NHTSA Complaint #10263736 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AT 30 MPH, SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD SERIES OF CRACKING NOISES,FOLLOWED BY A BANG AS THE NOSE OF THE CAR DROPPED AND IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SHATTERED - PIECES OF IT TORE THE CV JOINT BOOT, BROKE THE PLASTIC SWAY BAR AND THE STRUT ITSELF WAS DAMAGED. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS CUT, BUT IT DID NOT LOSE AIR PRESSURE. THE CV JOINT, STRUT, SPRING AND SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND I FELT IT PRUDENT TO TAKE THE SHOP'S ADVICE AND HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE DONE ALSO (THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES) TOTAL COST WAS $1380. MY FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2003 MODEL YEARS (YET). HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE SPRING! YES, BUT THEY PUT IT IN THEIR CARS THAT THEY MADE! I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT MY REAR SPRINGS NEED REPLACING AS WELL, BUT I WILL GET A SECOND OPINION ON THAT. THE CAR HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT, BUT I STILL DON'T FEEL THAT THESE SPRINGS SHOULD BREAK LIKE THIS. *TR THANKS,