NHTSA Complaint #10329340 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE STREET AND CALLED A MECHANIC. UPON REMOVING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HE DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND THAT THE JAGGED EDGED OF THE SPRING HAD SLICED THROUGH THE TIRE SIDE WALL. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE MECHANICS GARAGE WHERE UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION HE FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK AND THE LEFT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE - SO FAR. THE CONSEQUENCE IN THIS CASE WERE NOT CATASTROPHIC - LOSS OF USE OF THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND A $950 DOLLAR REPAIR BILL ALTHOUGH I HATE TO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND HAD THIS HAPPEN. I'M AFRAID IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A SERIOUS CRASH PERHAPS WITH SERIOUS OR CRITICAL INJURIES OR DEATH. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FORD RECALLED THE 1999-2001 TAURUS MODELS IN NORTHERN STATES FOR THIS SAME DEFECT AND PAID TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT COIL SPRINGS MODIFIED WITH A GUARD TO PREVENT SUCH CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE SHOULD A SPRING BREAK AGAIN. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE AT LEAST THE 2002 MODEL YEAR WHICH I'M TOLD USES EXACTLY THE SAME SPRINGS AS THE 199-2001 MODEL FORD TAURUS. *TR