2010 Ford Expedition

VEHICLE CONVERTED TO STRETCH LIMOUSINE BY IMPERIAL COACH IN SPRINGFIELD, MO. THE METHOD OF CONVERSION CAUSED THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONSTANTLY DISPLAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS CONVERSION ALSO HAMPERED THE TRACTION CONTROL REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO TURN OFF TRACTION CONTROL PRIOR TO OPERATING THE VEHICLE TO AVOID DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING AROUND TURNS. THESE OPERATING DEFICIENCIES ARE ONLY ON THE VEHICLE WITH VIN# [XXX]. WE WERE AWARE OF THE SITUATION WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WE HAVE SOLD THE VEHICLE "AS IS" AT AUCTION BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT IS BEING "FLIPPED" BY SEVERAL OWNERS. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE WITH AN UNKNOWING OPERATOR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2010 FORD EXPEDITION WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. A 2007 CHEVY SILVERADO THAT WAS ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE, MADE A LEFT-HAND TURN IN FRONT OF THE EXPEDITION WITHOUT YIELDING RIGHT OF WAY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE EXPEDITION WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP LEAVING SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT. THERE WAS NO TIME TO REACT AS IT TOOK PLACE SO QUICKLY. THE VEHICLES COLLIDED RIGHT FRONT TO RIGHT FRONT. THEN AS THE VEHICLES CONTINUED IN MOTION THE EXPEDITION WAS DRAGGED SIDEWAYS INTO A T-BONE TYPE POSITION WITH THE SIDE OF THE SILVERADO, AND THE FRONT OF THE EXPEDITION SLIDE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE SILVERADO IN THIS POSITION CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SILVERADO'S PASSENGER FRONT FENDER, DOOR, EXTENDED CAB DOOR AND FRONT OF THE BEDSIDE. THE BACKEND OF THE SILVERADO CAME UP OFF OF THE GROUND AND THEN THE VEHICLES SEPARATED. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE EXPEDITION WAS TAKEN OFF. IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SURPRISED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND ADVISED US TO STAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT POINT. THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE EXPEDITION, ALL WEARING SEATBELTS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER, A PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT AND A PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE SECOND ROW OF SEATING. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WAS HEAVILY BRUISED ACROSS THE CHEST FROM THE SEATBELT LOCKING UP. HOWEVER THAT PARTICULAR SEATBELT WOULD OFTEN LOCK UP AND START CINCHING DOWN ON WHOEVER WAS OCCUPYING THAT SEAT ON A REGULAR BASIS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. AND WHEN THE SEAT BELT WOULD DO SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNFASTENED AND LET TO PULL ALL THE WAY BACK IN, PULLED BACK OUT AND REFASTENED. SO EVEN WITH ITS PRIOR APPARENT DEFECT IT STILL LOCKED UP IN THE COLLISION, JUST NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.