In short, scrape off the old cracked panel and install a new one. This appears to be very common on explorers of this generation. Ford explorer and ford ranger forums serious explorations. Save yourself a couple hundred dollars and use the correct adhesive to prevent the panel from cracking again in the future. If the rear window panel cracked ford explorer answers. Broken plastic body panel on rear hatch of explorer 2002vertical break in panel piece occurred just after purchase. Cracks in rear liftgate panel, is there a factory recall for this since so many explorers have this problem. Complaints about cracked rear panels in that generation of ford suvs including the mountaineer, lincoln aviator, and ford explorer is one of the most commonly issues reported on.
Each panel has an edp coating for additional corrosion protection. Seems like a manufacturers defect to me common sense. I brought it up with the dealership when it was a small crack when the replaced the hinges on the window for the recall and they told me that it was a paint blemish and referred me to a body shop. The 2005 ford explorer has 267 problems reported for cracked panel below the rear window. How to best fix cracked rear panel silicone caulking. The mechanic advised the contact that the panel would have to be replaced. Elddis rear panel cracks elddis caravans caravan talk. Is there any sensible repair to the broken rear panel. How to remove the door panel from a 2002 ford explorer. The fifth generation explorer, which is the current model, was introduced in 2011, and features a floating roof effect, steppedstyle head and tail lamps and the threebar grille. Ford needs to recall these back panels because they are defective. Perhaps thats why you see so many explorers on the road with cracked panels its too costly to fix. My 2005 mercury mountaineer has the cracked rear panel below the wiper near the emblem. Fascia panel on rear hatch cracked, necessitating replacement of entire trim panel.
The dealer repaired it and then it broke in half and half of it came off completely in the car wash. By trial and error, i have found a good way to remove the door panel from a 2002 ford explorer and other similar years. Buy a 2005 ford explorer rear panel applique at discount prices. With ecoboost power, todays ford explorer gets excellent fuel mileage while still being a powerful utility vehicle that consumers can rely on. September 7, 2015 a ford explorer cracked rear panel lawsuit is still in its early stages as. If your old quarter panels are rusty or damaged, sherman has you. If you own a 20022005 explorer, chances are your rear liftgate is cracked. Join this group if you or someone you know has a ford explorer or mercury mountaineer with a cracked rear lift gate trim panel. Complaints about cracked rear panels in that generation of ford suvs including the mountaineer, lincoln aviator, and ford explorer is one of. Put it on with different adhesive and that will solve the problem. Buy dorman 924091 rear panel applique for select ford models, primed.
Seems this is a problem reported by a lot of owners but ford has done nothing to address this. Click to buy a replacement panel for hatch ford explorer from amazon. The plaintiffs claim that this presents a safety hazard, particularly if the vehicle is in operation at the time. I have a 2002 explorer and it has been cracked for about 3 years now. This product is made of highquality materials to serve you for years to come.
Lowest cost replacement part for rear hatchback door panel on outside that is known for cracking in cold weather because adhesive used to hold part on doesnt expand at the same rate as plastic panel thus it cracks in cold weather. In late 2006, ford again attempted to address the problem with a special assistance program, designed to partially offset the cost of repairs for vehicles that had fallen out of warranty. Hatchbackliftgate problems of the 2003 ford explorer part 2. Replacing the cracked rear hatch trim project off road explorer duration. Ford explorers cracked lift gate results in class action.
Because the cracked panel is not a safety defect, there is very little chance of a recall. There is a large rubber gasket underneath with four oval shade air caps of 20 x 2 each, that between glass and trim panel. How do you repair a crack in the rear hatch panel on a. Im buying this to replace oem ford trim that cracked over a year after the fact. The problems supposedly occurred when moisture penetrated the cracked panels, resulting in rust formation that weakened a window hinge pin. How do you remove the rear door panel on a ford explorer.
There is a little panel at the bottom inside of the hatch in the location of where the latching mechanism is that looks like a punchout panel. Any repairs do nothing to prevent future cracking, however. Despite its popularity, controversy marred the first and second generation ford explorers due to faulty factoryinstalled tires. Make your vehicle look like it just rolled off the show room floor with sherman. It nicely contrasts the paint that is beginning to bubble due to the iron contamination per ford tech service bulletin 04251 which should have triggered a recall. Crack widens in cold weather and shrinks in warm, so it cant be patched. I had heard that people foound very little success in repairing this and figured there had to be someone out there that had figured out a way to resolve the problem. Cracked rear panel ford explorer and ford ranger forums. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for diagnosis. My 2002 explorer s back panel cracked and was repaired two times while it was under warranty, now it has cracked and half the panel has fallen off.
Its a widespread problem in all fordfamily suvs from that. Ford explorer hatchbackliftgate support device problems. Complaints about cracked rear panels in that generation of ford suvs including the aviator, ford explorer, and mercury mountaineer is one of. How to replace the trim on liftgate hatch when it cracks. Ford explorer cracked rear panel lawsuit seeks class. Around 2006, i noticed that the new panel had begun to crack. My local dealer service rep said they had repaired dozens of them, after he told me ford would not stand behind this obvious defect. There is no apparent way to open the rear hatch on my 20 ford explorer from the inside. Panel was replaced and came with a new 12 month warranty from the date of install. I drive a 2004 ford explorer xlt and recently i noticed that the rear panel had cracked.
Back tailgate, paint to match, primer ready, easy to install, high quality. Ford tailgate cracks continue to plague explorer owners. Earlier versions of the panel were made of abs plastic, but. This replacement rear trim panel matches the fit and function of the original part on specified vehicles. It is made of quality materials for durability and reliable service. Is this fords way of continuously keeping the flow of money coming their way. Ford explorer questions is there still a class action. Refer to the following service procedure for details. Thanks, but no it is the exterior panel directly below the rear window. Width is 56inch, long thickness of 116thin height of 7.
The ford explorer replaced the ford bronco ii in 1991. The sad news is the part is defective, so if i were to replace it again, in a few years i will have to pay to have it replaced again. When the air is cold, and there is a burst of moisture, or a quick temperature change, cracks can happen in the panel. The plastic trim panel on the rear hatch of my ford explorer xls cracked from top to bottom, with no provocation. Replaced first cracked rear panel in 2008, its 2011 and i now have 3 cracks in that one. The crack is caused by the buildup of water and air behind the window panel over time. Add to wishlist 0205 explorer rear wheel arch w molding holes, drivers side. A crack suddenly appeared on the plastic area of my tailgate next to the ford symbol. Their post on the ford explorer lift gate cracks page on facebook.
I left my vechicle at an airlines parking to return home after a week on 22406 and find a crack in the top panel of the rear hatch of my 2002 ford explorer. Were in new zealand and have a 2003 ford explorer xlt, rear panel cracked start of the year, we also noticed the clear coat coming off in places and bubbles on. Original panel cracked at the bottom within 6 months. Order liftgatetailgate panel kit for your 2004 ford explorer and pick it up in storemake your purchase, find a store near you, and get directions. Could it be that there is a manual releasing handle or. The rear liftgate on my 2002 explorer also cracked. Mine cracked in 2 places over the period of 2 years, upon second crack, i replaced. Some 20022005 explorer mountaineer and 20032005 aviator vehicles may exhibit a damaged cracked plastic applique without liftgate glass damage. A ford explorer cracked rear panel lawsuit is still in its early stages as ford tries to convince the court that classaction certification should be. Obviously there is an underlying problem causing thi read more. For explorer g3 gold 0205 upgraded rear hatch lift gate.
How to fix the cracked panel below the rear window glass on the lift gate. The contact stated that the rear liftgate panel became fractured. It is now 2011 and the rear back panel has cracked again but this time the cracks appear on either side of the ford emblem. Is there still a class action suit pending for the rear hatch cracking. Designed using stateoftheart technology and with customers in mind, this product by dorman will last a lifetime. A cosmetic crack may develop on the liftgate on ford explorer. For explorer upgraded rear hatch tailgate panel moulding license shield handle fits. They were about to bodge it up with the caps and then it cracked at the top. Today i show you how to replace the cracked rear hatch trim on the explorer with a brand new one. It is no longer necessary to replace the entire liftgate glass assembly to correct this condition. Purchase a 200205 ford explorer rear wheel arch wmolding holes pass side from raybuck auto body parts today. Ford explorer body problems and repair descriptions at.
Cracked rear panel lawsuit targets ford explorer, mercury mountaineer and lincoln aviator suvs. The dealer followed all of the guidance provided by elddis and modified the wood frame behind before fitting the new panel. The first two steps can be done in either order, but doing them in the order i have listed below will prevent damage and scratches to the paneling. I have a 2003 xlt explorer noticed what appears to be a stress crack, running from top to bottom on the rear hatch panel right below the center rear wiper. Ford explorer s cracked lift gate results in class action lawsuit. Replacing the cracked rear hatch trim project off road explorer. Liftgate hatch crack below windshield next to ford. One of the more common problems with some ford models, and especially with a ford explorer, are cracks that happen in the rear panel.
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