NHTSA Complaint #10256692 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 TAURUS, AND NOTICED A RUMBLING FROM THE FRONT END. SHE GOT OUT AND LOOKED, AND THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT (PURCHASED ONE MONTH PRIOR). WHEN I ARRIVED (AND THE TOW TRUCK RIGHT AFTER), WE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN, AND HAD PUNCTURED AND PRETTY WELL SHREDDED THE TIRE. A WEB SEARCH ONLINE OF THIS PROBLEM (I WAS TRYING TO FIND A DAMAGE ESTIMATE) HAS SHOWN NUMEROUS OTHER HITS, AS WELL AS THIS AGENCY'S OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY UNSURE OF ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. I DO KNOW THE COIL IS BROKEN, AND THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN PUNCTURED BY THE COIL. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE MECHANIC ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED (TIE ROD, RIM, ETC). WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE ORIGINAL DAMAGED COIL SPRING IS KEPT. *TR