There is a crack down the middle section of the liftgate for quite some time. The liftgate has been unlocking and opening automatically by itself. On only rare occasions has the liftgate opened all the way while driving. On the morning of 7/28/2022 while the vehicle was parked in my driveway the liftgate was discovered to have again unlocked by itself and opened slightly and now with one of the two hinges holding the glass sheared leaving the liftgate glass hanging by only one hinge. With the glass now hanging without having both hinge supports functioning and the inability to close and lock the liftgate, 1) the glass could fall out while driving and 2) with the liftgate unable to now close and lock, contents of the back storage area could fall out of the vehicle while driving. On 8/1/2022 the vehicle was inspected by the foreman of the Service Dept. at Healy Ford, Goshen, N.Y. I was told to take it to a body shop for realignment repair. Apparently a recall on 9/13/2022 # 04V442000 did not include my Vin. However, In driving around I do see many 2003 explorers with the identical crack on the liftgate.

- Middletown, NY, USA

Rear window lower panel plastic cracking up, replaced three times, still cracking due to no support and bending too much, I called Ford does not care if continues cracking up, it looks ugly also panels can cause an accident to other cars getting into their windshields loose parts. They know about the problem and not fixing it.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

Awoke the morning of May 10, 2017 to find the entire back liftgate and window exploded outwards and inwards of our Ford Explorer. The vehicle was parked in front of our home, we are rural, so no evidence of someone purposely breaking it. Our sheriff in cascade county, Montana, stated it appears to be something internal probably the lift struts exploding. This seems to be a problem as stated on many online sites, and many Ford Explorer have this problem. This particlar model VIN number did not show up as recalled, although we sit here looking at the damage caused by this problem. We would appreciate someone looking into this, as it could happen to anyone and prove to be very dangerous if this vehicle were being driven when this explosion occured. Please check into this asap.

- Sand Coulee, MT, USA

The back lift gate has a crack. I have noticed this on practically every other exploer of this year. I contacted Ford several years ago and they said since it was a defect that was not a danger they would not recall or repair it.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

Chat conversation start 5:57pm greetings, I saw you commentary about the Ford Explorer exhaust fumes inside the cabin, well I have a 2004 Ford Explorer with the same problem, I am a mechanic I figured may be the filter was clogged well it was no filter, what I found the vent door fell off from the place where it suppose to open and close laying down on the fan, so I reinstalled back and the problem was fixed, it is a poor design from the Ford company. I was loosing heat during winter and not be cool at the summer loosing the thru vent out place. Ford needs to fix all this problems along with seat belts, rear window quarter panel cracked no one is getting Ford to do recalls on this items very poor construction.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

The rear panel of my 2003 Explorer cracked today for no reason. Not sure if this is a safety concern. When I "googled" the problem, it seems this is a common problem that Ford once addressed.

- Houston, TX, USA

The rear lift-gate has a cracked panel.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate hinge fractured which caused the lift gate to remain unlocked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V442000 (structure). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Belveder, IL, USA

I have owned this 2003 Ford Explorer since it was brand new in 2003. It currently has 70,009 miles and has been kept in a garage and not driven often over 13 years. Within two years of purchasing this vehicle I noticed a crack in the middle of the lift gate under the glass. I talked to two Ford dealerships that advised it was not a defect but my fault for gliding the glass to harshly. I had not used the glass often and had never slammed it.M since that time I've seen hundreds of Ford Explorer from the early to mid 2000S with the same crack in the same location. Today I was behind four different Explorer from the same time period and all had the same crack. I checked online and realized there are thousands of complaints about this defect with some drivers stating the back glass bursts while they were driving. It is unbelievable that with so many of these vehicles having the exact same issue that Ford has not owned up to the defect and repaired it. All one needs to do is search through online images to see it us a huge problem and a definite manufacturer defect and with the back glass blowing out it is a major safety concern.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

1. transmission does not let you accelarate. Pressure builds up while you are pressing on the gas pedal and it doesn't increase your speed until 10 seconds or so of pressing the gas pedal, and than it explodes and you are thrust back with the acceleration. Very dangerous when you are trying to change lanes or are entering the highway. Lack of acceleration has almost got us into a few accidents. 2. sensors are not functioning, constantly telling me that the doors are open. I don't know when a door is actually open or not. 3. the rear hatch is cracked and I'm afraid it doesn't provide enough stable prorectection for the rear glass to be held in place properply.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

The brackets connected to the liftgate released while the car was parked and locked and blew the back liftgate panel out along with shattering the glass.

- Fairhope, AL, USA

I used my key remote and popped open the back hatch and while the hatch was up the hinge snapped dropping the hatch on my head nearly knocking me out cold.

- Broadway, VA, USA

TL-the contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while closing that the liftgate both hinges fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where both hinges and struts were replaced. In 2005, the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 04V442000 (structure) however, the remedy was insufficient. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

- Sussex, WI, USA

I noticed that the paint was peeling off in several places on the vehicle. Six months later more paint has disappeared.

- Tiburon, CA, USA

Noticed upper part of rear tailgate under glass next to Ford emblem is cracked from top to bottom.

- Hyde Park, NY, USA

A recall was issued for 2003 Ford Explorer for the hinges on the back window tailgate. The right side hinge on my 2003 Ford Explorer broke, I was fortunate to be strong enough to catch the glass before it snapped the other hinge. When I contacted Ford after seeing the recall notice online, I was told my Ford was not part of the recall. I have also checked on the NHTSA site and it was not listed there either. My complaint is that if Explorer of the same year are recalled and my hinge broke, I believe there may be an issue with a larger range of Explorer than listed.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

2 complaints - back rear hatch panel under rear window has multiple cracks live in augusta ga and visit Florida and this seems to be a common problem every make body like mine have this crack and some panel has even fallen off. This has to be a manufacturing problem for this large amount of SUV's to have the same problem see more with problems than without. Also recently had problems with window intermittently not going down and back up after ice storm in augusta this year all four windows stopped going up and down. This also seems to be a common problem with this model and body style of Ford Explorer. Owned a 1993 Ford Explorer eddie bauer had approx. 300,000 miles on it before I got rid of it and the most happened to this car was the transmission and rear brake leak which was the most expensive problem I had. Wish I still had the 1993 Explorer because my 2003 makes me hesitant about purchasing another Ford Explorer no matter how much I like them this one will make turn to another make of car. Once a loyal Ford owner not so sure now. You would think that Ford will be as loyal to us as we are of them, it is the little things that make you frustrated and not wanting to purchase another. If you can't depend on the smaller things how can we depend on them with the larger things. Once a loyal Ford owner.

- Augusta, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the lift gate window became detached intermittently. The liftgate door failed to close properly and it developed a crack at the bottom. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the lift gate needed to be repaired and the window needed to be replaced. The contact was not included in recall NHTSA campaign id number: 04V442000 (structure). The vehicle was to be inspected, diagnosed and repaired by an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,002.

- Northvale, NJ, USA

Paint "bubbled up" on the front edge of the hood a few years after purchase and has continued to flake and peel off. Apple valley Ford service refused to fix the paint problem when reported in approximately 2006.

- Burnsville, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the power steering and transmission lines failed due to corrosion. The contact also stated that the brakes lines, fuel tank cover, door locks and the running boards were also corroded. The brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 157,372.

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA