NHTSA Complaint #10317665 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I DRIVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS. I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FRONT-LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, SEVERELY DAMAGING THE ADJACENT TIRE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, THE SWAY BAR LINK, FRONT TIRE AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE GARAGE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER REPLACING THE TIRE. THE REPAIR COST ~$800. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED PLASTIC GUARDS ALONGSIDE THE COIL SPRINGS IN CASE THEY BROKE AGAIN SO THE TIRE WOULDN'T BE SHREDDED. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 1996 TAURUS AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO IT; LUCKILY IN BOTH CASES I WAS NOT DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY ROADWAY. I NOTICE THAT FORD CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL FOR 1999-2001 TAURUS (NHTSA RECALL # 04V332000), BUT NOT THE 2002. ANECDOTALLY, FROM SPEAKING WITH MECHANICS AND THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE TAURUS IN GENERAL, NOT JUST THE 99-01 MODELS. *TR