1994 Ford Explorer complaints

PE00.0.20; TWO OF FIRESTONE'S WILDERNESS ATX TIRES HAD A HOLE HAS BIG AS CONSUMER'S HAND ON THE TIRE. *AZK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TIRES TWICE BECAUSE THEY BECAME FLAT, AND AT ANOTHER TIME HAD A BLOWOUT. *AK ONE OF THE TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD AIR AND THE OTHER HAD A BIG FLAT. *YH

FROM TIME TO TIME TIRES WERE SHOWING METAL WIRE COMING OUT. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWICE, AND CONSUMER WAS THINKING IT WAS THE BALL JOINTS. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED ON I-75 NEAR BRADENTON, FL, IN LAST OCTOBER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE TREAD SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WRAPPED AROUND REAR AXLE. I BRIEFLY LOST CONTROL AND NARROWLY AVOIDED FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED. MY 8-YEAR OLD SON WAS WITH ME AT THE TIME. THIS OCCURRED ON A WEEKEND, AND THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I BROUGHT THE TIRE INTO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP IN PALM BAY, FLORIDA. THE MANAGER DESCRIBED THE FAILURE AS "DE-VULCANIZATION" OF THE TREAD, AND MENTION THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I FILED A CLAIM THROUGH THHE FIRESTONE'S INSURANCE FOR THE DAMAGED THAT OCCURRED TO MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND QUARTER-PANEL. FIRESTONE PROCESSED THE CLAIM AND PAID FOR THE DAMAGES WHICH I HAD REPAIRED TOTALLY $800. THEY MADE ME MAIL THEM THE FAILED TIRE, BUT I DID TAKE PHOTOS AND COPIED THE CLAIM PAPERWORK. THE SET OF ATX TIRES, WHICH WERE MY SECOND SET, HAD ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME, AND WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. FIRESTONE COMPENSATED ME FOR THE FAILED TIRE, BUT BECAUSE I WAS NOW UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE OTHER THREE, AND REPLACED THEM, ALL WITH BRIDGESTONES, AT MY OWN COST.( DOT NUMBER: )

2 BLOWOUTS IN 7 MONTHS!!!. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ORG EQ FRD )

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S TIRES CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE ATX, NOT ORGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRE HAD ABOUT 3,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO FIRESTONE FOR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AKFIRESTONE ATX 235/75/R15 *MW

BOLTS ON THE STEERING GEAR BROKE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN BOLTS BROKE. ALSO, NOTICED LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. HAD OVER COMPENSATED WHILE STEERING. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED OF PROBLEMS. MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. HAD THE PARTS. *AK

PE00020; CONSUMER TRAVELING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. THEN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND VEERED LEFT AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED. CAR THEN ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

AS I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I25 BETWEEN ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE NM, I FELT MY EXPLORER START SHAKING AND THEN THERE WAS A VERY LOUD POP AND I SAW SOMETHING FLY PAST ME. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND GOT OUT TO SEE IF I COULD DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED. I FOUND THE TREAD OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD COME OFF. PART OF THE TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE. THE TIRE DID NOT BLOWOUT. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED, ONLY VERY VERY SCARED! THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF AND GONE, BOTH LEFT DOORS ARE DAMAGED, THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE QUARTER PANEL, AND TO THE TAIL GATE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE ON 5/10/00 AND SENT IN 3 ESTIMATES OF $3,000; SO FAR I SEEM TO BE GETTING THE RUNAROUND. WHEN I WAS GETTING MY ESTIMATES, I WAS TOLD THIS IS BECOMING "NORMAL" FOR FIRESTONE TIRES AND EXPLORERS AND TO COUNT MYSELF AMONG THE FEW NOT INJURED. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL COMPLETELY, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURANCE FOR A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. *AK

WHILE ON FREEWAY REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL. CAME VERY CLOSE TO FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. IN FACT WITNESSES SAY VEHICAL WAS ON TWO WHEELS AT ONE POINT. DUE TO GOOD FORTUNE AND MY SKILL I WAS ABLE TO STEER OUT OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75 R15 )

THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE IMMEDIATELY PURCHASED NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES AND THEN I HEARD OF THE ACCIDENTS ETC.. SO, NOW I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO RETURN MY TIRES AND BUY A DIFFERENT BRAND. WE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ATX HAVING UNEVEN WEAR DESPITE PROPER MAINTENCE AND FIRESTONE JUST SAID TO ROTATE THEM IN A SPECIFIC WAY AND NOT TO WORRY AND THEN THE TIRE BLEW, NOT THE SAME TIRE WITH UNEVEN WEAR. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE SAFTEY ISSUES OF THIS TIRE. A REPORT WAS BROADCAST ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF THIS TIRE WHICH CAME WITH OUR EXPLORER. IT WAS MENTIONED THAT FORD HAD TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IN ALL COUNTRIES EXCEPT THE USA. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEIR COMMENT WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO IT. I WANT A RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R14M )

WHEN APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT WILL NOT HOLD AS IT SHOULD. INSTEAD THE VEHICLE MOVES JUST LIKE STATED IN RECALL 94 V169001. *AK THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF ADJUSTING PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH SELF ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET. *YH

WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON CLEAR SUNNY DAY WHEN TIRE BLEWOUT FOR NO REASON. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL & GUIDE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. AAA CAME & CHANGED FIRESTONE TIRE. NOTICED TREAD IN MIDDLE OF TIRE HAD SEPARATED & HANGING OFF,BUT STILL ON TIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE SHOP & HAD FIRESTONE TIRE REPLACED. SHOP KEPT TIRE & HAVE NO REPORT. WAS ORIGINAL FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15 ON A 1994 FORD EXPLORER. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY. FELT LIKE THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. DROVE A FEW MORE DAYS & WAS STILL SHIMMYING. TOOK TO TIRE DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS DELAMINATED. TREAD WAS SEPARATING, BUT NOT COMPLETELY. HAD THE ORIGINIAL TIRE WITH 63,000 MILES ON IT & WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER. FIRESTONE ATX - P235/75R15 DOT W2HL1MO. HAVE NO REPORTS OR PHOTOGRAPHS. WILL BE SENDING TIRE. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ABOUT 55MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SOMETHING HIT THE CAR. PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LEFT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, TIRE FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED VEHICLE.*AK

TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50MPH AND DRIVING UP A HILL CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE. SO HE PULLED OVER, AND HE SAW A PIECE OF THE TIRE HANGING OFF OF THE TIRES. REAR LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME APART. IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, REAR LEFT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED. *AK

I WAS TRAVELLING AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TREAD OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THREE LANES AND ROLLED OVER 1 AND 1/4 TIMES, LANDING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND ROTATED 4 MONTHS (1500 MILES) BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE ADVISED BY FIRESTONE THAT THE TIRES HAD 10,000-20,000 MILES OF USAGE LEFT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1MO482 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT REAR SEAT BELT THAT HAD CHILD SEAT LOCKED IN BECAME UNLOCKED. CHILD SEAT WAS LAYING FACE DOWN ON FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. HE HAD PULLED OVER ONTO THE SIDE. LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE HAD LOST ALL THE TREAD, TOTALLY RECAPPED.*AK

WE WERE GOING ON VACATION AND 2 TIRES HAD THE TREAD PEELED OFF AND THE 3RD HAD A BUBBLE READY TO BLOW. FAMILY OF 4, TWO ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN. LUCKLY WE HAD NO ACCIDENTS SO WE DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE. CURRENTLY SPEAKING WITH FIRESTONE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF DAMAGES/EXPENSES DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIRES.WE ARE THE DRIVERS OF THE TRUCK , IT IS REGISTERED TO MY PARENTS. PLEASE CORRESPOND WITH US JOSE AND DAGMAR CIFUENTES 305-386-6883 E-MAIL LISTED ABOVE.WE STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND TREAD THAT HAD PEELED OFF IN OUR POSSESION. BUT FOR FIRESTONE TO PROCESS THE CLAIM THEY ARE REQUESTING THEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF A SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND SHE WENT TO LIFT THE LIFTGATE WINDOW/DOOR AND SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS CAME LOOSE, AND THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE HYDRAULIC LIFT, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY PART DETACHED. *AK PRIOR TO RECALL THE LIFTGATE FAILED ( 95I-007). VEHICLE TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WOULD TAKE 2 WEEKS TO FIX AND NO LOONER CAR WOULD PROVIDE. *YH

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *MJS

CALIPERS STICK AND GRIND UP ROTORS,SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT RELEASE, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH GOES BAD, ACCELERATOR PEDDAL STICKS. *AK

THE POLICE INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TRAVEL THE RIGHT AND OFF THE PAVED PORTION OF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE SLIDING IN A COUNTER CLOCK WISE MANNER OVER TURNED AND ROLLED OVER FIVE TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AND THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR DOOR WINDOW AS WELL. THE DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE. AN 8 MONTH OLD FETUS WAS REMOVED BY CESAREAN SURGERY FROM THE MOTHER WHO WAS THE EJECTED PASSENGER. THE FETUS DIED LATER ON.(THE TIRE WAS FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX) *YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, OWNER COMPLETED REPAIR DUE TO DEALERSHIP ESTIMATION OF THE COMPLETE REPAIR BEING EXCESSIVE, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO REPAIR CIRCUMSTANCES (99V-310). *MJS

PERIODICALLY THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PARKING VALVE IS PRESSED PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 99V310001 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S34. THERE WAS A MISSING BRACKET. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE BRACKET WAS PART OF THE LIFTGATE, AND THAT THEY NEEDED IT IN ORDER TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

REAR PASSENGER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES CAME APART, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER A COUPLE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE BOTTOM BOLT ATTACHING THE SHOCK ABSORBER TO THE FRAME BROKE OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE BRAKING. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK

LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DRIVER ABLE TO REACH SHOULDER AND CALL REPAIR SERVICE. APPROX. 3 HRS. LATER DURING SAME TRIP, RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED, DRIVER NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWERVED VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH THEN ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES. TWO INJURED OCCUPANTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. VEHICLE TOTALED. *( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1M0094 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

EXPLORER WAS IMPACTED BY SECOND VEHICLE ON LEFT REAR SIDE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO EXPLORER AND CAUSING IT TO SPIN. LEFT SIDE OF SEAT BACK BROKE (I.E., VERTICAL METAL ARM BROKE, I.E., METAL SEPARATED), ALLOWING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD. THE TWO 11-YEAR OLD GIRLS SEAT-BELTED IN THIS SEAT WERE EJECTED REARWARD OUT FROM UNDER THEIR SEAT BELTS, EXITING REAR WINDOW(S). ONE WAS KILLED, OTHER SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD AND OTHER INJURIES. WE ARE ENGAGED IN LAW SUIT WITH FORD OVER THIS MATTER. WHAT IS NHTSA DONG TO ENSURE THAT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS MAKE SEAT BACKS THAT WILL NOT BREAK IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES? WHY DON'T MANUFACTURERS MAKE SEAT BACKS AS STRONG AS THE SEAT BELTS? THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF THE SEAT PLUS THE SEAT BELTS, AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAN BE REDERED USELESS IF THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSES. *AK

ALL THIS VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE BUSHINGS ON THE STABLIZER BARS GO BAD. WHICH MAKES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HARD. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A CONTINUEING PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS REPAIR WILL ONLY LAST THE MOST 2 YEARS.*AK

THIS 1994 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CUT-OFF WHILE DRIVING . THIS PROBLEM START TO HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 1999, RECENTLY ON MAY 17, 2000 AROUND 6 PM ON FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ENGINE CUT-OFF BY ITSELF ... CAN NOT BRAKE ... STEERING WHEEL WAS HEAVY ALMOST CRASH WITH OTHER CARS. I AM NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.*AK

RECEIVED RECALL 99V31001 & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED BEFORE WORK COULD BE DONE. TOOK VEHICLE IN & NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MECHANIC HAD NO ANSWER TO QUESTIONS OF PARTS FOR HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS. OWNER'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED ROLLOVER OF SUV AND DEATH OF CHILD. TREAD WEAR AT TIME OF CRASH WAS 25,000 MILES.*AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIMO204 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

RECALLED LIFTGATE BRACKET FAILED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. #. NK

THE BUSHINGS AROUND THE HINGE PINS WERE WEAK, CAUSING THE DOOR TO SAG, WHICH IN TURN MADE THE DOOR DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. EVENTUALLY THE LATCH MECHANISM HAS BEEN WEAKENED AND THE INTERIOR PANEL/DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF. I HAVE CALLED ALL AREA WRECKING YARDS (IN WESTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON) AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE COMPONENTS ARE SOLD OFF THE EXPLORERS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE. THE FELLOW AT THE PARTS-DESK AT THE COURTESY FORD DEALER IN POULSBO SAYS HE HAS HAD TO ORDER MANY HINGES AND LATCH REPLACEMENTS FOR EXPLORERS. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM BETWEEN EXPLORER OWNERS.

BREAK PADS WEAR OUT ABOUT EVERY 12,000 TO 20,000 MILES. MUCH LOWER THEN SHOULD. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN POWER MIRROR SWITCH. RECALL 97V083000 WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT DEALER DID NOT REGISTER THIS VEHICLE IN CONSUMER'S NAME WITH MANUFACTURER. THEREFORE, CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. *AK

VEHICLE ROLL OVER DUE TO POSSIBLE SUSPENSION INSTABILITY. YH

THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE HUB KIT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO DEFECT ROTOR FAILURE. YH

DEFECTS WITH A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT OCCUR THIS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE THAT IS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. I HAVE CORRESPONDED WITH MANY EXPLORER OWNERS AND HAVE READ 100'S OF INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET WHERE FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED EARLY IN THE LIFESPAN OF THE VEHICLE - LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. FORD OBVIOUSLY HAS INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE AND DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE REPONSIBILITY FOR IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH RESULTS FROM THIS UNSAFE COMPONENT. *AK

BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE BEING USED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. YH

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THEN THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN USE. WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TAPPED, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC COULD NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES AFTER DRIVING AN EXCESS OF 200 MILES. COMPUTER DIAGNOTIC TEST INDICATES NOTHING IS WRONG. WHEN INSPECTING VEHICLE, THERE IS AN GASEOUS ODOR AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SPUTTER. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS IF DRIVEN LESS THAN 200 CONSECUTIVE MILES. THANK YOU. *AK

THIS WAS SECOND TIME FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED SINCE JAN-13-1999. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SQUEALING & NOT SHIFTING. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. FORD HAS BEEN OF NO HELP TO THE OWNER. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE TAILGATE BRACKET SUPPORTING GAS ASSIST CYLINDER TOTALLY DETACHED AFTER TAILGATE WAS FULLY OPENED. TAILGATE DROPPED, STRIKING MY SON ON HEAD AND SHOULDERS, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. ALTHOUGH TAILGATE WILL CLOSE, IT UNLATCHES (OPENS) ON ROUGH ROADS/SPEED BUMPS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (1-800-392-3673) CONTACTED 9/9/99 AND ADVISED THAT MFG CAMPAIGN #95M87 WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND NEIL SANDLER & TED RUSSELL FORD DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE.