NHTSA Complaint #10264129 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

I DRIVE A 2002 MERCURY SABLE. I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A GAS STATION DRIVEWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD METAL SOUND, AS LOUD AS A GUNSHOT. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND ALL AROUND THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE CAR BUT I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT EVERY TIME I WENT OVER THE SLIGHTBEST BUMP, THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL APART (LOTS OF METAL SCRAPING NOISES). THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN AND THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THE SPRING HAD NOT PUNCTURED MY TIRE. THE MECHANIC CALLED FORD TO CHECK ON A RECALL FOR THE SPRINGS BECAUSE HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD/MERCURY CARS. FORD INFORMED HIM THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPAIR WHICH WAS A COMPLICATED MESS BECAUSE OF TWISTING, RUST, ETC. MY BILL WAS CLOSE TO $900.00. I WAS JUST THANKFUL THAT NO ONE IN MY FAMILY WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. AS STATED IN MANY OF THE COMPLAINT FORUMS RELATING TO THIS SPRING PROBLEM, I AGREE THAT FORD IS JUST WAITING UNTIL THERE ARE DEATHS INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WILL TAKE ANY ACTION. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. I OWNED A SAAB FOR 18 YEARS UNTIL MY HUSBAND TOTALED IT. I OWNED A TOYOTA BEFORE THAT. THIS MERCURY WAS FORCED UPON ME BECAUSE OF MY ECONOMIC CONDITION AT THE TIME. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD/MERCURY VEHICLE AGAIN. JUST AN ADDED NOTE: MY HUSBAND JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT HIS REAR COIL SPRINGS ON HIS 2001 FORD TAURUS ARE BROKEN. I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE IF FORD WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SPRING FAILURE. *TR