NHTSA Complaint #11175125 — 2017 LINCOLN MKC

I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SYNC SYSTEM WENT THROUGH A RESTART, KILLING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE DASHBOARD PANELS. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE ON A LEVEL SURFACE, BUT THIS TIME I WAS ON A 10-15% GRADE. I STOPPED AGAIN, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RETURNED ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL, WITH THE ELEVATION LOWER IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE CAR AND STEPPED COMPLETELY OUT WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS. I STEPPED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE HATCH WAS OPEN AND TWO FRIENDS BEHIND COULD CLEARLY SEE THROUGH THE VEHICLE, TO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T TOUCH THE PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. I JUMPED IN, BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DARK. IT STOPPED ROLLING WHEN IT COLLIDED AGAINST A PARKED TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET IN FRONT. THE ENGINE WAS OFF WHEN IT STOPPED. I THINK THE RECYCLE OF THE SYNC SYSTEM CAUSED AN INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE BRAKES, STEERING AND PUSHBUTTON TRANSMISSION TO BECOME NON-OPERABLE. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE OF $8568 TO MY MKC AND OF $1512 TO THE PARKED TRUCK. SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT INCIDENT, IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED AT A DEALER EVEN IF IT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE ON A LEVEL SURFACE AND WOULD NOT ROLL. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 7 MONTHS AND 8,819 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 27,474. DURING THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND THEN GONE THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL RECYCLE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF AT LEAST 5 TIMES. TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE ON A FLAT SURFACE. I RAN OVER A COONCRETE CURB A MONTH AGO. TONIGHT IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY & RAN UP ONTO MY FRONT PORCH, WHICH HAS A STEP UP OF ABOUT 6 INCHES. I CALLED LINCOLN CONCIERGE TO REPORT THE 2ND INCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS RECREATED IN A GARAGE - OR IT KILLS OR INJURES SOMEONE.