- #3306 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [bryansos]
by mtnman1
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Nov 02, 2008 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: bryansos (Nov 02, 2008 5:26 am)
Thanks so much for your reply. I had a problem with my 2003 Sonata that I just gave to my daughter. About a year ago the drivers side seat developed cracks in the leather which they claimed was considered normal wear and tear and they refused to take care of it. Went through a lot of back and forth with the dealership that I bought it from to get something done. Car only had about 30,000 miles on it. With the cost of $1800 there was no way I was willing to pay for it. Finally after much complaining and phone calls they sent a Customer Service rep up from Cincinnati and he agreed to have it fixed for free. Hopefully I won't have to go through as much to get an obvious defect fixed by Ford. I'm now concerned with the fact that the crack is spreading that the rear glass may shatter or pop out on the highway. Don't know if I can go very long with the risk of this occurring if it's at all possible for that to happen. It seems to be expanding a little more every couple of days. Right now it only has about 2 inches more before it runs the total distance from the glass to the bottom of the liftgate.
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- #3307 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [mtnman1]
by explorerx4
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Nov 03, 2008 (5:29 pm)
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Replying to: mtnman1 (Nov 02, 2008 4:20 pm)
i am responding you your post over in the fusion forum, but i don't think you will like the answer.
my '02 explorer has the same issue, and it is not extremely rare. how many vehicles it happens to, i have no idea. i even remember hearing it go 'crack'.
it is purely cosmetic. the painted panel is not structural, so don't get too worried about any safety issue. i stuck a piece of duck tape over it for 6 months or so, until my wife and kids broke me down with complaints.
my story is that i am very faithful(service every 3k) to the dealer i bought my explorer from and they did and 'after warranty adjustment(awa)'. your vehicle is eligible for 6 years or 75k miles, but it is pretty much completely up to the dealer to step up to the plate for you.
i bought my first vehicle from the dealer in 1990 and this awa was in 2006.
it's about a 450-500 repair.
since the kids have been driving for the last couple years, the panel has some scratches on it anyway.
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- #3308 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [explorerx4]
by mtnman1
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Nov 04, 2008 (4:06 pm)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 03, 2008 5:29 pm)
Actually the Body Shop Manager called me this afternoon after talking to the dealership General Manager. Told me that they would only charge me $100 and they would take care of the rest. I said it sounds good and they are ordering the part today. I figured they might since I just bought a Fusion SEL V6 and for the first time ever their Premium Care Extended Warranty from them just last Tuesday. Bought the Warranty because I was able to get them to drop the price from $925 to $750, 5/75 Warranty and I will be driving about 15 to 20K per year.
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- #3309 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [keogh22]
by mjcourt
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Dec 02, 2008 (12:23 pm)
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Replying to: keogh22 (Mar 26, 2008 5:50 am)
I just want to know where to call, I have a 2005 with the same crack and I have been going through the parking lots and seeing a lot of them out there. I seen the crack appear when I opened the hatch, not the main but the smaller one where you just open the window, My wife or myself did not know there was another latch until we seen some one in the parking lot and seen how they opened it. The minute I opened it the crack appeared. I took it to the local dealer and they do not want to do anything about it.I have owned Fords all of my life and this is the first time they have not fixed a problem like this!!!! 
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- #3310 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [bryansos]
by c2cthomas
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Dec 04, 2008 (10:12 am)
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Replying to: bryansos (Nov 02, 2008 5:26 am)
I would like to know more about the no fix cost. I just joined the "cracked liftgate" club with my 2004 Explorer. The crack runs vertical from top to bottom and is about 1/4 inch wide. It is located dead center of the liftgate and runs right through the Ford logo. I called the dealer last week and they said it would take a couple of days to fix and the cost would be around $550. I have seen other sites where people said that they paid to get the liftgate replaced only to have the new liftgate crack as well! So it seems to be a design and/or manufacturing defect by Ford.
Like so many others that I have read about - the crack simply appeared on a cold day. I was driving when it happened and heard a sort of crack sound from the rear and when I stopped and looked - there it was. So it's not as if someone smacked it in the parking lot or anything like that. Cold weather seems to put enough thermal stress on this part to cause it to crack like a dropped egg. 
Now I have been scouting the parking lots and roads for cracked liftgates - and they are out there!! Bunches of 'em!!!
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- #3311 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [c2cthomas]
by mtnman1
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Dec 18, 2008 (2:46 pm)
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Replying to: c2cthomas (Dec 04, 2008 10:12 am)
I'd just go to the dealership that you purchased it from and ask them if they would take care of it first. Fortunately in my situation I had just bought a loaded Fusion SEL from the dealership so they agreed to only charge me $100. I'm having it replaced on January 30. Hopefully you have had most of your vehicles maintenance done at that dealership and have developed some kind of relationship with a service advisor there. In my case, the dealership that I purchased my Mountaineer from went out of business. I believe the only reason Ford took care of me was that I bought a $27,000 car from them.
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- #3312 of 3320
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Re: '05 Transmission Problem [carostegui]
by MtneerLemon
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Jan 26, 2009 (10:28 am)
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Replying to: carostegui (Feb 11, 2008 9:47 am)
Regarding the transmission, I have an 04 (  ) but the guy at the shop said there was no recall on file. He had to overhaul (refurbish) the whole thing for $2,500.
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- #3313 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [bryansos]
by florida8
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Feb 09, 2009 (9:38 am)
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Replying to: bryansos (Nov 02, 2008 5:26 am)
Can you tell me how you pursued this. I talked to the dealer and all they offered was a 20% discount on the $365. repair and Ford Motor is backing that up since there hasn't been a recall. Any suggestions would be apprciated
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- #3314 of 3320
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Re: '05 Transmission Problem [carostegui]
by mtnman1
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Feb 09, 2009 (4:27 pm)
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Replying to: carostegui (Feb 11, 2008 9:47 am)
I have an '04 AWD V8 and there was only a recall on the fluid for the transmission not for the transmission itself. There definitely was not one for the transmission inner parts. There was a Technical Service Bulletin for the Solenod which was replaced along with the Pan and Gasket under warranty at 13,000 miles.
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- #3315 of 3320
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Re: 2003 crack in Liftgate [florida8]
by bryansos
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Feb 10, 2009 (5:12 pm)
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Replying to: florida8 (Feb 09, 2009 9:38 am)
Hi, my dealer didn't want to fix it, I had to call Ford direct and describe my problem. Before you call Ford direct, get an estimate from your dealer, because Ford will ask for an estimate. The Ford direct # is in your manual, or just ask your dealer. There is a lot of people with the same problem. Good luck.
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