NHTSA Complaint #10320019 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

MY WIFE AND I GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME, I STARTED THE CAR AND WENT TO LEAVE WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND CAR DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND ONE OF THE PIECES PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE IMMEDIATELY. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, HAD IT HAPPENED THEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER VIA E-MAIL AND BOTH BASICALLY SAID SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND I ACTUALLY KNOW SOMEONE PERSONALLY THAT HAD THE SAME THING OCCUR WITH HIS 2002 FORD TAURUS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING REPAIRED NOW, I AM REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION AND WILL TRY TO KEEP THE BROKEN SPRING BUT THERE MAY BE A CORE DEPOSIT INVOLVED. THIS DEFECT IN MY OPINION IS POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SOMEONE. UNFORTUNATELY UNTIL AN ENTIRE FAMILY GETS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY PROBABLY NOTHING WILL BE DONE. *TR