NHTSA Complaint #10254393 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I OWN A 2002 FORD TAURUS. I LIVE IN A SUBURB OF AKRON, OHIO, ON A STATE ROUTE HIGHWAY. UPON ACCELERATING TO EXIT MY DRIVEWAY, MY RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO PUNCTURING MY BRAND NEW TIRE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE THE STEERING LOCKED . I HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH A FORD DEALERSHIP AND TO FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER. THEY STATED THAT FORD IS STILL COLLECTING DATA AS TO WHETHER TO EXTEND THE 1999 - 2001 RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS TO INCLUDE THE 2002 TAURUS. ACCORDING TO FORD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM EXISTING IN MODEL YEARS AFTER 2001 TAURUS & SABLES. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE AND/OR 150,000 MILES. BUT IT IS VIN NUMBER SPECIFIC. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. FOR THE SPRING TO BREAK / FRACTURE AT THE BASE AND FOR THE SPRING TO UNSCREW FROM THE SPRING SEAT, PUNCTURING THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. CAUSING IMMEDIATE & SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORD STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT OR SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL MY CAR? DID I NEED TO HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE FOR FORD TO TAKE NOTICE? THAT THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS! AS A SIDE NOTE; WHEN I FINALLY RETIRED MY 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS IN LATE 2007 WITH OVER 250,000 MILES IT STILL HAD IT'S ORIGINAL SPRINGS? AND THEY WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. NOW I AM FACED WITH A REPAIR BILL THAT IS 1,200.00. WHICH IS THE OVER INFLATED COST AT THE DEALERSHIP AND INFERIOR PLASTIC PARTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR