NHTSA Complaint #10275265 — 2001 MERCURY SABLE

BACK IN 2004 A SAFETY RECALL (04S71) WAS ISSUED FOR IN CERTAIN 1999-2001TAURUS AND SABLES. THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE WHEN OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING WINTER MONTHS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FRACTURED SPRING TO MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. IF A SPRING SHOULD FRACTURE AND COME IN CONTACT WITH A TIRE, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. WITH THAT SAID, ON JUNE 16, 2009, THIS EXACT SCENARIO HAPPENED TO MY BACK COIL SPRING ON MY 2001 MERCURY SABLE. FORTUNATELY, A CRASH DID NOT RESULT IN MY CASE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE SAME PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS THAT WERE PLACED ON THE FRONT TIRES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING SHOULD ALSO HAD BEEN AND STILL SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE BACK TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO AVOID A POTENTIAL UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR