Same problem as all the others, two cracks on each side of the plastic panel. I have no intention of paying to have this fixed am just worried that water damage might occur. Ford will not pay for it. This vehicle has been out of service for extended periods of time for numerous driveline / transmission issues (transmission out & rebuilt 3 times). Thank God we bought the extended warranty (It has still cost us over $600 for the small deductible each time a repair is made. This will be the last Ford that I buy.

After just a few weeks of purchasing my pre-owned Explorer, the back panel cracks. I take it in, the service manager tells me it happens to all explorers that year model, but i have to still pay for it. About $350!!! Doesnt end there....a few weeks later it starts to peel off, til eventually falls off while i am driving almost hitting a car. Car runs it over, so now its in two pieces. Ourisman Ford tells me I have no proof of what happened and that I would have to pay for it again!!!! And thats just one of the things that have gone wrong with my Explorer!

After already having a crack on my back panel and having to pay for it. It starts to peel after a few weeks of getting it fixed, eventually falling off completely while driving. Almost hitting a car. Car runs it over, now its in two pieces. Take it back to Ourisman Ford Bethesda (where the service sucks), they tell me I have no proof and that I would have to pay for it, again!!!!! Thats just one of the many things that has happened. You should also read my comlaint about my tire falling off and my transmission going bad!! Please everyone do research on cars before purchasing, I sure learned my lesson.

I saw it crack! Just bought this 4 days ago! Showing it at work this morning, my friend shut the glass - 2 seconds later .... craaaaack! 4 inches long and growing. He about crapped his pants, thinking he broke it. So did I. I wondered what happened. He didn't slam it or anything. Obviously poor manufacturing from all the complaints. And yes, the paint is peeling. I love fords, but can they ever get it right? I have to take it in tomorrow for the dealership to look at (or should I just go down to Pacific avenue and pay a homeless man 5 bucks to "look at it"?). Filed my ford complaint tonight to help push for a recall. Terrible job on the 2002 paint and panels FoMoCo.

When I noticed the crack down the back panel of lift gate, to right of Ford emblem, I assumed it was something I did, or the extremely cold weather we had been having. *Mind you, this crack occurred shortly after having the lift gate/hinges recall corrected by dealer. However, I began noticing just about every Ford Explorer in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA with the same body as mine, had the SAME crack in the SAME location. Now finding this site with the same complaints all over the country, isn't this enough to confirm that Ford needs to take responsibility for this defect?!

I called Ford and although it is their fault they refuse to do anything! I didn't cause the problem and until someone is hurt or seriously injured they will not fix it. I see it like this... They made the part and it is defective. It was no incident on my part that this panel cracked. They sold me a piece of junk. I have already replaced 1 Transmission. No wonder Ford is going to the dumper, their customer service and standing behind their product is a don't care attitude we're Ford. If someone can sue a fast food restaurant for getting their meal wrong, why is there not a lawyer out there to compile a class action law suit on this matter? I am willing to give the settlement to a attorney who would go after Ford. The average person works hard to pay for these vehicles and I hate that this big company can shrug me off. I will never walk into a ford showroom again.

We bought this 02 Explorer two years ago. When I went to pick it up from the dealership, I noticed this crack on the back panel from the window all the way down on the panel where the Ford logo is on the lift gate. I told them I wasn't taking the car because that crack wasn't there when I agreed to buy the car. I assume it happened when they did their cleanup of the car, it was used. They refused to fix it for free; but said they would fix it for $100.00. I won't ever go back to the dealership again. But Ford should be fixing this issue. This is obviously a faulty panel.

I feel really bad because I was looking up problems with the tail gate that won't open tonight and found this. I bought this Explorer as a certified pre-owned vehicle and the crack happened 2 weeks after buying it. I yelled at my husband because he was getting groceries out the night before and I told him he was heavy handed. He said he thought it was a defect. I took it to the dealer and they acted like they had never seen anything like it before. Of course it wasn't covered. I hate anything cosmetically wrong with a car but never fixed this because they made me mad saying it wasn't covered when I paid almost $2000.00 for an extended warranty. I always bought Toyota before and never had a problem at all with anything. I've enjoyed this Explorer but it will be my last. Back to Toyota I'll go. Maybe a Honda pilot.

I have the same crack as everyone else. I first noticed after the back hatch recall, but didn't think much of it since it was in the center of the Ford symbol and seemed to belong. Then it split into a Y and a piece fell off. Now I'm embarrassed to drive it with the rusted metal showing. I've noticed at least 6 cars in the area I live in with the same problem. I plan on taking it to the dealer to see what they will do. Ford should definitely pay for this since it is obviously their faulty design. This is my second Ford, I had to sell the first one due to all the problems I was having with it, you'd think I would have learned!