2011 Ford Flex

ON 2100 HRS 21 NOV 2015, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A DEER STRIKE ACCIDENT ON HWY 36 VICINITY HAMILTON, MISSOURI. SHE WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE HIGHWAY 36 AT 55-60 MPH WHEN A DEER RAN INTO THE PATH OF THE CAR. THE IMPACT WAS FROM CENTER LINE OF THE CAR TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES UPON SEEING THE DEER BUT THE STRIKE AND APPLICATION OF BRAKES WERE PRETTY MUCH SIMULTANEOUS. SHE PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND COULDN'T EXIT THE DRIVER'S DOOR BECAUSE THE FRONT FENDER OVERLAPPING THE DOOR DUE TO IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT WHICH PROBABLY SAVED HER FROM ANY MAJOR INJURIES. BASED UPON THE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS THE FRAME AND INTERNAL BUMPER ARE EXPOSED APPROXIMATELY A FOOT BEYOND THE BODY WHICH HAS BEEN CRUSHED BACK. IN MY OPINION IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH FRONTAL FORCE WHICH SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAG. I THEREFORE FEEL THE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.

I HAD JUST FINISHED VACUUMING THE INSIDE OF MY 2011 FORD FLEX. THE REAR AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE WAS UP AND I WAS LEANING INTO THE BACK OF THE FLEX REINSTALLING MY CARGO NET WHEN THE HYDRAULICS FAILED AND THE LIFTGATE CAME SLAMMING DOWN ON MY BACK. I SUSTAINED BRUISING AND MUSCLE INJURY. IF IT WAS MY ARM OR LEG IT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN AN AMPUTATION. IF IT WAS MY HEAD / NECK IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY. IF IT WAS MY CHILD HE COULD HAVE BEEN PARALYZED. WHY ARE THERE NO SAFETY FEATURES THAT PREVENTS THE LIFTGATE FROM SLAMMING SHUT IF THE HYDRAULICS FAIL?

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE YESTERDAY, WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED INTO PIECES FOR APPARENTLY NO REASON. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. BASED ON INFORMATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OTHER FORD MODELS AND YEARS AS WELL. I HAVE SEEN WHERE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS SIMILAR ISSUE WITH 2010-2011 FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINER, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SHOWS 3 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FORD FLEX. *TR

AUTOMATIC/MOTORIZED REAR HATCH FAILED.....MOTOR OPENED HATCH TO FULL NORMAL EXTENSION AND THEN SLAMMED DOWN WITH NOTHING TO SLOW IT DOWN...NARROWLY MISSING MY 5 YEAR OLD CHILD. WAS TOLD SHOCKS FAILED AS WELL AS HATCH MOTOR.... SO NOTHING IN PLACE TO SLOW DOWN THE FALL. TYPICALLY IF MOTOR GOES OUT...SHOCKS ARE THERE TO SLOW IT DOWN. DEALERSHIP SURMISES THAT SHOCKS WERE PROBABLY ALREADY "OUT" AND THE MOTOR HAS BEEN CONTROLLING THE HATCH ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SHOCKS. "DON'T KNOW SHOCKS ARE BAD UNTIL MOTOR GOES OUT"..RESULTING IN NOTHING HOLDING IT UP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE EASILY INJURED MY CHILD IF I HADN'T REACTED SO QUICKLY. FORD CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS, BUT WOULD INVESTIGATE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR "CERTIFIED" 2 MONTHS AGO. NOT SOMETHING THEY CHECK DURING CERTIFICATION PROCESS. *TR