NHTSA Complaint #10213069 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

FAILURE/FRACTURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS AND RELATED TIRE DAMAGE. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AS FAR AS THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS CONCERNED UNDER WARRANTY ONLY FOR SPRINGS. MY CONCERN IS FUTURE SPRING FAILURE ON REAR SUSPENSION WHICH IS KNOWN TO HAVE SIMILAR FAILURES WITH NO SAFETY RECALL IN EFFECT AT THIS TIME. DESPITE THE NHTSA TESTS ON SIMILAR VEHICLE DEFECT, I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCIDENT IS UNLIKELY. I WONDER IF ONE OF THE NHTSA PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEST INFORMATION WOULD LET ME TRADE VEHICLES WITH THEM. WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR EXTENDED USE ON CROWDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS LIKE SO MANY OF US DO? THE PARTS IN QUESTION FAIL BECAUSE OF CORROSION. IN MOST CASES THE SPRING BREAKS AT THE LOWER FIRST COIL, FORD HAS INSTALLED A SHIELD TO PREVENT RELATED TIRE DAMAGE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 HERE IS MY POINT AS PLAINLY AS I CAN PUT IT. THESE SPRINGS WILL CORRODE AT ANY LOCATION DUE TO STONE CHIPS OR OTHER SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS. AS A RESULT THESE SPRINGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK AT ANY LOCATION RENDERING THE SHIELD AT THE LOWER COIL USELESS. THE RESULT COULD BE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL REGARDLESS OF WHICH, FRONT OR REAR, POSITION. SHOULD NOT FORD MOTOR COMPANY BE MANDATED TO AT LEAST INSPECT THESE PARTS FOR CORROSION IN OTHER THAN THE COMMON POINT OF FAILURE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THEM? FORD HAS INTRODUCED REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANT COATINGS, BUT IN THE CASE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS ON THE SAME VEHICLES KNOWN TO HAVE SIMILAR FAILURES, THERE IS NO CURRENT CONSUMER PROTECTION MANDATED. PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. ISN'T IT OBVIOUS THAT AT BEST THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY HALF CORRECTED! SINCE WHEN IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUCCESSES IN THE MATTER OF MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY! I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL SOON BE ADDED TO THE LIST. BOB ZAMOST *TR