NHTSA Complaint #10371611 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING IN THE STRUT BROKE AND SLASHED THE ADJACENT TIRE. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO BE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH STRUT ASSEMBLIES FOR SAFETY SAKE, REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRE AS WELL. WE OPTED TO REPLACE THE OTHER THREE TIRES DUE TO WEAR. ALSO, THE GARAGE RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND LH SIDE TIE ROD END. THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AS WELL. TOTAL COST $1871. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1999 THRU 2001 TAURUS CARS BUT NOTHING COVERING UP TO AND INCLUDING 2003'S. I ALSO THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE CUTOFF TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN A CAR EXCEEDS 100000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND ALL FORD TAURUS CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT WHEN GOING 65MPH! SEVERE INJURY AND DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT AND OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED! I IMPLORE NHTSA TO FORCE FORD TO ENGAGE IN A RETROACTIVE RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED TAURUS CARS. IT IS INEXCUSABLE TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. I CAN UNDERSTAND A BROKEN SPRING CAN OCCUR, BUT THE COMPLAINTS CLEARLY SHOW THAT THE SPRING THEN SLASHES THE TIRE, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE BLOWOUT AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.