NHTSA Complaint #10460109 — 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

OUR 2008 MOUNTAINEER IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS WITH SETTINGS MEMORY. NORMALLY, WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATICALLY GLIDES IN REVERSE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM TO EXIT THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT GLIDES BACKWARDS, THE STEP BAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DROPS DOWN AND OUTWARD. FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, THE DRIVER'S SEAT (RANDOMLY) AUTOMATICALLY GLIDES BACKWARDS TO FULLEST EXTENT AND THE STEP BAR AUTOMATICALLY DROPS DOWN AS THOUGH THE ENGINE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND ONE OF THE DOORS HAS BEEN OPENED. IT HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY AT LEAST ONCE. IT HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN A 4 MINUTE TIME PERIOD THE OTHER DAY. EACH TIME IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME WAS WHEN I WAS STARTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I ENDED UP 2' OVER IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. LUCKILY, NO CARS WERE NEAR. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. *TR