# 2004 FORD EXPLORER — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
> NHTSA complaint `925498` · 2012-06-29 · 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:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
- **Miles at failure:** 113,290
## Narrative
RIGHT REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING HEAVY (APPRX 40 LB) GLASS LIFTGATE GLASS PANEL TO FALL ON A PERSON CAUSING MINOR INJURY. APPEARS 02/03 MODELS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE (DESPITE FORD'S RESPONSE ON THE FIRST INVESTIGATION OF THIS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE AS 02/03).    THE HINGE PART IS INADEQUATE TO HOLD THE HEAVY GLASS PANEL IN PLACE OVER TIME WITH USE. SINCE THE BACK GLASS IS A HEAVY SLAB OF UNFRAMED, TEMPERED GLASS IT COULD "EXPLODE" IF IT FALLS POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS TO TRAILING VEHICLES.    FORD APPARENTLY DOES A GOOD BUSINESS IN SELLING THESE REPLACEMENT HINGES AT A COST OF OVER $100 EACH FOR A SMALL PIECE OF WEAK CAST METAL.     FORTY POUND SLABS OF GLASS FALLING OFF OF VEHICLES WITH NO PRIOR WARNING IS A SAFETY ISSUE! RESEARCH INDICATED MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.  *TR
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*