NHTSA Complaint #10339247 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

DRIVING 20 MPH DOWN SIDESTREET WITH WIFE, 3 AND 6 YEAR OLD KIDS IN CAR. VERY LOUD BANG, CAR DROPPED A COUPLE INCHES AND WE PULLED OVER. THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THE SPRING WAS RUBBING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I JUST HAD THE 2 FRONT BROKEN COIL SPRINGS REPLACED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD TO WATCH OUT FOR THE REAR ONES, THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THEM. AS SOON AS IT HAPPENED I IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT IT WAS FROM WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME. I PUT THE DOUGHNUT ON, AND DROVE HOME. TIRE IS PROBABLY UNSAFE NOW AS THE SPRING HAS BEEN DIGGING A GROOVE IN THE SIDEWALL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD, AS I HAVE BEEN READING UP ON THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AND THE RECALL OF PRIOR YEAR MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, AND A LOT OF OWNERS ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING MISTAKE. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR FIXED YET BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY, BUT I AM EXPECTING THE REPAIR COST TO BE SIMILAR TO THE FRONT STRUT REPLACEMENTS PLUS THE COST OF A NEW REAR TIRE - PROBABLY IN THE VICINITY OF $1400.00. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A MANUFACTURER TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE WHEN THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE DAMAGE THIS IS DOING TO TOYOTA. I AM GOING TO WRITE A COMPLAINT TO THEM AS WELL. *TR