1996 Ford Explorer

ON OR AROUND THE DATE INDICATED, A GENTLEMAN FROM STAPLES OFFICE SUPPLY WAS LOADING A CHAIR AND DESK INTO THE BACK OF MY FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HATCH COLLAPSED. LUCKILY, I WAS STANDING THERE AND CAUGHT THE HATCH BEFORE IT FELL ON HIS HEAD AND BACK AND POSSIBLY REALLY INJURED HIM. APPARENTLY, THE LEFT HYDRAULIC ARM OF THE HATCH SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF THE BRACKET WELDED TO THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, BOTH SIDES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE OTHER ARM COULD SHEAR OFF AT ANY TIME. NOWHERE ON THIS VEHICLE IS THERE RUST AND THESE WELDED BRACKETS ARE IN THE INTERIOR SEAL OF THE REAR HATCH AND ARE IN NO WAY EXPOSED TO WATER. WE WERE ABLE TO UNHOOK THE ARM TOTALLY WITH THE LITTLE PINS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. THEN THE HATCH WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY ONCE THE ARM WAS REMOVED. (I WAS TOLD THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE CHANGE IN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.) I CALLED FORD (NATIONAL 800 NUMBER NOT THE LOCAL DEALER) AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WOMAN IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THAT AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP WHICH GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $468 TO WELD NEW BRACKETS ON (BOTH SIDES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT FUTURE INJURIES). THE HYDRAULIC ARMS THEMSELVES WORK FINE. UPON VIEWING YOUR SITE, I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL THE YEAR AFTER THE CAR WAS MADE DEALING WITH THE RIGHT SIDE HYDRAULIC ARM AND IMPROPER WELDING. (RECALL # 97V137000) I BASICALLY JUST WANT IT FIXED AND WANT THEM TO FIX ANYBODY ELSE'S SO NOBODY ELSE WILL GET HURT. WHAT IF A MOM IS UNLOADING GROCERIES WITH HER KID AND THE DOOR COMES CRASHING DOWN ON THEM??? HOW MANY INJURIES OR DEATHS WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO FIX SOMETHING LIKE THIS??!! *JB

1996 FORD EXPLORER ,OPENED LIFTGATE AND SUPPORT SHOCK POPPED OFF OF BRACKET THE BALL ON BRACKET BROKE OFF,NOW TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANGER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL,BUT HE SAID THERE WASNT,BUT HE SEEN OTHER EXPLORERS DO THE SAME THING,NOW LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS OPENING THE GATE,NOT WHEN I WAS UNDER THE GATE,WHICH MADE ME THINK THAT THIS COULD A VERY POTENTAL INJURIE,OR EVEN A LIFE THREATING HAZZARD IF IT WAS A SMALL PERSON LIKE A CHILD,IF THIS GATE LETS LOOSE WHEN SOMEONE IS UNDER IT.THIS GATE IS VERY HEAVY AND SLAMS VERY HARD WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF BOTH SHOCKS.*AK

ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 29TH, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30PM I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON RT. 9W IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, APPROXIMATELY 35-40F, AND THE ROADS WERE CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE. I PASSED A CAR GOING 35MPH IN A 55 MPH AREA, AND MY EXPLORER STUCK GOING AT 3000R PMS AND ACCELERATING. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT MY EXPLORER WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I PUT ON MY HAZARDS, PUT BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDALS PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD AND STILL COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP TRYING TO PULL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, IT STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN SO I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND ENDED UP GOING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND CRASHING DOWN A 10 FEET. EMBANKMENT. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR OBSERVATION AND RELEASED.*AK

TRAVELING HOME ON HIGHWAY 509 AROUND 3:00 PM IN MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER, CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND DRY, PASSED A CAR GOING 40 MPH IN A 55MPH ZONE, UPON PASSING THE ACCELERATOR WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND STUCK THERE. TRIED TO PLACE MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO LIFT UP, COULD'NT. SUV STEADILYGAINING SPEED,LAS TIME I GLANCED DOWN I WAS GOING APPROX. 95MPH, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH SO I COULD GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD SAFLEY,SUV WENT OFF THE ROAD DID A FLIP IN MID AIR ROLLED HITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CAME TO REST ON DRIVERS SIDE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WIDE OPEN, MANAGED TO SOMEHOW REACH THE IGNITION KEY TO TURN ENGINE OFF, IT TOOK FIRE RESCUE 35 MINUTERS TO CUT ME OUT OF THE SUV,I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES,AS OF 12/10/04 I AM STILL GOING THROUGH THERAPY WITH MY NECK AND SHOULDERS, SUV WAS A TOTAL LOSS.HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW AUTOMOBILE.*AK