TRAVELING AT 65 OR 70 MPH ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY LAST SUMMER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED (CAUSING PAIN, BRUISING, ETC. BUT NOTHING APPARENTLY PERMANENT - NO PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM HAS EVER BEEN CONTEMPLATED). IT WAS SHOCKING IN THAT THERE WAS NO CRASH OF ANY KIND. THE PASSENGER THOUGHT THE BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER, NOT BEING CERTAIN, HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT SOME OBJECT (E.G., A SMALL PIECE OF TIRE RUBBER) WAS KICKED UP AGAINST THE CAR FROM THE ROADWAY. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT WITH ANYTHING. THE BAG TORE PART OF THE LEATHER SEAT (BEYOND THE SEAM). THIS OCCURRED NEAR THE 5 YEAR POINT RE: WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SEEMED RESPONSIVE AT FIRST AND ASKED THAT WE TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I DID SO, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT FORD INFORMED THEM IT WAS REFERRED TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND, THUS, THEY COULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT, LET ALONE REPAIR IT. THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO ULTIMATELY SEND A LETTER STATING THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY. OUR INSURANCE CARRIER IS UNCERTAIN AS TO HOW TO HANDLE THE CLAIM. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN THIS LINCOLN TOWN CAR IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL, ETC.? WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR FAILURE TO FULFILL ITS MORAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG AND REPAIR THE SEAT? IS THERE NOT A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IN SUCH MATTERS? NOTE: THE DAMAGE OCCURRED IN EARLY JUNE, 200