NHTSA Complaint #10253330 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I OWN A 2002 FORD TAURUS SE WHICH I PURCHASED 5 YRS. AGO, ON12/30/08 I WALKED OUT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE FLAT. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE TIRE OFF AND HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO GET THE TIRE OFF DUE TO THE SPRING BEING BROKEN AND STUCK INSIDE THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. APPARENTLY, AND THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE, AND FORD MOTOR CO. THEMSELVES RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM IN MODEL YEARS 99-01 BUT NOT 2002. I FIND THIS ODD AS I'M SURE THE SAME EQUIPMENT THAT WAS USED IN THE 99-01 MODELS CAN BE FOUND IN THE 2002 MODELS. I INTEND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AS WELL AS REPLACING THE OTHER SIDE AS A PREVENTABLE MEASURE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY. THANKFULLY MY WIFE, AND CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE CAR OFTEN WERE NOT DRIVING IT WHEN THE SPRING BROKE. THANK YOU, R. WISE *TR