NHTSA Complaint #10300169 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE DRIVING A 2002 FORD TAURUS. CAR LEAPT TO THE LEFT AND I HEARD LOUD SCREECHING. I BRAKED AND SLOWED, AND WHEN STOPPED I DISCOVERED A FLAT LEFT FRONT TIRE. WHEN I REMOVED THE TIRE TO PUT ON A SPARE, THE TIRE WAS STUCK ON SOMETHING IN THE BACK. AFTER TURNING IT TO VIEW - I SAW THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH THE TIRE! APPARENTLY, THE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND IMMEDIATELY PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND LOTS OF REPAIRS ($$$) WERE NEEDED. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL, ONLY ON 1999-2001 (SAME WIDESPREAD PROBLEM). AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE 2002 TAURUS - BUT FORD REFUSES TO EXTEND THEIR RECALL TO THAT YEAR'S MODEL. THIS WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING - I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD DISASTER MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED!! *TR