NHTSA Complaint #10278186 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO GO TO MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HAD A FLAT TIRE. MY SON WENT TO HELP ME PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE, BUT AFTER HE TOOK THE FLAT TIRE OFF HE SAW THAT IT HAD BEEN PUNCTURED ODDLY, AND SAW THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PUNCTURE WAS A BROKEN COIL SPRING WHICH IS PART OF THE STRUTS. THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT IT HAD A SHARP POINT WHERE IT WAS BROKEN, AND A CENTER PORTION- ABOUT 4 TO 5 INCHES OF THE SPRING ACTUALLY HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF COMPLETELY. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR FELL AND ALMOST BROKE HIS HAND WHILE HE WAS EXAMINING THIS, LUCKILY HE WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO MOVE HIS HAND AWAY. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON, BUT THE COIL SPRING WAS ACTUALLY TOUCHING AND RUBBING ON TOP OF THE SPARE TIRE. I DROVE THE CAR, VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND SLOWLY TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT ALL MY STRUTS WERE BAD, AND THE COIL SPRING ON THE BACK PASSENGERS' SIDE WAS ALSO BROKEN AND ACTUALLY RUSTING AWAY. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR EVERYTHING,INCLUDING 4 NEW COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS, NEW TIRE, NEW TIE RODS WAS $1,239 PLUS TAX. I HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED, THERE WASN'T ANY WAY I COULD TAKE THE CHANCE OF DRIVING THIS CAR OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS LAID OFF OF MY JOB THIS PAST JANUARY, SO THIS IS A BIG SET BACK FINANCIALLY FOR ME. I AM LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. *TR