This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
6.5
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$429.00
Average Mileage:
74,819 miles
Total Complaints:
521 complaints
Most common solutions:
- Ford should pay for it (355 reports)
- not sure (65 reports)
- paid to have rear panel replaced (43 reports)
- file complaint with NHTSA to get a recall issued (23 reports)
- dealership replaced the entire panel (10 reports)
- start a class action suit and get damages reimbursed (7 reports)
body / paint problem
Search for Problems, Recalls & Defects
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A free service from MechanicAdvisor.comHelpful websites
- Cracked Ford Explores - Visit and join this Facebook Group for an additional site where you can tell Ford about this annoying problem.
- Class Action Lawsuit For This Issue - Looks like there is a class action lawsuit for this problem. I would sign up to show how many of us are having this issue.
2012Mar 24
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
You know, it's not bad enough I had to have my transmission replaced when I only had under 50k miles. I had to replace all my bearings & struts many times, but now I have a cracked panel right below my rear window. This is obviously a manufacturing defect. I've seen many 2002 explorers with the same crack, and some of them have two cracks. Fords should step up to the plate and take responsibility for this crack as well as the faulty transmission. They should issue a recall asap. Actually, they should have issued a recall long ago. we've owned many Fords and I'm never buying another one if they do not acknowledge they made a vehicle with nothing, but issues, that are not only costly to repair, but very dangerous.
2012Jan 09
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 101,000 miles
Almost got into red explorer parked next to mine one day w/exact same cracks in rear hatch - also, window doesn't stay up, have to open whole hatch if I don't want to get clunked on the head. Along w/tranny, 4 wheel drive not working, etc, etc, etc.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2003Feb 28
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 112,000 miles
Can't believe this problem can't be fix by Ford! It seem that the whole world has this problem beside 101 other problems. They should be taken to court!!!!!!!!!!!!
2008Apr 01
Explorer LS
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
This panel has cracked again. The length of the panel and split at the bottom. I contacted Ford and received an e-mail telling me it was my problem. Having found your will web site I am further armed to tell them I don't find their answer satisfactory.
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2011Aug 09
Explorer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 94,000 miles
OKAY MY REAR PANEL UNDER THE GLASS CRACKED I HAVEN'T HAD NOT MUSIC OR ACCIDENTS IN THE TRUCK EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE WATER SOME HOW HAVE THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON SO WHEN I TRY TO ACTIVATE MY ALARM ALL LIGHTS CONTINUES TO STAY ON SO I HAVE TO TURN ALL LIGHT OFF IN INSIDE AN JUST LOCK MY DOORS WITHOUT THE REMOTE . SO FORD CAN U PLEASE HELP ME AN FIX THIS I HAVE NO EXTRA CASH TO GET THIS FIXED
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jun 10
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
This crack in the rear panel was there when I bought it. I had the vehicle at a car wash and the panel flew off.
2010Mar 15
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
I too had the cracked rear panel issue - and then what happened because of that crack really put me thru the roof because this issue is so common and yet Ford refuses to acknowledge it! Water seeped in thru the crack and eventually caused the latch to completely rust and break off so there was no way to latch it closed and no way to reattach just the latch. It cost over $1000 to replace the panel and latch....VERY frustrating! I had thought it was mainly a cosmetic issue so wasn't planning on getting the crack repaired and I didn't think so much that water would seep in like it did and damage the latch but it did. I will attach pictures eventually but I wanted to let other people know about what happened - they might want to consider getting the panel fixed before it makes the issue worse like what happened to me!
2012Jan 23
Explorer Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 205,600 miles
From all I have read, this is a long standing and continuing problem. As a result of the cracking on my car, I have started observing other Explorers and find the problem to be quite common. Ford needs to issue a recall and repair and correct the problem.
2011Jan 02
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 111,000 miles
The rear lift gate is cracked in 2 places under the window. At some point it will start leaking into the back of the vehicle. It is cosmetically ugly. Ford needs to establish a recall!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009May 20
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
See the same problem on similar model Explorers all the time. Such an obvious design flaw should have been caught pre-production.
2011Feb 25
Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 71,500 miles
click to see larger images
This panel cracked once before, when the vehicle was still under warranty, and Ford replaced it. Now that the warranty is long expired they refuse to fix it, even though it is clearly a defective part. Since they already fixed it once, but it didn't last, I feel they should try again. The prior repair was when the vehicle only had 15,000 miles on it.
2010Dec 16
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 150,000 miles
click to see larger images
the first crack occurred dec.16, 2010. I parked the SUV in the garage. the next morning I noticed the crack. It was NOT there when I parked it. I complained to a FORD hotline and they acknowledged that there was a problem but apparently they did not have enough problems to warrant a recall. I could not bellieve the %%$#$% answer.
Then this past Sunday Jan. 15, 2012, a beautiful day in GA, I did wash the SUV and rinsed it. Then I went inside to get a drink and go back out to wipe it dry. That is when I saw another friggin crack on the left side of the emblem. I know it was NOT there when I started washing the vehicle. I am really pissed with FORD and their answer in the first place and I am sure I will NEVER buy another FORD again unless they tsake care and fix this problem. Thank you for listening. Now I have TWO friggin cracks, just lovely.
2010Aug 31
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
I ADVOCATE A CAMPAIGN WHERE ALL AFFECTED EXPLORER OWNERS TAPE A LARGE PIECE OF BLACK (OR SILVER FOR DARKER VEHICLES) ACROSS THE CRACK IN PROTEST UNTIL FORD AGREES TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE PANEL.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Jan 09
Explorer XLT
- Automatic transmission
- 70,300 miles
I was shocked to see this crack. Vertical crack on the right side of the FORD emblem from top to bottom of the rear hatch below the window. Dealer says they've had quite a few. Ford played stupid. Spoke with Joel Mendez, Ford Motor Co Manager at (877) 785-3673. Said "keep the repair receipt in case there's a recall in the future". Yeah, right. FORD SHOULD PAY!! It is ugly and now I'm angry I bought a Ford. My Toyota 4Runner was awesome!
Only have 70K miles, and vehicle is garaged all the time. No, I didn't hit anything in the middle of the rear hatch, you Ford morons!
2012Jan 05
Explorer XLT 4.0lV6
- Automatic transmission
- 176,029 miles
Since ford is aware that this seems to be a major problem with explorers between the years of 2002-2005 I feel they should step forward and do the right thing and repair their poor design instead of making their consumers pay because if they continue this practice they might not have too many consumers left!
2011Sep 17
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 114,000 miles
I have experience working with a similar situation for another automotive brand where a panel on the rear tailgate was cracking similarly. In a small percentage of the cases a piece of the panel would come off of the car while in motion. This became a situation where immediate action was required and testing was needed to prove the garnish met the required FMVSS standards after the initial testing.
Has this information been requested from Ford and become public knowledge?
I understand the complaints about this being an aesthetic issue (as my explorer has the same failure), but unless this poses a hazard to the general public while in motion Ford is not required to do anything. If there are cases where the panel is breaking into pieces and coming off of the car then the NHTSA and Ford will have to act.
Has anyone experienced this happening?
2004May 01
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 45,000 miles
Didn't bother me at first until I started seeing a lot of other Explorer's with the same ugly crack running down the panel. Looks like a lot of other Ford owner's felt the expense of having it repaired out weighed the problem. Just seems like it should have been a recall since there are so many Ford Explorer's running around with what clearly is a manufacturing defect. Strike two for Ford on my part.
2010Dec 03
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
I have contacted Ford Customer Service and sent them piuctures. They told me this is the first time ever they hear about this kind of problem with Explorer. When I took it to the Ford dealer they said this is a pretty common problem with Explorers. 465 complains on this website prove this too. I am even more disappointed with Ford now because they not only make poor quality vehicles, but also deny and try to hide it.
2004Jan 15
Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 45,000 miles
click to see larger images
The defect affects the quality and resale of the vehicle - Ford Quality is #1 - NOT!
2004Jun 15
Explorer XLT 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 24,000 miles
click to see larger images
We see this crack on almost all Explorers from 2001 to 2005 model years.Looks like Ford would do a replacement or good repair on this.I have seen enough of them to make a class action lawsuit but the dam lawyers would get all the money just like they did in the Firestone lawsuit.It's not fair to loyal customers to have this happen to them.I won't be buying any more Ford's in my future because of this.I have posted pictures for your viewing pleasure.I used to love my explorer until I started dealing with Ford and our dealer's owner at Jones Ford in Shallotte,N.C.Not one of them would own up to a problem.The dealer would not even fix it under warranty.They said it wasn't covered.B.S. It was covered and when it went out of warranty Ford wouldn't do anything by that time!It was all a big run around until it went out of warranty.Look at my pictures, it will look all to familiar to all of you having the same problem!
2011Jun 05
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
Stinks to get your truck all nicely washed and then see a crack which no one person caused.
2011Nov 03
Explorer XLS 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 129,000 miles
If Quality is Number 1 then make a product that lasts or at least fix those that don't!!
2011Oct 29
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 77,800 miles
click to see larger images
The rear panel under the rear glass cracked after five months, this was five months after I picked it up brand new in July 2002. The dealership replaced the lift door with a new one. Now eight years later it cracked again. This is obviously a design issue with the plastic panel and Ford should own up to it and replace. My '02 Explorer does not have a scratch or dent in the black paint. In the 40 years of driving I have always owned Fords and this defect is about to drive me away.
2003Dec 10
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
This vehicle looks and performs great and I really wasn't sure of who was at fault until my friend who has the same model showed me his and they were a carbon copy of each other. I feel that Ford should be held responsible for the repair or replacement of the problem !
2005Aug 25
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,000 miles
like everyone else, my rear panel cracked. Started w/ a small horizontal crack, then formed a T-shape. Went to dealers (more than one) and was told I must have hit something. That's good, a crack but no dents or peeling paint. Who can possibly hit something w/ that part tof the car. Thought mine was the only one til I saw another in the train station. Now I see them everywhere!
2007Sep 03
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
ANOTHER issue that is clearly Ford's responsibility. Of course my dealers here in San Diego say there is nothing they can do about it. Same old story. I have had numerous issues that should have been recalls. I refuse to fix this problem as it is very expensive and I refuse to put even more money in to this piece of junk.
2009Dec 03
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
I drive everyday on the interstate and I see this same problems on 90% of the Ford Explorers, I have called this into Ford and they told me they haven't had any reports of this problem. My Daughter has the same vehicle with the same crack. Sure is funny Ford .... that you haven't had this complaint before.
2009Sep 17
Explorer 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
It was broken when we bought it, we had it fixed. Never slammed the trunk as we had seen that many of this year make and model had cracks.... It cracked again! Ford SUCKS!
2007Aug 05
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
I have noticed this on all explorers with this style of back door.
2011Feb 02
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 127,000 miles
The rear tail gate panel is defective. Ford should fix this problem. It detracts from the look of the car and reduces the resale value. Looks awful.
2011Apr 10
Explorer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 96,000 miles
So much for buy American. And stand behind your product.
At the cost of the vehicle you would think there would be quality.
Since the body style didn't change, what caused these cracks on these particular years.
2010Dec 14
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 120,000 miles
click to see larger images
I see this issue on every Ford Explorer I see. Not kidding every older explorer. One man even walked up to me in a parking lot and he said that happened to him and he sees it everywhere.
2010Sep 01
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
After seeing so many Explorers with cracks in rear paneling, I believe that it is a fault of Ford and feel that partial payment should be made on their behalf to have it fixed or replaced without any hassel.
2011Feb 15
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 64,000 miles
I have this problem and didn't think to check it out on the internet until now - it had been really cold out, and I thought possibly it was related to the cold - but now that I have seen so many posts with this same issue and have seen it on other auto forums as well, it makes it obvious that there is a problem in the way it was produced!! I believe FORD should get a recall - there are so many complaints for this issue for multiple vehicle years!!
2006Mar 05
Explorer XLS 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 42,000 miles
This is obviously a manufacturers defect and just makes Ford look like sh*t for not fixing it.
2011Apr 15
Explorer Eddie Bauer
- Automatic transmission
- 126,000 miles
First of all, my mechanic says why would you put 3 timing chains on a car?
The crack in the back panel is absurd.
On a trip to ATL, we had stopped for a rest and when were tried to start the car, the steering wheel fell off. They repaired it and I found a year or so later, the cruise control doesn't work,
NO MORE FORDS FOR US!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2008Dec 15
Explorer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
The night after the first freeze of the year my husband noticed a big y shaped crack in back panel under glass. He accused me of backing into something. I told him I had not. He thought someone in a big truck hit it until I researched it on the internet. I lived with the unsightly 1/2 inch crack for a couple of years. I was told it would cast $400-600 to fix and would not guarantee because most likely it would happen a again and the body shop had seen several of these. I did get it replaced when I was rear ended, but within 3 years it cracked again. I had a telephone pole fall during storm and it was replaced again. It has been about two years so I will expect it to crack this coming winter. Ford should stand behind this but since it is not life threatening they will not. at least they changed the design so other models will not have same difficulty.
2010Jan 15
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 49,710 miles
The first winter I had the truck the back panel cracked and split. I thought I was alone with this problem until I saw 2 other Ford Explorers driving around the city with the exact same crack. This is obviously a defect.
Update from May 16, 2011: Hi Kate, I phoned the number that you passed on to me. 1800-392-3673. They would not take my complaint since I was calling from Canada. Do you have a number for me here in Canada?
2008Jan 01
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
My 2002 Explorer back panel started cracking below the window next to the Ford emblem around 2008 and the crack it is getting bigger. I have noticed may other Explores with the same problem. I have been waiting for a recall notice. I guess Ford will not be sending me a notice anytime soon. I am going to see is the local dealer will take care of me, we’ll see....................
2003Jun 10
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 2,574 miles
Well, like everyone this has been annoying. Since my purchase of the 2002 Explorer I have had to have the Liftgate replaced 3 times. The first 2 times was covered under warranty. the 3rd time was still under waranty yet I was told by the dealership mechanic supervisor that it can not be replaced a 3rd time for grounds of the lemon law. the time that transpired for all 3 accounts was less than one year of owning the explorer. It is now 2011 and I still have this Explorer with only 39k miles and still have the cracked Lift gate. I have been looking consistantly for a Recall which hasn't surfaced. Recently I have been looking more so to fix this issue as I have given the Explorer to my grandson since the Explorer is in perfect condition other than this Liftgate! i will post again if I ever find anything out regarding where to find cheap replacements. I have thought of having a stainless steel painted to match copy of that panel part installed but the cost is a little high, roughly $1400 to do this measure. This is something none of the owners should front.
2011Feb 01
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
It was very warm outside during the day, weather took a turn and snowed at night. Next day the panel was cracked.
2010Nov 01
Explorer XLT V6 4.L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,332 miles
The rear door panel is crack
just want it to be fixed so it wont look bad
2010Dec 15
Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 150,000 miles
Bought new at better than $30000. Rear end roar - paid out of pocket to fix. Transmission slipping -paid out off pocket to fix. Now back lid below rear window is split into upside down Y. Talked to Ford rep who said problem was common and fixing it would not increase resale value. Comforting news. Looks like Japanese will get my business in the future. What happened to American craftsmanship?
2010Dec 16
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 169,000 miles
click to see larger images
parked the car in my garage and when I came out the next morning I immediately noticed a crack to the right of the FORD emblem on the strip just below the rear window. That was NOT there the night before. I saw several vehicles on the road with the same problem but I am not sure how to go about to get it fixed-I think it should be at the expense of FORD Motor Company. Anybody has some good advice how to proceed? Thank you
Update from Jan 23, 2012: well that happened on Dec. 16, 2010. NOW in Jan.2012 on Sunday Jan.08, 2012 a sunny day in GA I washed my Explorer and rinsed it off always staring at the damn crack, ah well I went inside to get something to drink and when I came out to dry off the car I had a second friggin crack on the left side of the FORD emblem. I am just about so pissed at FORD, unless they do something to get this repaired I know I will NEVER again buy a FORD product, unbelievable, now 2 damn cracks
2007Jun 30
Explorer ES V6
- Automatic transmission
- 52,000 miles
ALWAYS BEEN A FORD PERSON, CANT BELIEVE THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE SHOULD ALL GO AND MAKE A COMPLAIN TO THE BBB
2010Nov 15
Explorer XLS
- Automatic transmission
- 93,000 miles
With this many owners having the same problem, Ford should fix it.
2005Nov 09
Explorer XLT
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Have had this problem for 5+ years now. seemed to happen after they had the recall on the latch for the back window liftgate.
2010Dec 01
Explorer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
This is absolutely stupid that FORD doesn't fix this problem. Every Explorer I see has this same problem. Ford should pay to have this problem fixed. I will NEVER buy another FORD vehicle!!
2010Sep 02
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 130,000 miles
Now I'm noticing Ford Explorers everywhere with this defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jan 01
Explorer LX
click to see larger images
This rear tail gate is ready to fall off. With 3 large cracks vertically, the rear window may fall out. and it grinds around when moving the vehicle.
Kathy B.
Kansas City, MO, USA
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