NHTSA Complaint #10409709 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

I HEARD FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL ISSUES POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE REGARDING THE FAILURE OF COIL SPRINGS ON THE FORD TAURUS. I TOO EXPERIENCED THE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY 2003 TAURUS WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DUE TO COIL SPRING FAILURE. WITH THE INITIAL JOLT AND SUBSEQUENT DRAGGING OF THE CAR TO BRING IT TO A SAFE AREA TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I HAD HIT A PERSON OR LARGE OBJECT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR I FOUND THE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SITTING ON TOP OF MY TIRE. MY MECHANIC ACTUALLY TOOK PICTURES OF THE CAR AS HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT HAD OCCURRED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS, SPRINGS, SWAY BAR LINKS, LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE SHAFT. ALL OF THIS AT 61K MILES!! FOR A COST OF $1300.00. IN CLOSING, MY 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 2 SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS POSTED TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR FELLOW MOTORISTS IF I WAS NOT ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY AND CONTROL THE CAR WITH A COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT END OR COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE (REF #FBN24-10467). BOTH OF THESE ISSUES OCCURRED WITHIN 4 MONTHS (5K MILES) OF EACH OTHER (66K - 71K) AND COST IN EXCESS OF $4,000.0 TO REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COIL SPRING COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE NHTSA AND THE OPEN INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08018) , I WOULD THINK EITHER FORD OR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE A NOTIFICATION OF THESE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR (AND THE OTHER YEAR/MODELS LISTED IN NHSTA ACTION # EA08018)) AND THE STEPS TO REMEDIATE THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THE ISSUE CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.