NHTSA Complaint #10267580 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I OWN A 2002 FORD TAURUS AND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT 3 OF 4 COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE LEFT REAR SPRING SPUN AND CUT A GOUGE IN A TIRE WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM SO FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS I WAS SOCKED WITH A $400 BILL. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE SPRINGS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SEE BELOW ASSOCIATED PRESS TUE, OCT. 04, 2005 WASHINGTON - THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE REAR COIL SPRING CAN FRACTURE AND PUNCH A HOLE IN THE REAR TIRES OF SOME MODELS OF THE FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE, FEDERAL AUTO SAFETY OFFICIALS SAID TUESDAY. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SAID IT OPENED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2000-2001 MODELS OF THE TAURUS AND SABLE SEDANS AFTER RECEIVING 131 COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. THE INQUIRY INVOLVES ABOUT 467,000 VEHICLES. THE TAURUS WAS AMONG THE BEST-SELLING PASSENGER CARS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE TWO MODEL YEARS. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS CAME FROM NORTHERN STATES WHERE VEHICLES ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO SALT CORROSION DURING THE WINTER. ABOUT HALF OF THE OWNERS WHO FILED COMPLAINTS SAID THERE WERE PUNCTURES IN THE REAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR