accessories - exterior problem
6.1
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$325.00
Average Mileage:
59,827 miles
Number of complaints:
15 complaints
Most common solutions:
- ford should pay for it (10 reports)
- not sure (5 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2003 Ford Explorer cracked rear panel
2008Aug 22
Explorer XLT 4
- Automatic transmission
- 1,000 miles
rear panel cracked.please recall the panel u have money. Ford needs to fix it
2008Jan 11
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 58,000 miles
This is the second 2006 Ford Explorer I have purchased and this incident has happen to both vehicles. This is absurd and FORD should be fixing this problem if they know its a known issue and I am sure they have heard about plenty of times to meet its customers half way on the issue.
I say lets start a petition and get there freaking attention.
2008Feb 16
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,000 miles
I was extremely annoyed that this happened and have noticed several other Explorers on the road with the same problem. Has Ford fixed this problem for anyone and if so, was your vehicle still under factory warranty?
2008Mar 14
Explorer XLT 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 44,000 miles
I too have the same problem as many of the other people on this site. I began by e-mailing ford. I got the run-a-round. I contacted the dealer. They told me to contact the Ford CRC. The crc advised me to get the vehicle looked at. My local dealership doesn't have a body shop, so I took it to another local shop. The Ford crc said they would not accept the local shops estimate. They told me if I wanted to fix it they would "help". I would have to pay $50 of $300 or less repair and $100 over $300. I informed them the offer was absolutely unacceptable. I feel this is a flaw from the manufacturer that should be fixed entirely whether the vehicle is under warranty or not. My wife wants the problem fixed. I agree, however, after the poor customer service I feel Ford has relayed to myself and lots of others, I will not accept their token repair. I am in a customer related business. If we handled customers this way, we would not stay in business long. We must be doing something right. My company has been around for 100 years. I have also submitted a complaint to the NHTSA at their website.(www.nhtsa.gov) I encourage many others to do the same. Hopefully there will be strength in numbers.
2008Mar 24
Explorer Eddie Bauer V6
- CVT transmission
- 79,000 miles
My Explorer has been garaged at night since we bought it and yesterday we go out to the car to load sports equipment in it and my husband goes what happen to your car and there is a big huge vertical crack running down the panel just south of window. The car has never been in an accident or hit in any way so obvious it must be a defect. So, I call the Ford service dealer and he knew exactly what I was talking about and he said 'I see that a lot in here'. So I go 'there must be a recall' he goes 'no but you can call Ford', so I call Ford and they are absolutely stonewalling me and didn't even acknowledge that this was a persistent problem, nor did they acknowledge the tech. bulletin on it until I mentioned it and the amount of vehicles the service manager said he was seeing. So I asked that they replace the panel on their dime because obviously this panel is defective. They go 'there is nothing we can do!' So get a case # when you call and only then if there is enough will there ever be possible recall and then and only then will you see your money. FORD does not back their product. I will never ever buy another FORD and to think this was my third Ford vehicle - never again!
2007May 16
(reported on)Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 87,000 miles
I called the 800 number and was told by "SAM" this was the first complaint he has received. He has been working there since January of 2007. When I asked to speak to his superior he said I would be told the same thing. Ford will not fix it since I am past the 3 years 30K. I have a bumper to bumper that he said would not cover it as well. When asked a second time to speak with his superior he supposedly transferred me... but there was no connection. I waited on the phone only to hear a busy tone and then realized I was disconnected.
To file a complaint with Ford he said write Ford a letter:
Ford Motor
Customer Relationship Center
P. O. box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48126
2007Jul 12
Explorer Sport V6
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
Just wanted to add to the rest of the collection on this site. I feel that Ford should step up to the plate and fix the problem
2007Dec 03
Explorer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
Got the same problem as others on this site. When I noticed the crack I wondered had did it happen with no signs of being hit by any object. Did a search on the Web and found this site and wanted to add my complaint to the growing list of disgruntled Ford owners. Also have had the Explorer back in the Service Department twice for noises in the rear end. Also had a problem with the shifter not going into drive when I try to put it in drive. Love my vehicle and had talked to Salesman about possibly trading for a new one, then this happened. Maybe I will look somewhere else.
2007Oct 30
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
explorer 2003 cracked rear panel, ford should pay for this problem
2007May 09
(reported on)Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
Another case to add for the cracked rear panel below the Ford emblem. I called the dealership and was told to bring it in because they had heard of this problem already. Once I was there, I was told that neither the manufacturer or extended warranty covered this(how convenient). I'm not a quiet customer so they offered me to pay 25% of the $300 repair. When I picked up the vehicle I was shocked to be billed $327! They said I misunderstood the quote(Not true, my husband also heard the quote) Then I oversaw how much they were actually billed from the body shop and the invoice said $327 (I took a picture of it with my cell phone before the manager yanked it away)! So I became unquiet at their busy Saturday morning dealership and they brought it down to $216. I paid the bill angry to get my car back. So even if they try to work things with you, they still get you. And that is what you get when you purchase a $30,000 car from FORD.
2007Nov 01
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 87,400 miles
The back panel below the window on the liftgate cracked this August (2007). I noticed visible cracks about 2 months ago while washing the vehicle.
Last week my daughter came in and said there was a huge crack on the back window back panel. I took it to Anderson Ford in
Cleveland Texas. Where I bought a premium warranty with 100k
6 years. "$1795.00"never used. It is NOT UNDER WARRANTY!!!!
It will cost 387.00 to fix - plus 3 days with a rental car
Now Im reading these stories..Im not the only one.
Another thing that is really odd....
The new Ford Explorers DONT HAVE THE BACK PANEL-I wonder why...
If anyone know if this ends up on a recall-- please inform me-- As I will do the same!
2007Oct 31
(reported on)Explorer EB V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I agree with the other comments. The rear window panel is a design defect and Ford should replace it.
2007Apr 19
(reported on)Explorer EB V8
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I did my part and contacted FORD Customer Relations and documented the crack in the rear panel. We'll see where it goes from here.
Problem: crack in rear door panel (below rear window) AND upper tailgate hinge broke ( due to no reason ).
2007Feb 09
(reported on)Explorer LX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 45,000 miles
I called the dealership about this issue,(the adviser at the FORD dealership indicated he has seen this problem before 4 or 5 in the passed) first they asked if I had extended warranty, I indicated YES (paid extra for the extended warranty) and then they asked about the kilometers (I live in Canada) the kilometers on the explorer is 73000 still under warranty. However this problem was not covered under the extended warranty(of course not). I asked for FORDS head office phone number. I then called FORD head office, they indicated the same thing as the dealership-not covered under the extended warranty. I explained to FORD head office that this issue could be a weather problem, which was told to me by the dealership. I extended my disappointment by telling them the customer service was unacceptable as to this issue was not my fault, it could be a weather temperature issue. I went on to say I will NEVER purchase a ford vehicle again.
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2008Jan 02
Explorer 6.4L
I have kids and i hope the glass don't fall out on them. We don't used the back hatch any more, but it is hard to get food from the store and have to put all the food on top of my kids in the back seat. I had a car.I got the ford to have more room.But now don't even have a trunk.And there is no recall.I have saw 3 people in my location with the same problem and same model.Is there help. All I am told is there is no recall or body shop but I don't do it. I had a woman at wal-mart say man that looks bad.I will send pictures. April
aprilh
Grove Hill, Alabama, USA
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