# 2004 MERCURY MONTEGO — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
> NHTSA complaint `1126296` · 2014-11-02 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MERCURY
- **Model:** MONTEGO
- **Year:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
- **Miles at failure:** 130,000
## Narrative
OPENED LIFT GATE TO REMOVE PACKAGE FROM TRUNK AREA, HINGE BROKE AND THE LIFT GATE FELL ON MY HUSBAND'S HEAD. HE WAS STRUCK WITH THE HITCH/LOCKING MECHANISM.      WONDERING IF THESE LIFT GATES ISSUES (INCLUDING THOSE RECALLED FOR 2002 & 2003 MODELS) HAVE ANY CORRELATION TO THE LIFT GATE PANELS CRACKING FROM BELOW THE WIPER ASSEMBLY, AROUND THE LOGO, TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT GATE PANEL.    I AM REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THE REASONING THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2004 MODEL TO ISSUE A RECALL.  IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOME GETTING HIT JUST RIGHT IN THE HEAD AND DYING? THERE IS NO WARNING.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*