2004 Ford Explorer Visibility & Wipers Problems

WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ALMOST TO MY PARENTS HOUSE WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND. I LOOK IN MY MIRROR TO DISCOVER THAT MY REAR WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT A ROCK HAD HIT IT BUT WHEN I GOT OUT I DISCOVERED THAT THE HYDRAULIC ARMS HAD EXPANDED AND PUSHED OUT THE SIDES OF THE HATCH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SHATTERING OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR BUT FORTUNATELY THE GLASS ONLY EXPLODED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AND NOT INTO THEIR SEATS.

WHILE CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW GLASS HATCH THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE BROKE ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO FALL OUT ON THAT SIDE. THE REAR GLASS HATCH WINDOW IS HEAVY AND COULD HAVE EASILY BROKEN THE HINGE SIDE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. A PREVIOUS FORD RECALL ON THE VERY SAME COMPONENT COVERED VEHICLES UP TO 2003. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO THIS 2004 VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP OWNERS OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE HINGE LET GO, THERE WOULD BE A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER, THIS APPARENTLY IS SOMETHING THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR

LEAVING WORK AT END OF DAY, PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND REAR GLASS SHATTERED. THE EDGES OF THE BACK HATCH PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRUCK AND CURLED UP CAUSING THE GLASS TO BLOW INTO THE TRUCK. A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC OF THE HATCH (WHICH I HAVE SEEN ON MANY OF THIS YEAR MODEL) HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND I HAVE EMAILED FORD MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR FEAR OF WATER GETTING IN BEHIND THE PANEL. MY BELIEF IS THAT WATER DID GET BEHIND THE PANEL AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE PLASTIC PANEL TO PULL AWAY AND BLOW IN THE GLASS. LUCKILY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT SITTING IN THE 2ND OR 3RD ROW SEATING OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THAT FLYING GLASS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER OPENING THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE WINDOW, THE TWO PLASTIC HINGES ATTACHED TO THE WINDOW FRACTURED CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,500.

UPON OPENING THE REAR GLASS HATCH, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HINGE BROKE WHEN FULLY OPEN AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN, HITTING ME IN THE HEAD. THE PANEL BELOW ON THIS SAME WINDOW TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD LOGO PLATE HAD ALSO CRACKED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR

WHILE OPENING THE SMALLER WINDOW IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE WINDOW STARTED TO FALL. LUCKILY THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE TO CATCH IT. I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE WAS BROKEN. WE USUALLY TAKE OUR INFANT AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE CAR WHILE WE LOAD THINGS. FORTUNATELY, WE HAD ALREADY BUCKLED HER IN. HAD THE GLASS FALLEN OR WE NOT PAID ATTENTION , IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED HER OR US. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS UNEXPECTEDLY SHATTERED WITHOUT ACCESSING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. ...UPDATED 04-10-14 *BF UPDATED 04/22/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE, THE HYDRAULIC ARM FAILED AND THE GLASS OF THE LIFT GATE STRUCK A PASSENGER IN THE HEAD. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A LACERATION TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

MY 13 YR OLD WAS LOADING GROCERIES WHILE THE WINDOW WAS POPPED UP IT FELL W/O WARNING SEVERELY HURTING HER HEAD RT BRACKET ON UPPER WINDOW BROKE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

IN WINTER THE BLEND FOR ACTUATOR WENT OUT IN EXPLORER AND LEFT ME WITH NO GREAT SO WHEN I DRIVE I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND WIPE FROST OFF OF THE INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN WINTER AND ALWAYS WIPING WINDOWS ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT NIGHT AND AS SOON AS YOU PASS A CAR THE CARS HEADLIGHTS MESS WITH FROST ON WINDOW AND IT IS BLINDING NOT TO MENTION WHEN IT RAINS AND THE WINDOWS STEAM UP AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEN EITHER. *TR

ON MAY 31ST OF 2013 AT APPROX. 4PM, AFTER REMOVING SOME ITEMS FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER VIA THE WINDOW HATCH, I PROCEEDED TO SHUT THE WINDOW AND I HEARD A SNAP FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT SIDE (AS I AM FACING THE VEHICLE)OF THE WINDOW FALL. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE WINDOW AND BEGAN TO TRY AND LINE THE WINDOW BACK UP AND CLOSE IT BY SECURING IT TO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AT THE BASE. NOTICING ME STRUGGLE WITH THE WINDOW A GENTLEMAN CAME OVER AND BEGAN TRYING TO HELP ME, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT BUDGE DUE TO THE RIGHT SIDE (AS I AM FACING THE VEHICLE) SHOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT BEING FROZE. WE COULD NOT GET THE SHOCK TO RETRACT WHICH PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM CLOSING. WHILE I CONTINUED TO HOLD THE WINDOW UP THE GENTLEMAN WENT TO GET HIS TOOLS TO REMOVE THE SHOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT. WITH THE SHOCK/ SUPPORT/ STRUT REMOVED WE COULD THEN ALIGN THE WINDOW AND CLOSE IT BY LOCKING IT INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM AT THE BASE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE SOCK/SUPPORT/STRUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE FREEZING UP, IT PREVENTED THE WINDOW HATCH FROM CLOSING PROPERLY WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE TO SNAP UNDER THE PRESSURE. I HAVE NOT OPENED THE REAR WINDOW HATCH SINCE AND WILL BE CONTACTING FORD AS TO WHAT THEIR COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE FOR SUCH A FAILURE. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE WINDOWS WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 05/29/13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN VISOR BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TR

THE REAR WINDOW HINGE PIN (PASSENGER SIDE) HAS CORRODED AND BROKEN ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO FALL OFF OF THE REAR TAIL GATE. I NOTICED THE BROKEN HINGE BEFORE USING THE LIFT GATE WHICH HAS PREVENTED IT FROM FALLING OFF THUS FAR. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER A DAY OF SHOPPING I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED MY SUV. I WENT TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WHEN THE LEFT SIDE CAME APART FROM THE VEHICLE AND LANDED ON TOP OF ME. FORTUNATELY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDOW WAS ABLE TO STAY INTACT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO RUN TO MY AID TO LIFT THE DOOR UP. I AM FOUR MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY THREE YEAR OLD SON WAS STANDING BY MY SIDE. I HAVE READ THAT MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE FORD CORPORATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY CONTINUE NOT TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE AT HAND; WHILE LEAVING VEHICLE OWNERS HELPLESS WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS. I READ THAT THIS WAS A GOOD AVENUE TO REPORT THIS ISSUE SINCE FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND WONDER IF MY HUSBAND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN SHOUTING DISTANCE WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPEN TO MY SON, UNBORN CHILD AND MYSELF!!!!! *TR

THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE OFF AND THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW FELL ON MY WIFE. THE HINGES ARE MADE OF A WHITE TYPE OF METAL THAT HAS CORRODED AND SHEARED OFF. THE PINS INSIDE APPARENTLY BROKE AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE FALLING OFF, IT JUST CAME OFF. THE WINDOW HIT MY WIFE IN THE ARM AND LEG. WE WERE LUCKY IT WASN'T ONE OF OUR KIDS CLOSING THE GATE AT THE TIME OR THAT THEY WEREN'T INSIDE WHEN IT HAPPENED OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE AND HUNDREDS OF POST OF INJURIES INCURRED FROM THIS. FORD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME PART AND YET THE 2004 WAS NEVER INCLUDED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. A PART OVER TIME SHOULDN'T BREAK OFF AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

REAR HATCH WINDOW HINGE (LEFT SIDE) BROKE AND RELEASED THE GLASS WHILE DRIVING. WINDOW FELL TO ONE SIDE. I HAD TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY STOP. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PROP WINDOW TO A SAFE POSITION AND LOCK DOWN. IT MUST REMAIN LOCKED DOWN UNTIL I CAN FIX IT. *TR

WHEN CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW HATCH, THE LEFT HINGE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS COMPLETELY LET GO OF THE GLASS. FORTUNATLEY MY HUSBAND WAS THE ONE CLOSING IT AND WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE GLASS BEFORE IT BROKE THE OTHER HINGE AND PULLED THE GLASS OFF COMPLETELY. THE RIGHT HINGE WAS ALSO BENT, AS THE WINDOW WILL NOW NOT SIT LEVEL TO BE PUT BACK INTO PLACE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS THERE IS A LARGE HAZARD OF TH WINDOW FALLING. WHAT IF MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN STANDING UNDERNEATH AS USUAL, OR HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO CATCH THE WINDOW AND IT BROKE AND SEN "EXPLODING" GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE. I SEE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY WIDESPEAD ISSUE WHEN LOOKING THROUGH COMPLAINTS. ALSO, THE TAILGATE IN MY EXPLORER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME MYSTERIOUS CRACK THAT SO MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD. ONE DAY IT WAS FINE, THEN IT WAS CRACKED. COULD THESE ISSUES BE SOMEHOW RELEATED? OR IS THE ENTIRE HATCH JUST FULL OF FLAWS. *TR

THIS ISSUE INVOLVES THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VISOR THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE ON THE CEILING HAS BROKEN OFF. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD THE VISOR FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS YOUR VIEW TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. I DON'T WANT TO HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM ASKING FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED. THANKS *TR