NHTSA Complaint #10297208 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE MY 2003 FORD TAURUS, I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DROPPED SUDDENLY. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND GOT OUT TO INSPECT IT. I FOUND THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE NOT ONLY FLAT, BUT NEARLY DRAGGED OFF THE RIM. IT HAD BEEN SPEARED BY THE COIL SPRING, WHICH WAS BROKEN AND HAD RUN THROUGH THE (ALMOST NEW) TIRE LIKE A HOOK. TWO-THIRDS OF THE TIRE SIDEWALL IS TORN OPEN. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT ANY GREAT SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALL OR TSB THAT MAY APPLY AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THE WOMAN AT THE DESK TOLD ME THIS TYPE OF FAILURE "TENDS TO HAPPEN", AND DID NOT SEEM AT ALL CONCERNED, OR EVEN SURPRISED, AT THE PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED ROUGHLY $400 TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND HAVE THE CAR ALIGNED. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN BACK FROM MY USUAL REPAIR SHOP FOR LESS THAN 3 WEEKS, DUE TO THE REPAIR OF OTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURES. *TR