NHTSA Complaint #10244287 — 2001 MERCURY SABLE

NOTICED A FEW YEARS AGO A RATTLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A SHEET METAL BRACE INSIDE A COVERED PANEL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MY SON MADE AN OBSERVATION THIS YEAR OF HOW LOW THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE DESTROYED, ONE HAVING GROUND A GROOVE ON THE INNER SIDEWALL DOWN TO THE CORD. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR - $1395.14, $243.90 OF WHICH WAS FOR REPLACING 2 GOOD TIRES DAMAGED BY THE SPRINGS. INCIDENT DATE IS JUST AN EDUCATED GUESS, AS THE FAILURE WAS NOT READILY NOTICED BY ME. REPAIR WAS DONE 7-12-08. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED YET. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REIMBURSE THOSE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE OWNED MANY FORD PRODUCTS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS OCCUR. A CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR EVEN DEATH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THIS ISSUE BEEN PROPERLY DEALT WITH. *TR