NHTSA Complaint #10256010 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

I WAS DRIVING A NORMAL DAY TO WORK AS I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF MY 2000 FORD TAURUS, AND AFTER PULLING OVER AND REMOVING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED OFF AT THE BASE. CLOSE TO A 6 INCH PIECE OF THE SPRING WAS PROTRUDING OUT OF THE STRUT HOUSING THAT THE SPRING SITS IN. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE AT 55 MPH. AS THIS PIECE OF SHARP STEAL WAS RAPPED AROUND MY STRUT I COULD NOT REMOVE IT WITH MY HAND, I HAD TO CUT THE BROKEN SECTION OF SPRING IN HALF WITH A CUTTING WHEEL, TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. WENT TO GET ESTIMATES, PRICES RANGED FROM 450$ TO 750$, FOR ONE STRUT ASSEMBLY. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE BROKEN PART. THUS BROKEN SPRING REMAINED ON CAR. THEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. SO NOW I HAVE 2 BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM EVENT, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS A LITTLE AND IT SEEMS FORD SAYS THAT IT IS DUE TO RUST THAT WEAKENS THE SPRING. B***S***! I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF OLD CARS ON THE ROAD WITH RUST THAT ATE THROUGH THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE CAR, WITH RUST COVERED SPRINGS, YET THEIR SPRINGS DO NOT BREAK. I HAD A 79 FORD F150 THAT WAS A RUST BUCKET, AND ITS SPRINGS NEVER BROKE AFTER TONS OF ABUSE. I BELIEVE THESE BROKEN SPRINGS ARE DUE TO WEAK STEAL AND POOR DESIGN OF THE SPRING. AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF OTHERS ON THE WEB FEEL THE SAME, AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR