NHTSA Complaint #10414472 — 2002 FORD TAURUS

ON MAY 15, 2011 I WAS USING MY 2002 FORD TAURUS TO RUN ERRANDS . AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I BECAME AWARE OF A STRANGE ODOR, ALL OF THE GAUGES APPEARED NORMAL, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. HOWEVER, I WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH TO GET A SECOND OPINION. FORTUNATELY, THE FACILITY THAT NORMALLY SERVICES MY VEHICLE IS LOCATED LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM MY HOME. AFTER VISUALLY INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND CHECKING ALL FLUIDS THE MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ATTEMPTING TO DUPLICATE THE SMELL. THE CAR ONLY TRAVELED A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ON A LIFT, REVEALED A BROKEN LEFT REAR COIL SPRING. THE JAGGED END OF THE SPRING WAS PROTRUDING INTO THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, HAVING CAUSED IT TO RAPIDLY DEFLATE. THE MECHANIC THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL I EXPERIENCED WAS MOST LIKELY THE BROKEN SPRING RUBBING ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. TO MY ASTONISHMENT I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAIRLY COMMON EVENT AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE OF THE REMAINING 3 COIL SPRINGS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUED USE OF THIS VEHICLE, I AM WELL AWARE OF THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUDDEN DEFLATION OF A TIRE AT ROAD SPEED. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BECAUSE I WAS ALSO TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT AT ONE TIME FORD HAD A RECALL AND A CAMPAIGN TO REMEDY SUCH A PROBLEM. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS.