THE RETRACTABLE POWER RUNNING BOARDS ON MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO DEPLOY AND/OR RETRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY, I FELL WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE GROUND, INJURING MY LOWER BACK (LUMBAR)IN TWO PLACES AND FRACTURING MY (THORACIC) SPINE AT T-12. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RUNNING BOARDS. I'M TOLD THAT FORD HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #17249 THAT DESCRIBES THE MALFUNCTION. FORD AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE LEFT IT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, TWICE ONE OF THE RUNNING BOARDS WAS STUCK IN THE OUTER POSITION AT THE TIME IT WAS LEFT FOR REPAIR. I HAVE MET WITH THE FACTORY ENGINEER ON TWO OCCASIONS. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND TELPHONE CALLS TO THE LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICEHOTLINE AND MET WITH SMITHTOWN LINCOLN MERCURY'S PREVIOUS AND CURRENT SERVICE MANAGERS. A DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TAKE AN INTEREST AND FORCE THEM TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE MALFUNCTION BEFORE OTHERS ALSO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES. *SC
2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. A DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DETAILED AND INFORMED THEM THAT SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SMELL ORIGINATED FROM THE UNDERCOATING. TWO DAYS LATER, HER HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE COUPLE RETURNED TO THE DEALER. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DEALER, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE LEAKED FLUID DUE TO THE SEAL UNIT. AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND STATED THAT HE WAS NOT PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND WANTED HIS OLD VEHICLE BACK. THE DEALER REFUSED. THE DISTRICT OFFICE STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE OLD VEHICLE BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE SINCE THAT TIME. CURRENTLY, SHE DOES NOT HAVE HER OLD VEHICLE, RETURNED THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASED, AND HAS NOT RECEIVED A REFUND FOR THE $3,400 DOWN PAYMENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48.