NHTSA Complaint #11309952 — 2009 LINCOLN MKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOPPED SIGN AND WHILE PRECEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS A FIRE WAS STARTED. HOWEVER, THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE VEHICLE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE'S RIGHT SIDE COAT SLEEVE WAS ON FIRE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS WIFE PATTED THE COAT SLEEVE TO EXTINGUISH THE COAT FLAMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS GASES AS THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WENT TO URGENT CARE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT DUE TO SHOULDER PAIN AND THE INJURIES TO HER WRIST FROM THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS HE HAD THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.