NHTSA Complaint #10324650 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

FRONT SPRINGS ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON HAVE BROKEN, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COMMON, BUT WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL NOTICE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN SENT OUT IN 2004. I DID NOT RECEIVE THAT RECALL, EVEN THOUGHT THE CAR WAS REGISTERED WITH FORD. NOTE - THESE WERE CLEAN BREAKS AND NOT A RESULT OF THE GRADUAL DETERIORATION OF METAL DUE TO RUST (CAUSED BY WINTER SALT). THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED A CRASH, BUT MY RESEARCH FOUND THAT IN MANY CASES THE FAULTY SPRINGS BROKE THROUGH THE SPRING SEAT AND RUPTURE THE FRONT TIRE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS - 2000 FORD TAURUS RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 04V332000 AUTO RECALL DATE: 20040715. ALTHOUGH THAT DEFECT APPLIED TO A MODEL YEAR 2000 TAURUS, THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN OTHER MODEL YEARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, PARTICULARLY IF THE SPRING RUPTURES A FRONT TIRE WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED ON REAR SPRINGS, WHICH HAVE ALSO PUNCTURED THE TIRES. AS SUCH IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE TO ALL OWNERS OF TAURUS AUTOMOBILES. THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE AND WILL NOT BE DONE UNLESS NHTSA DEMANDS IT. *TR