NHTSA Complaint #10339222 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

WHEN BACKING A 2003 FORD TAURUS FROM ITS WINTER STORAGE PLACE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, A STRANGE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT TOOK MORE POWER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE TO BACK OUT. UPON STOPPING THE CAR AFTER A FEW FEET TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS UNDER THE CAR, IT WAS NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. AFTER COMPLETELY BACKING OUT OF THE CLOSE QUARTERED GARAGE AND A BETTER INSPECTION OF THE TIRE AND ITS REMOVAL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE WHOLE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS TORN AND THE TIRE WAS IN TWO PIECES. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE BROKEN PORTION'S POINT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RIPPING THE TIRE. INQUIRIES TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER CONFIRMED FORD WOULDN'T DO ANY SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM BUT DID SAY HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL SOME TIME AGO BUT GIVEN THE VIN THIS VEHICLE HE SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED. AFTER A $700+ FIX AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE THE CAR WAS ON THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS WHEN THE RIGHTSIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND DID THE SAME THING ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS BEING DRIVEN BY IT'S 79 YEAR OLD OWNER WHO FORTUNATELY WAS ALL MOST STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT TURN WHEN IT BROKE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ASSISTANCE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED A SECOND TIME AND THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE FORD MOTOR CO. HAS NOT BEEN CALLED YET FOR ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL HELP OR SERVICE ON THIS SECOND INCIDENT YET. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, IF ANY, BEFORE CALLING TO THEM OR NY STATE LEVEL CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES. IT IS MY BELIEF THIS IS AN OLD AND KNOWN PROBLEM TO FORD AS MANY MECHANICS I HAVE TALKED TO KNOW OF MANY SUCH IDENTICAL INCIDENTS AND IT IS NOT SO UNCOMMON THAT. THERE SHOULD BE A PERMANENT RECALL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR