THE RUNNING BOARDS OF THE 2010 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR MALFUNCTIONED AT 78000 MILES. THE AUTOMATIC RUNNING BOARDS BEGAN RETRACTING AND LOWERING UP AND DOWN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (AT SPEEDS FROM TO 70 MPH) AND WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED WITH ENGINE OFF, MAKING LOUD GRINDING SOUNDS. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE RUNNING BOARD RETRACTED WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BOARD, LOCKING MY FOOT IN BETWEEN THE RUNNING BOARD AND THE LOWER BODY OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO FALL FORWARD ON THE PAVEMENT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS ON A SEMI-STEEP INCLINE. THE RUNNING BOARD LOWERED AND I PULLED MY FOOT FREE AND IT BEGAN TO LOWER AND RAISE MULTIPLE TIMES MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. I THEN HAD TO MANUALLY RAISE THE BOARD AND SHUT OFF THE AUTO FUNCTION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS TO KEEP THIS ISSUE FROM REOCCURRING. I NOTIFIED THIS INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY OPTION I HAD WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTORS. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHY THIS MAY HAVE OCCURRED NOR WAS I GIVEN ANY OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE OR CONCERN DUE TO MY VEHICLE BEING 5 YEARS OLD AND NOT UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY.