NHTSA Complaint #10356612 — 2002 MERCURY SABLE

2002 MERCURY SABLE GS - 103,000 MILES, NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION, ALWAYS MAINTAINED BY THE BOOK. ON APRIL 2, 2010 AT 8:00 AM, I WAS PULLING FORWARD OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT WHEN A LOUD THUD AND A GRINDING NOISE STOPPED ME FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. THIS WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE AS NOTHING ABOUT THE PREVIOUS DAY'S DRIVING HINTED AT AN SUSPENSION/STEERING PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING BEHIND BOTH FRONT WHEELS, I FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND A PLASTIC PIECE HAD BEEN BROKEN BY THE IMPACT. NO TIRE DAMAGE OCCURRED. I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT SO SPEED WAS LESS THAN 10 MPH BY THE TIME THE NOISE FORCED ME TO STOP. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT SPEED I WOULD SURELY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SABLE WAS TAKEN AWAY ON A FLATBED TRUCK AND COST ABOUT $1300.00 TO REPAIR USING NEW PARTS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, I DID RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT ONLY AFFECTS 2002-2003 SABLE/TAURUS, IRRESPECTIVE OF MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS COMPLAINT NUMBER 356 FOR THIS SPECIFIC MANUFACTURER'S FLAW. *TR