NHTSA Complaint #10960131 — 2010 FORD FUSION

DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH STRAIGHT AHEAD, WENT OVER A VERY SMALL BUMP, A BIG NOISE AND THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SUDDENLY DROPPED. INSPECTION REVEALED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING HAD RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM CAUSING THE SPRING TO SLIP OUT AND PUTTING ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE STRUT CAUSING THE FRONT END TO COLLAPSE ON THAT SIDE. TURNS OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRONT SPRING WAS ALSO RUSTED EXTENSIVELY AT THE BOTTOM ALTHOUGH IT HAD NOT YET BROKEN. ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRING/STRUT ASSEMBLIES. CONCERNED THAT IF THIS HAD BROKEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE, COULD OF CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THINKING THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE LIMITED TO NORTHERN STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED MORE HEAVILY.