49 problems related to hatchback/liftgate hinge have been reported for the 2003 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2003 Explorer.
The consumer received a recall letter for the liftgate, and no parts were available to make the repair. Nhtsa liftgate recall 04v442000.
Consumer has been waiting for recall 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate <a href=". . Read more...
The liftgate window would open when no one was near it and on several occasions the vehicle was in motion. Bf the consumer received the liftgate recall and hopes that the repair will also repair the window. Campaign id number : 04v442000.
The right hinges attached to the vehicle body and the liftgate broke. Dealer was notified. Consumer was waiting for the part since September, and no part was available. Consumer was concerned that the liftgate may fall unexpectedly and cause severe injuries to someone when opened.
2003 Ford Explorer. . . When opening glass portion of hatchback, the right hinge failed, causing the window to fall on my wife's head, giving her a concussion. Ar has 38000 miles and has not been in an accident. Hinge failure due to bolt shearing off at window. Going to get it looked at tomorrow. Pe04045. Pco.
Consumer has been waiting for the repair parts to come in for recall 04v442000 concerning rear liftgate glass for four months. Was told the parts should have been here late November. However, the parts were not here, and the problem recurred.
While opening the tailgate window, the right and left hinges broke. Pe04045. Pco the back window was hanging by the pistons. When popping up the window using the button it did not go up automatically. The tailgate window does not shut properly.
The liftgate glass shattered when consumer's son was closing the liftgate. The glass landed in consumer's son hair and face. Technical service bulletin #10004078 was issued on this problem. Manufacturer was contacted. This is a my2002 vehicle and not my2003 per consumer_081704. Pco pe04045. Pco.
While parked rear liftgate glass exploded.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear window hatch has a piece of plastic under the glass, which holds the window in place. The plastic has cracked all the way through the window. The current mileage was 75,000 and failure mileage was 8,000. Updated 04/02/08.
We bought a Ford Explorer XLT late Saturday night October 11th. That late night after bringing the XLT Explorer home we pressed the blue liftgate button for liftgate. The glass went up by itself and the shock rod disconnected from the ball bearing slamming back down. Luckily no one was injured but this is a serious safety concern that needs to be addressed because some could seriously get hurt including children when the weight of that glass comes down. I contacted Ford and have only received a merry go round and no suitable answers. I had taken the vehicle back to the dealership and have gotten it checked out. . . With no suitable answers except it was factory related. Please investigate. We do not this to happen to anyone else or someone from getting seriously hurt. Please investigate and forward to all other regulatory and safety agencies federal/ state/local so a thorough investigation is done. Factory mis-installation of struts causing lift cylinder detachment at first use. Pco.
2003 Ford Explorer. Consumer states that the vehicle bottom rear liftgate is cracked. Consumer believes concern is related to recall on the hinges for the liftgate. The consumer believed the cracks on the liftgate were due to weakness. Updated 07/08/07.
2003 Ford Explorer with bad recall repair work. Consumer stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle wrong. He states that the hinges were supposed to be replaced. Dealer replaced the struts and hinges. When the consumer tried to get the problem fixed the first time he was told the struts looked fine. However, the driver's side hinge began to separate and the whole liftgate subsequently shifted; the gap between the liftgate and the body was no longer symmetrical but was significantly increased on the driver's side while decreased on the passenger side. As a result, the liftgate no longer latched or would only latch with a great deal of pressure applied when closing it. The consumer stated it was the two hinges at the top of the real hatch glass section that attached to the roof or body of the vehicle that were broken. The consumer stated the liftgate latch, trim panel and the rear taillight were damaged as a result of the defective hinge and should be fixed without charge. Recall# 04v442000.
Consumer states that vehicle had been sitting for 40 minutes when the rear hatchback window exploded. Cause unknown.