NHTSA Complaint #10332289 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

MY 2002 TAURUS WITH 76,097 MILES THAT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR 7.5 YEARS HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING RUPTURE. FORTUNATELY IT BROKE WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR AND MOVED ABOUT THREE INCHES IN MY DRIVEWAY. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE FLIPPED AND ROLLED AS I WOULD HAVE HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE. WHEN IT BROKE, IT TOOK ONLY ABOUT A HALF SECOND TO SHRED MY TIRE AND DROP THE RIM TO THE GROUND. THE RUPTURED COIL SPRING PUT A 5-6 INCH GASH IN MY TIRE AND BROKE THE SWAY BAR LINK. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY (FORD) KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. MY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO HAD THIS HAPPEN TO HIS CAR. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, BROKEN SWAY BAR LINK, AND STRUTS. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE REP TOLD ME THAT I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE SAME SPRINGS IN THE REAR AND THAT I MAY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THOSE, AS WAS HIS EXPERIENCE TOO. I ALSO HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE. TOTAL COST OF $989. WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, I NOTICED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FULLY AS IT HAS THE ABILITY TO CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR