Visibility: glass, side/rear (Ford and Mercury)
Vehicle safety improvement campaign 01I-010. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Apr 10, 2001.
- NHTSA: a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall
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The short answer
NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Apr 10, 2001. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
NHTSA files this as a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall.
NHTSA’s records of these campaigns say each is “not a safety recall”, but is “deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency”. What’s wrong and the fix are below, in NHTSA’s words.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
ROTATION OF THE BRACKETS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE LIFT CYLINDERS TO DETACH FROM THE GLASS OR, IN SOME CASES, COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE LIFTGATE GLASS TO BREAK. EITHER CONDITION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE GLASS IS BEING CLOSED.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT.
HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MONTAINEER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Visibility: glass, side/rear.
What should you do?
FORD DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE POSITION OF BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT LIFTGATGE GLASS LIFT CYLINDER BRACKETS. IF THE BRACKETS ARE IN THE PROPER POSITION, THE BRACKET RETAINERS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO A HIGHER TORQUE. IN CASES WHERE THE BRACKET IS NOT PROPERLY POSITION, THE BRACKET MUST BE RE-ALIGNED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND TORQUE THE LIFTGATE GLASS BRACKET ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT1-800-392-3673, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones does it cover?
NHTSA counts 50,224 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Ford Explorerand 2002, before the model years listed here
- Mercury Mountaineerand 2002, before the model years listed here
Who is running it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This campaign names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.