NHTSA Complaint #10349354 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2005 THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS. A PORTION OF THE COIL SLIPPED PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT LEAVING THE SHARP BROKEN EDGE ABOUT 1/4 INCH FROM THE TIRE. IT IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THIS SHARP EDGE WILL PROBABLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE IF THE COIL SPRING SLIPS FURTHER, PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT. THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE. AS AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SITUATION, THE PORTION OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING NEAR THE TIRE WAS GROUND DOWN GIVING IT ABOUT 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE TIRE. THE COIL SPRINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED, BUT REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT AND CONCRETE ROADS IN AVERAGE CONDITION. COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL IF A CAR IS DRIVEN USING NORMAL CARE. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2010 THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. *TR