NHTSA Complaint #10127546 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

I OPENED ELECTRONIC SLIDING DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR VAN TO LOAD THE CAR FOR A WEEKEND TRIP. I KNEELED IN THE DOOR OPENING TO POSITION THINGS IN THE BACK SEAT. WITHOUT WARNING THE DOOR BEGAN TO SHUT ON ITS OWN. BEFORE I COULD JUMP OUT OF THE CAR, IT HAD MY CALVES STUCK IN THE DOOR. IT DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN AS I WAS INFORMED IT SHOULD HAVE WHEN IT HIT MY LEGS. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE DOOR OPEN AND ALLOW ME TO ESCAPE. MY RIGHT CALF WAS INJURED, THOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK THE SKIN, I HAVE A LARGE BRUISE FROM THE DOORS IMPACT APPROX. 2 INCHES HIGH AND 4 INCHES LONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (TED BRITT FORD IN FAIRFAX VIRGINIA) WHERE I PURCHASED MY VAN AND CARRY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS, ALL RELATED TO THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONING OR OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS AN INJURY DUE TO THE DOOR FAILURE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. **ABOUT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES LISTED BELOW: I AM UNCERTAIN IF I SHOULD INDICATE ONE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INJURRY OR THE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE DOORS OPENING, REFUSING TO OPEN, OR REFUSING TO CLOSE THAT PROCEEDED THIS LAST INCIDENT. I WLL INDICATE ONE FAILURE, MEANING THIS LAST ONE. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL IF I SHOULD INDICATE ALL THE DOOR FAILURES WE HAVE INCOUNTERED TO DATE. **I AM ALSO A BIT CONCERNED AS THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT AT TED BRITT FORD IN FAIRFAX, WHERE MY VAN IS REGULARLY SERVICED, INDICATED THAT HE BELIEVES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DOOR TO SHUT WITHOUT MY HAVING DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN I COULD NOT HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. I AM CONCERNED THEY MAY NOT CHECK OUT THIS PROBLEM ADEQUATELY AND JUST DECIDE IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR. I REMINDED THEM OF THE MULTIPLE OTHER DOOR FAILURES AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I ALSO LET THEM KNOW THE LIGHTS IN THE VAN (THAT COME ON WHEN YOU OPEN A DOOR), GO ON AND OFF WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS AS I AM DRIVING.