WHILE DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AIRBAG FROM THE SIDE OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE AND A FOUL ODOR. MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT WAS SCREAMING IN PAIN. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO ATTEND TO HER INJURIES. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT SHE HAD BEEN SHOT. SHE HAD BURNS, CUTS, AND BRUISING ON HER BACK AND RIGHT SIDE. WE BOTH HAD TROUBLE BREATHING. WE FOUND A POLICE OFFICER AND HE TOLD US TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. WHICH WE DID. WE CONTACTED LINCOLN/FORD WHILE ON OUR WAY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WE WERE DIRECTED FROM A RECORDING TO CONTACT LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH ANY COMPLAINTS. WE CONTACTED THE CAVENAUGH LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN JONESBORO, ARKANSAS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO PROVE THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $2,000.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THEY EVEN NOTED ON THE WORK ORDER THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME KIND ON FACTORY DEFECT AND I WANTED THEM TO VERIFY OR DENY THIS. THEY IN RETURN CHARGED ME $103.00 FOR ESTIMATE THEY MADE OF THE REPAIRS. TO THIS DATE WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE WHAT KIND IF ANY CHANGES OR REPAIRS THE MOTOR COMPANY ARE WILLING TO MAKE. *NM