This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. When the contact opened the rear hatch, the glass suddenly exploded everywhere. There were pieces of glass that were eight inches in diameter. The glass shattered with such great force that some of the pieces struck and cracked the front windshield. The contact sustained powder burns to the face and shoulders, as well as small cuts. She has not taken the vehicle to a dealer or a mechanic, but the insurance company stated that they were familiar with this type of failure. The contact believes that a recall should be issued. The current and failure mileages were 143,077.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked, the rear glass suddenly shattered into pieces. There were no injuries. The dealer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 111,726. Updated 06/02/08 updated 06/02/08 updated 06/03/08
Car parked in driveway, in shade for 4 hours. Air temp about 80 degrees. Rear window completely shattered for no apparent reason. Approx. 3/4 of glass fell in a 180 degree arch outside of vehicle out to a distance of about 8 feet. 1/4 of glass fell into the rear of the vehicle. Took vehicle to the dealer specified above. Service tech said there is a problem with Explorer rear windows. Said there were two new Explorer on their back lot with shattered rear windows. Later got a call back from the service dept. Saying that they would not repair under warranty, since there is only a recall on 2002 Explorer, not on 1999 Explorer. Sounds like exactly the same problem to me. It cost me $819 to repair at an auto glass shop.
Used the rear window defroster (for the 1st time) and within 10 minutes the rear window exploded! it did this all by itself, nothing hit the window. The local dealership & Ford cust.srvc. Say "since they have never heard of this before it is not warrentied"!?! something is wrong with this vehicle, nothing "hit" the window!! I have had several minor electrical oddities (ie: Windshield wipers & cig.ligter malfunctioning), wondering now if there is a connection w/rear-defogger?? I did take pictures before removing the glass (it was slowly crumbling, one bump and it would have fallen into bits), but Ford doesn't want to see "anything" they told me to turn it over to my insurance, but it's not an insurance problem, it's a car problem! again, nothing hit the window. Ford has simply brushed me off. Any assistance or information your office might have would be "greatly appreciated".
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Queensbury, NY, USA