NHTSA Complaint #10297936 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

THIS COMPLAINT MAY BE RELATIVE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA08018. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO MY 2002 MERCURY SABLE. ON 8-27-09 I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY A FRICTION GRINDING AND BEFORE I COULD SLOW TO A STOP, MY REAR TIRE BLEW. BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN WITH ONE OF THE SPRINGS PIERCING A TIRE. REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR ASSEMBLIES AND TIRE COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1200. I FEEL THAT IF I WAS GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. I WAS HEADED TO THE EXPRESSWAY THAT DAY AND WAS GLAD I NEVER MADE IT TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TODAY ON 1-3-2010, I WAS BACKING MY CAR FROM A GARAGE WHEN I HEARD THE LOUD POP AGAIN FOLLOWED BY THE HISSING OF MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS TIME THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING CRACKED AND PIERCED MY TIRE. AFFORDING TO FIX THIS DEFECT IS ONE HEADACHE. I AM LOOKING AT TOW AND REPAIR FEES. WORRYING WHEN THE FINAL COIL WILL BREAK CONCERNS ME MORE, AS I DRIVE THE HIGHWAY ALOT. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. AS OF THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT, MY VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED, AND I WILL SAVE THE OLD PARTS FOR EXAMINATION IF REQUESTED. I DO LIVE IN A "SALT BELT STATE", ILLINOIS, BUT MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT. IT ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2004 AND NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN GARAGE KEPT, BUT NEVER USED TO HAUL HEAVY LOADS OR ANYTHING TO COMPROMISE THE COIL SPRINGS. THEY JUST SNAP AND TEAR UP YOUR TIRES. *TR