'02 Lift Glass Recall 04S20

[svsund]

I just got the recall notification for the Rear Lift Glass; a problem I have been dealing with for about 8 months now. If you have not received notification and you purchased the SUV used, get in contact with a dealer by the end of November for the recall:

" In some affected vehicles, the liftgate window may drop unexpectedly when it is being operated. When the window drops it may strike a person nearby or the glass may break creating the potential for cuts or bruises"

They are offering to replace both strut mounting brackets and both hinges on the liftgate glass with new designed parts.

The problem I have had is the strut on one side pops of the glass bracket and the other one is not strong enough to hold the glass up and it hits you in the head

When I took it to the dealer (out of standard warranty, but still in extended) I was told they had to replace the entire glass and it would cost $1000. I did not do it since I was sure this was coming down the road. I am now going to insist the entire glass be replaced since the plastic on the bottom of the glass has since cracked due to the extra stress.

One word of advice, do not use the glass liftgate until it has been fixed, use the entire door.

[rivguy]

the plastic didn't break due to this problem - that is a whole different problem - the bonding used to hole the plastic to the glass expands at a faster rate than the plastic and breaks the pannel - there is a tsb out for this - try doing your homework before you go to the dealer - they will laugh you right out of there if you demand a new glass

[mercdriver001]

Originally Posted by rivguy

the plastic didn't break due to this problem - that is a whole different problem - the bonding used to hole the plastic to the glass expands at a faster rate than the plastic and breaks the pannel - there is a tsb out for this - try doing your homework before you go to the dealer - they will laugh you right out of there if you demand a new glass

I had my recall done a week ago last monday. Local ford dealer in norther indiana did it. late last week i drove to florida. last sunday i decided to drive around the lake here in florida. about 10 miles into the drive the rear glass shattered. sounded like a 12 quage. glass all over inside of car near back. Monday i went to ford dealer. took 2 days to determine that it was waranty work on my extended wall to wall coverage. of course i wasnt notified, had to contact the dealer myself. next they tell me part is on order and should be in by weds or thurs. I went in thurs evening and found out it will be next week. today i called mercury, they called the dealer and now im sure the dealer is upset at me. but i have been told a date will be given me next monday. will update on monday. checked with my dealer in indiana he says they broke 2 windows on install,. im the first that blew out afterwards.

[rivguy]

sounds about right - I've broke a few just doing the install for the recall - I've been waiting for somebody to have a problem after-the-fact - just the way the recall is to be done you can expect more problems than just yours - good luck on the new glass since it has been backordered and ford is the only one that can get them - this is the reson your dealer kept moving the date out - - I hate to say too bad but it isn't the dealers fault - that falls back on ford for the pattent on the glass so only their suppliers can make the stupid thing and not very fast at that.