NHTSA Complaint #10259822 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

WHEN BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE FRONT PADS WERE GRINDING ON THE ROTOR....I TRIED TAPPING THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL..I DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND THE NOISE WAS CONTINUING...I STOPPED AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT...I CHGD THE TIRE AND PUT ON MY DONUT SPARE AND DROVE TO WORK ABOUT 4-5 MILES...AT LUNCHTIME I DROVE TO MY TIRE DEALER AND WAS GOING TO HAVE THE FLAT FIXED...WHEN THEY TOOK MY DONUT OFF THEY INFORMED ME MY LEFT-FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND HAD PUNCTURED MY TIRE....THEY SAID TO LEAVE DONUT ON UNTIL I COULD GET BROKEN SPRING BROKE..THEY ALSO SAID TO CALL MY MERCURY DEALER BECAUSE THIS WAS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM THERE WAS A RECALL....I CALLED MY DEALER SOUTH HILLS LINC-MER IN SMCMURRAY, PENNA. AND GAVE THEM MY VIN # AND WAS TOLD MY CAR DIDN'T QUALIFY...2002 MERCURY SABLE LS...I THEN MADE AN APPT WITH MY BODY SHOP AND PAID &532.29 FOR NEW SPRINGS/STRUTS FOR THE FRONT END....THEY ALSO TOLD ME MY LEFT REAR SPRING IN PRESENTLY BROKE ALSO.. *TR