# NHTSA recall 04V442000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 04V442000
- Manufacturer's number: 04S20
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 2004\-09\-13
- Owners notified: 2004\-09\-30
- Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
- Units potentially affected: 955732

## What is wrong

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK.


## What can happen

IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED.  FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET.  ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES.  THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004.  A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2004, ADVISING THEM THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.  OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 04S20.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2002 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/2002/recalls.md). Built 2000\-08\-01 to 2003\-06\-23.
- [2003 FORD EXPLORER](/makes/ford/explorer/2003/recalls.md). Built 2000\-08\-01 to 2003\-06\-23.
- 2002 FORD MOUNTAINEER. Built 2000\-08\-01 to 2003\-06\-23.
- 2003 FORD MOUNTAINEER. Built 2000\-08\-01 to 2003\-06\-23.

## Investigated as PE04045

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE04045: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2004\-06\-02, closed 2004\-09\-28. REAR LIFTGATE GLASS ASSEMBLY. STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V442000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V442000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [TSB 19\-2026](/bulletins/10156863.md), 2019-04-08, Service bulletin
- [TSB 19\-2026](/bulletins/10155551.md), 2019-04-01, Service bulletin
- [04251](/bulletins/10014165.md), 2005-04-29, Service bulletin
- [16304](/bulletins/10013074.md), 2005-04-07, Service bulletin
- [18215](/bulletins/10010730.md), 2004-12-07, Service bulletin
- [16195](/bulletins/10008597.md), 2004-08-09, Service bulletin
- [02171](/bulletins/10008575.md), 2004-08-05, Service bulletin
- [0485](/bulletins/10008546.md), 2004-08-04, Service bulletin
- [17647](/bulletins/10007416.md), 2004-06-22, Service bulletin
- [01T02](/bulletins/10006545.md), 2004-05-05, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V442000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/04V442000)

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