The back panel on our 2003 Explorer just cracked in the last few weeks. There was one small crack that we first noticed a few weeks ago, then last weekend, the big cracks happened. I went by a local dealer to show them the cracks. The service agent said he had only seen this problem once, and there was no recall notice. They said the panel only costs about $67, but then you have to add on the costs for paint, decal and labor. Later that day, I saw another Explorer with a crack in the same place. This is apparently a very common problem. I think Ford should cover the repair work.

Just want to fill everyone in on my dealings with this problem. On 2/9/07 the crack was discovered about 2 inches left of the Ford emblem, vertically through the entire panel, with a couple of splinters at one end. I immediately did research on the internet, and found the complaints on this website, www.autosite.com, and www.nhtsa.dot.gov. There are numerous complaints on these websites about this problem. On 2/14 I called the Ford #(1-800-392-3673), and also voiced concerns over complaints of shattered back windows that I thought might be related. I am told they are not, but I am not an engineer. I was given a case #, and told I would have to take the vehicle to the dealer, so that the Ford rep could see the damage and decide the next course of action. I also called the NHTSA and filed a complaint (1-888-327-4236) right after I was done on the phone with Ford, and voiced my same concerns over the shattered window. I received a confirmation # from the NHTSA. That afternoon I took the vehicle to the dealership to try to see the Ford rep. I'll be honest, our family has dealt with this dealership for decades, and I have personally bought 3 new vehicles from this dealership, so it would be in their interest to keep things well in our relationship, BUT I did not mention this point yet to the dealer. At the dealer, I saw a service rep because the Ford rep was not in, and is only there once a week. The service rep stated that the dealership sees this issue quite frequently, and usually if the vehicle is not under warranty, the customer is responsible. The service rep said he would have the Ford rep call me to set up an appointment. By late this afternoon, 2/15, the service rep called me to tell me that Ford was paying for the repairs completely, and that he would order the part, have it painted, and let me know when it was ready for install. My vehicle is no longer under any type of warranty. I know this is long, but I thought this info might help everyone. - dgrover2, Chesapeake, VA

I see I am not the only one. I have actually had this crack for about 2 years now and have asked the dealer where I have purchased my explorer if there was anything that could be done about this? All I could do was get it replaced. I did not even bother to ask how much that would cost. I am hurt by this because I have had high hopes for my explorer when I bought it because I even went through the trouble of actually ordering my explorer and waiting 2 months for it to arrive (October 2002). In general I have been pleased with my Explorer, even overlooked a couple of it's flaws but this was the last straw. I will keep my Explorer but my next car WILL BE a Honda CIVIC. The Mustang will be my only reason for coming back to FORD, but that won't happen for a while.

My fiancee and I just bought a 2003 Ford Explorer XLT less than a month ago. We noticed this weekend while in TN that there was a HUGE crack on the right side of the Ford emblem and a smaller one on the left side. We had not hit anything and NO rock could make that crack. Blah...

So I got online today to look at the possibilities other people might have come across. With that, I called the Ford Customer Care line to speak to a rep. She told me that I needed to take the Explorer into the Ford dealership and work with a service manager to have the problem looked at. While I am there, they would discuss with me the options of financial ways to take care of the problem. I am pretty sure that probably means I am going to be paying out of pocket for this...

I work for a Kia dealership, and I know that if ANYTHING happens like this, we fix the problem for the customer. I just can't believe after all the complaints that we have about this vehicle and the problem at hand that there is no other solution that has been given. I don't like it.

I woke up one morning after the Christmas holidays (after a night of frost) and my car had not been driven in 3 days nor had it been in an accident to find a 12 inch crack down the rear panel on my lift gate under the rear window and around the Ford emblem. Called the dealership and was told that this is a common problem they see but Ford will not cover it nor have they done a recall on the problem. I was told I would have to pay out of my own pocket for the repair which would be around $550. My insurance will not cover it because it's considered a factory defect. I made a formal complaint to Ford Motor Co and they are blowing me off.

In the shop again! This time, the plastic panel just under the rear window of my 2003 Ford Exploder cracked from top to bottom, about 2 inches left of the logo emblem. There are two other cracks that are less obvious, but through and through, extending from the main crack and towards the emblem. The car was outside in the cold (25 degrees F) and I noticed it when I closed the rear window (not sure if it was caused during the close of the window or by itself. The crack is nearly 1/4 in. wide at the top and about 1/8 inch wide at the bottom. The entire panel seems to have shrunk lengthwise by 1/4 inch and relieved itself of the stress by shattering.

Update from Jun 8, 2009: I submitted a report on this site earlier, but I thought that I would add a bit to this saga. My dealer in Cincinnati, Kings Ford, wants 448.49 to fix this. More than any other post I've seen. My warranty has expired. I called Ford customer Service and they said that I had to bring the car in to be diagnosed. Then I could call them back (presumably to tell me what others have found out - that I'm hosed). I've seen this crack on other cars as well - Mercury's too.

I am so sick of this car breaking on me. Last year, after replacing front and rear wheel bearings and a set of tires due to strange uneven wear and road noise, I found out that the fancy chrome wheels that came with the Limited edition were rotting - Yes rotting - rusting like they were left at the bottom of the ocean. And they were flexing around the hub enough to crack the chrome covering, whic is how I figured it out. (Of course, after showing the dealer - they said THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM - What - are you waiting for my wheels to literally fall off on the highway to tell me? Or do you think I'll be dead enough then not to care?) This is a disaster waiting to happen for anyone with these wheels. Ford did replace the wheels, but they would not do anything about the $2000 or so I had to pay for mis-diagnosed wheel bearings and tires.

Never, ever a FORD again. Go out of business the bunch of you. The sooner the better.

I'm headed to Toyota tonight. Enough already.

I called Ford myself and was told to bring it to a dealership, which I had already done but they were sold to another location before getting back to me with an answer.

When I take in to another Ford location, if they will not fix it without any cost to me, I will write a letter to Ford's Board of Directors. If I still don't get any satisfaction, I will go to the Consumer Advocate at one of the local TV stations and let them broadcast my story! That's something we all should do if Ford continues to say no.

I contacted Ford customer service last week concerning a crack in the rear lift gate. I was told to take it to a dealer to have it "evaluated", then call them back. I did that this morning. The cost would be $310.00 to replace the plastic piece on the back. Ford customer service kept me on hold for over 20 minutes only to inform me that since I had no warranty left, they could not help me. The dealer told me today that they replace these things on a regular basis. They replaced 3 last week and 2 the week before, with who knows how many in total. I told customer service that we had been loyal Ford customers and we expected Ford to step up to the plate and take care of this. He just told me that my only recourse would be to save my receipt and if there was a recall later on, we could get reimbursed!! How many of these need to be fixed before they consider recalling this liftgate. I told customer service that it was really no surprise that Ford sales are down, since they treat their customers like this. I told him that I would tell anybody who would listen that Ford customer service stinks and encourage them to buy something else. So, I thought I would start telling people today.