NHTSA Complaint #10298589 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

AS I WAS BEGINNING TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE LEFT, FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKE, RUPTURED THE TIRE, AND PUT A 4-8" GASH INTO THE BACK OF TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES, AS THIS WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM A RECALL OF EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, I HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THIS ALSO INVOLVED HAVING TO GET AN ALIGNMENT. FORTUNATELY, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY - WE WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A HIGHWAY IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. NO INJURIES, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR