NHTSA Complaint #10185634 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. I CHECKED THE FRONT END BUT COULD NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS. I DROVE FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AND HEARD A BANG AS THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN I CHANGED THE TIRE I FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING IMPALED IN THE TIRE'S SIDEWALL. THE SPRING BROKE AND THE SHARP END ROTATED INTO THE TIRE. FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER, I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON I-80 BEFORE EXITING AT MISHAWAKA. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE , AND THE SPRING/STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS VREPLACED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER COMMENTED HE HAD SEEN APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THESE INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS.*AK