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1996 FORD EXPLORER — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

1 injured · 604221 · 2006-11-27

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
EXPLORER
Year
1996
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Miles at failure
62,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

VEHICLE IS AN SUV WITH A REAR LIFTGATE / HATCH THAT RAISES UPWARDS WHEN OPEN. ON THIS DAY I WAS LOADING SOME ITEM IS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIFTGATE SUDDENLY FELL AND STUCK ME ON THE HEAD. THE LIFTGATE IS NORMALLY SUPPORTED BY A GAS TYPE STRUT ON EACH SIDE. THERE ARE BALL TYPE PINS ATTACHED TO THE LIFTGATE AND THE BODY FOR THESE GAS STRUTS TO ATTACH TO. THE UPPER PIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIFT GATE SNAPPED OFF AND ALLOWED THE LIFTGATE TO FALL. IT APPEARS IT WAS RUSTING THROUGH, HOWEVER THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON ANY PORTION OF THE LIFTGATE. ONLY ONE GAS TYPE STRUT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TAILGATE. IN ONLY TWO DAYS I HAVE FOUND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH 1995 & 1996 EXPLORERS. *NM

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10174403
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown