Problems with 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac EQUIPMENT

On april 12, 2008 my boyfriend and i spent the morning at his sisters house for easter. we drove the truck to her house that morning and even made a stop at the grocery store on the way with no issues. that evening around 6 we had returned home for a while and decided to go out again. the truck was parked in the driveway with the motor running. my boyfriend was sitting in the drivers seat and i was standing in the passenger side doorway about to get into the vehicle. we were talking and he shut the driver side door, normally. when he did so the side airbags on both sides of the truck deployed. he was hit in the face and has since had a bad earache and headache. i was hit in my left arm causing brush burns, swollen and tenderness and bruising. we were unsure of how to get the airbags to shrink back so in an angry move my boyfriend simply cut them down so we could still use the vehicle. i contacted a ford dealership near my house and was told that they could look at the vehicle but i had no more warranty available. i then contacted ford motor company and was told that my complaint was being sent to a review board and i would hear from them in writing in 14 business days! at this point nothing has been done to correct the failure and i am very frustrated with the lack of help i am getting. *tr

This vehicle was purchased brand new in october 2004. six months along the car shut down as i was driving and failed to turn over. car was towed to the dealer where originally purchased and after four days car was returned to me. had no problems for the next 6 months. in february 2006 on my way home from work one evening, the car stalled once again . same situation . i had the car towed to another ford dealer. three days later got it back, they claimed the first time the car was not fixed correctly. yesterday june 26th i was about to get on the highway with my children in the car and as i am driving on the ramp to the brooklyn queens expressway it dies once again. this is the third incident with the same problem. i feel so unsafe in this car. imagine if it had shut down on me on the highway as i was driving. i would hate to think what would've happened. the car is a 2004 ford explorer sport trac. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 mph the steering wheel locked up and the control of the vehicle was lost resulting in an accident and injuries. the recirculation ball and the rack and pinion failed causing the steering to lock up. the dealer and the manufacturer were alerted of the incident. the consumer came around a corner and suddenly lost control of the vehicle, the consumer stated the vehicle was involved in an accident 5 months prior, and he believed the vehicle may have not been properly fixed which may have caused the accident. the consumer also stated the air did not deploy in this accident. the police concluded that the consumer was traveling too fast for conditions and upon rounding the corner, he lost control and struck the bank on the side of the roadway causing the vehicle to overturn. the consumer had previous repairs on the vehicle such as an inoperable turn signal light and the rear vents did not blow out air. updated 10/3/06 *jb updated 10/25/2006 - *nm