NHTSA Complaint #10396321 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 4, 2011, I STARTED MY 2002 FORD TAURUS SE WAGON AND PUT IT IN REVERSE. THE MOMENT THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE, I HEARD A LOUD "BANG" SOUND AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT THE FRONT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS FLAT. I CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN SLASHED BY THE SPRING THAT HAD JUST BROKEN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT WHEN THE COIL SPRING BROKE IT DAMAGED THE SWAY BAR LINK AS WELL AS CUTTING UP MY TIRE. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS, 1 SWAY BAR LINK, AND 1 TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1999 - 2001 TAURUS, BUT NOT THE 2002. FORD IS BEING VERY NEGLIGENT BY NOT EXTENDING THE RECALL TO THE 2002 TAURUS. IT IS UNFAIR THAT I, AND MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FAULTY PARTS. THE ONLY THING I AM GRATEFUL FOR IS THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. BY IGNORING THIS PROBLEM AND NOT EXTENDING THE RECALL, FORD IS NOT ONLY CAUSING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS FOR CUSTOMERS, THEY ARE ALSO ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION OF FAULTY COIL SPRINGS ON THE FORD TAURUS.