# 1996 FORD EXPLORER — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
> NHTSA complaint `604221` · 2006-11-27 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1996
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
- **Miles at failure:** 62,000
## 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
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*