NHTSA Complaint #10319606 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

2002 FORD TAURUS FRONT LEFT DRIVER SIDE SPRING FAILURE. LUCKILY, CAR WAS NOT IN USE WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IDLE FOR 1 FULL DAY (MARCH 12). TRIED TO USE IT TONIGHT, MOVED A FEW INCHES, SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WAS HUNG UP. THERE WAS A SOUND OF SOMETHING RUBBING AGAINST RUBBER. EXAMINED SUSPENSION BEING CLOSER TO THE GROUND THAN USUAL. FOUND FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM. IT HAS EXTENDED PAST THE BRACKET WHICH HOLDS IT. IT IS PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ONTO THE TIRE. IF I WAS TO DRIVE IT, IT WOULD MOST DEFINITELY PUNCTURE THE TIRE AND CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO LOOKS AS IF AT LEAST ONE OF THE REAR SPRINGS HAS BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS 102,000 MILES AND USED IN WISCONSIN. WILL BE CALLING FORD DEALER TO GET ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS AS I HEAR THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF YET. LOOKS AS IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MANY OF THE CARS MANUFACTURED AFTER THE 1998 TO 2001 RECALL, ALSO THE 2002 AND 2003 MODEL YEARS. *TR