NHTSA Complaint #746252 — 2000 MERCURY VILLAGER

TRAVELING INSIDE LANE; CRUISE ON 60MPH. ROCK IN ROAD APPEARED SIZE OF SOFTBALL. PASSED OVER ROCK SCRAPPING BOTTOM OF MANIFOLD SHIELD, HITTING THE PLIABLE PLASTIC SHIELD BREAKING FUEL PURGE VALVE, AND BENDING REAR STABILIZER BAR. LIST OF PARTS ORDERED FOR REPAIR BY GARAGE AND INSURANCE ADJUSTOR: CLOCK SPRING, AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE, STEERING WHEEL AND INSTRUMENT PANEL AIRBAGS, FUEL TANK, REAR STABILIZER BAR AND BRACKET, FRONT LOWER AIR DEFECTOR, FUEL PURGE VALVE, AND ALIGN 4 WHEEL SUSPENSION. NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ONLY, "THE ROCK DID IT." JACK IS TOTALLY DISABLED (ASBESTOS IN THE LUNG) AND JUST USED UP ANOTHER ONE OF HIS NINE LIVES. HE HAD BURNS ON HIS RIGHT THUMB/HAND AREA, FOREARM,; ALONG WITH SWELLING, BURNS ON HIS ABDOMEN, AND BROKEN BLOOD VESSELS IN THE CHEST AREA. THE CAR DID NOT STOP RUNNING, BUT DUE TO THE GASES AND SMELL, JACK GOT OUT ASAP AND A LADY THAT STOP TO ASSIST TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND REMOVED KEYS. THE CAR IS STILL AT FORD WAITING FOR PARTS.