000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN ERRATIC! THE FRONT ONES WILL COME ON WHENEVER THEY WANT AND ALOT WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED. AS OF LATE THEY COME ON VERY OFTEN AND IS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. TODAY THEY WERE SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT THEY ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH ME AND MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACTED MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE CLOSED OR OPENED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,983 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 206,000. UPDATED 11/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 11/07/12

RE NHTSA # 04V-442. 2002 FORD EXPLORER. LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE SHEARED AND GLASS FELL ON ME. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT THAT FORD RECALL 04S20 (PERFORMED IN 2004) WAS ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 1 YEAR, SO I PURCHASED NEW HINGE KIT (2L2Z-78420A68-AA) AND INSTALLED MYSELF. AFTER EXAMINING OLD PARTS, I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH A FORD SERVICE MANAGER IT APPEARS THAT INITIAL RECALL REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT AND BY HIS ESTIMATE THE HINGES LAST ABOUT 3 YEARS. THERE WERE SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RECALLED PARTS AND PROCEDURES SINCE 12/04. MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 12/20/04 SO THE MOST RECENT PROCEDURE WAS NOT FOLLOWED AT THE TIME AND MOST RECENT PARTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ONCE ANY RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE I WAS OPENING THE HATCH SLOWLY AND HAD NOT LET GO BEFORE THE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL. I BELIEVED THAT THE SAFETY DEFECT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE DANGER STILL EXISTS. I SUGGEST A WARNING NOTICE BE SENT TO ALL OWNERS THAT HAD RECALL PERFORMED BEFORE THE FINAL PROCEDURES (RCRIT-04V442-7848) WERE DEVELOPED. IT WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE FORD TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR THE DEFECTIVE RECALL REPAIR - INCLUDING GLASS BREAKAGE - AS THEY DID FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED AN OBNOXIOUS SMELL IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LOOKED AT THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS. MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. HE FELT THE BUTTONS AND THEY WERE VERY HOT. EVENTUALLY THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. HE LATER ON REMOVED THE FUSE THAT CORRELATED WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. HE DROVE THE CAR HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

ALL 4 WINDOWS ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER NO LONGER WORK PROPERLY. YOU EITHER CAN HEAR THEY ARE GOING TO SOON FAIL OR HAVE ALREADY FAILED (THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS ALREADY FAILED AND I HAD TO SPEND OVER $500 FOR THE REPAIR AND NOW MY PASSENGER-REAR WINDOW HAS FAILED AND WILL NO LONGER GO BACK UP). *TR