2003 FORD TAURUS Suspensionfront Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED A LOUD NOISE EMITTED NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THIS FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES BECAME FLAT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED CAUSING THE TIRES TO FLATTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS AND STABILIZER LINKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,100. UPDATED 10/27/11*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2011 *LN

LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. SPRING CONTACTED TIRE AND SHREDDED SIDEWALL. CONTROL AFFECTED BUT NO CRASH. MECHANIC ESTIMATES $525 FOR REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT SPRING/SHOCK UNITS AND ALIGNMENT.+ *TR

NO EVENT(S) LEADING TO FAILURE, ONLY STANDARD DRIVING CONDITIONS. FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. MOVING THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE SHARP END OF THE SPRING TO CUT THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE 180 AROUND. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR AND INDICATED 3-4 DAYS TO GET REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND COMPLETE REPAIRS. HAD WORK DONE BY LOCAL MECHANIC IN ONE DAY FOR ~ $1200 TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT STRUTS AND SPRINGS WITH (BETTER) AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS. *TR

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD-UPON INVESTIGATING IT, THE FRONT SPRINGS BROKE AND GREASE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED, SO IT WAS TOWED TO MY HOME GARAGE. *TR

DRIVING CAR, HEARD A LOAD CRASH FROM FRONT END LIKE SOMEONE HAD DROPPED A TRAY OF SOCKET WRENCHES. LOAD POPPING NOISE FOLLOWED. PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. FOUND A LARGE PORTION OF FRONT SPRING DRIVERS SIDE WRAPPED AROUND THE STRUT. THE PIECE WAS THE SHAPE OF A "C". I AM GLAD THAT THE SHARP END DID NOT PUNCTURE THROUGH THE TIRE AS IT WAS WITHIN 1/8" OF THE TIRE. I GUESS QUICK REACTIONS PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT. SPRING WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND FRONT END INSPECTED FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. OLD SPRING AND BROKEN OFF PART ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO A SEVERE PUNCTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK AND STRUT MODULE ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE AND FRONT SWAY BARS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,708. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 07/01/11

PUT MY 2003 FORD TAURUS IN REVERSE, BACKED UP ABOUT A FOOT , TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING WAS BROKEN. *TR

2003 TAURUS S/W LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AT 103,000 MILES. FOUND UNDER ROUTINE INSPECTION. NO TIRE DAMAGE, NO CRASH FORTUNATELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PIERCED THE TIRE. A SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 133,050.

2ND BROKEN COIL , 1ST PASSENGER REAR, NOW FRONT DRIVER SPRINGS. ON EACH OCCURRENCE FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED TIRE - SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT EA08-018. 2003 FORD TAURUS - 102,864 MILES. DATE OF LATEST OCCURRENCE. JANUARY 2011. *TR

PULLED OUT OF GARAGE AND HEARD A LOUD POP. FRONT STRUT BROKE PUNCTURING TIRE ON DRIVERS SIDE. WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3 WKS AGO IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 90K ON IT. VEHICLE IS IN GOOD SHAPE OTHER WISE. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALREADY REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE STRUT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT. VERY DISAPPOINTING. WAS HOPING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. AND JUDGING BY THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUSPENSION ISSUES, THERE CERTAINLY SHOULD BE. *TR

WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 FORD TAURUS COLLAPSED. UPON INSPECTION THE TIRE WAS FULLY DEFLATED. I PUT THE SMALL SPARE ON THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CAUSING A SHARP SHARD TO PENETRATE THE TIRE. THE SPRING BROKE INTO TWO EXTREMELY SHARP PIECES. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED WITH MY 1993 FORD TAURUS A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I CAN ONLY THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PIECE BROKE AND CUT THROUGH MY TIRE. I WAS AGAIN FORTUNATE THAT NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE SMALL SPARE TO THE REPAIR SHIP. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO RESPONDED WITH A GENERAL "BRUSH OFF" LETTER AND NOT RECOGNIZING ANY OF THE...

THE CAR IS MY DAUGHTERS. I MAINTAIN AND SERVICE THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. A WEEK AGO BOTH FRONT SPRINGS FAILED AT ONCE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CUT THE INSIDES OF BOTH FRONT TIRES CAUSING THEM TO BLOW OUT. FORTUNATELY THE TIRES FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE SHE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY COMMUTING TO OR FROM WORK. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FAILURE. THE PERSON SAID THAT THE 'OASIS' SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW ANY RECALLS ON THE SPECIFIC VIN. I THEN ARRANGED FOR THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC (WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR OVER 15 YEARS), SINCE THE FORD DEALER IS EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE. HE SAID THAT THE BROKEN SPRINGS (BOTH) TWISTED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CUT BOTH THE FRONT TIRES ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL. HE ALSO...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08018 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS. I WENT TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN I HEARD A POP. AND MY LEFT FRONT TIRE FLAT. MY COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH PROCEEDED TO TEAR MY TIRE AND BROKE MY SWAY BAR IN THE PROCESS. THIS COULD OF CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WAS ON THE ROAD DRIVING. I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL PARTS FOR BOTH SIDES AND TIRES. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE OTHER REPORTS ON THE SAME SUBJECT. AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS. I ALSO IN JANUARY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR END SUSPENSION TOO. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN TOO. *TR

WHILE WAITING AT STOPLIGHT, HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR WENT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO GAS STATION PARKING LOT ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY. UPON INSPECTION COULD SEE INSIDE SIDEWALL WAS TORN UP. CALLED FOR TOW. A SERIES OF BAD EVENTS HAD TAKEN PLACE, COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AT HIGH SPEED. SPRING HAD BROKEN AND TWISTED OUT TO SIDE SHREDDING TIRE. TORE OPEN PVC BOOT. SPRING ALSO DAMAGED AXLE. ALSO DESTROYED ANOTHER LARGE PLASTIC PART. ALL THESE PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACE AT GREAT EXPENSE. ALSO REPLACED SPRING AND STRUT ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR SAFETY S SAKE. FORD HAS RECALLED AND REPLACED OTHER MODEL YEAR SPRINGS, BUT NOT 2002 OR 2003. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY WITH FORDS PAST ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND RUPTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 04V332000 SUSPENSION FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CAR STARTED SHAKING THEN LOUD BANG, PULLED OVER AND FOUND DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE FLAT HAD CAR TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL. HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COIL SPRINGS HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRINGS AND TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE COIL SPRINGS AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/17/11*LJ UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN

BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. FOUND LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCHED A HOLE IN A NEW TIRE (LESS THAN A WEEK OLD). COULD NOT GET THE FLAT OFF BECAUSE THE SPRING WAS INSIDE THE TIRE SO COULD NOT PUT ON THE SPACESAVER SPARE HAD TO TOW. THIS IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR POLICY. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TAURUS WHEN I GOT A FLAT TIRE DRIVERS SIDE..CALLED AAA THEY PUT MY SPARE ON. I TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME A COIL BROKE AND RUPTURED THE TIRE..IT IS GOING TO COST $950..I WAS TOLD HOW LUCKY I WAS NOT TO HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT!!! ONLY HAVE 49,000 MILES ON MY TAURUS. *TR

I'M ADDING MY COMPLAINT TO AN OPEN INVESTIGATION #EA08018. MY 2003 TAURUS SUFFERED A BROKEN COIL SPRING TODAY WHICH PUNCTURED MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND APPARENTLY DAMAGED UPPER AND LOWER MOUNTS IN THE PROCESS. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR (INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE YET TO BE BROKEN OPPOSITE SIDE), IS 1800 DOLLARS. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POP. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED AND DEFLATED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE TIRE AS WELL AS THE FRONT COIL SPRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRES WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS PIERCED BY A FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE FRACTURED PORTION OF THE COIL SPRING WAS CUT OFF AND A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW COIL SPRINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,203.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CUT A SECTION OF THE COIL SPRING OUT IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TWO FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,632.

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE SUDDENLY, CAUSING FRONT CORNER OF VEHICLE TO DROP, VEHICLE PULLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT, AND BROKEN SPRING PIERCED TIRE ON 2003 FORD TAURUS. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED, POTENTIALLY VERY DEADLY QUALITY DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 TAURUS COIL SPRINGS, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR LATER MODELS, EVEN THOUGH THEY APPARENTLY HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

FRONT SPRINGS BREAKING ON 2003 TAURUS. LOUD BOOM IN FRONT OF CAR. RESULT IS A BROKEN SPRING DAMAGING FRONT TIRE ALSO. CAR WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WHEN IT HAPPENED. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE AS IT COULD NOT BE MOVED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE ENTIRE STRUT ASSEMBLY AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,523.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOUNT THE SIDEWALK. THE COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO BURST AS WELL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT COIL SPRING MALFUNCTIONING COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

2003 FORD TAURUS, PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE AND DAMAGED TIRE. *TR

TUE 28DEC2010 OUTSIDE TEMP = 21F I ENTERED DRIVER'S SEAT & IMMEDIATELY HEARD LOUD "BONG!" SOUND OF LF COIL SPRING BREAKING. I AM FAMILIAR W/ FORD RECALL# 04V332000 (NHTSA REFERENCE #04V332000) AND HAVE BEEN WAITING SIMILAR RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS DURING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08018, ONGOING FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW. I TRIED TO DRIVE OFF SLOWLY TO AVOID TIRE DAMAGE BUT COULD NOT, AS WITHIN THE FIRST TIRE ROTATION THE BROKEN SPRING SLASHED THE ENTIRE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE LF TIRE. REPAIRS WILL COST $300 FOR STRUT/SPRING REPLACEMENT + $60 TOW + $150 FOR TIRE, TOTAL = $510, AND I EXPECT RF TO BREAK IDENTICALLY AT ANY MOMENT. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF A SAFETY HAZARD IDENTICAL TO VEHICLES TWO YEARS OLDER HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS! *TR

ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AS I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE FRONT STRUTS AND COIL SPRINGS WHICH COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. TODAY, AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE ONCE AGAIN, THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. AGAIN, I WILL NEED TO SPEND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, THIS TIME TO REPLACE THE REAR STRUTS AND COIL SPRINGS IN ORDER TO ASSURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY USED TO DRIVE A FEW MILES EVERY DAY ON SMOOTH, PAVED ROADS SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE PARTS DUE TO THEIR BREAKING. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THE PARTS BROKE AS I WAS EXITING MY GARAGE, AND NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE TIRE TO FLATTEN. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE COIL SPRING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF SUSPENSION REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A SECOND MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 277,000.

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAS SIMPLY SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE POP. WE LOOKED TO SEE THE TIRE HAD GONE FLAT! WHEN I TOOK THE TIRE WE DISCOVERED THE FLAT WAS A RESULT FROM THE COIL SPRING BREAKING AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. SO NOW NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE SPRING, BUT ALSO A NEW TIRE. OBVIOUSLY FORD HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE 2001 CUT OFF MODEL ON A RECALL AND THEY NEED TO MAKE RIGHT WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD OWNER. THEY SHOULD BE AS LOYAL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS!!! *TR

WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP AND THEN MY TIRE DEFLATED LIKE A BALLOON. HAD A TIRE GUY COME TO FIX IT AND HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO A BROKEN STRUT/SPRING. IT HAD BROKEN AND SLASHED THE TIRE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. *TR

ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS SLICED MY TIRE SIDEWALL AND CAUSED MY CAR FRONT END TO DROP TO THE GROUND. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE BAD THING IS THAT IT IS MINNESOTA AND WINTER. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BAD. *TR

ON 12/20/2010 LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY. INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST 2 MILES AFTER DEPARTURE FROM HOME. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLAT TIRE. THE SHOULDER WAS NARROW AND THE ROAD WAS SNOW COVERED. WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD THE CAR GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. UPON RETRIEVAL FROM THE DITCH AND SUBSEQUENT TOW TO THE TIRE STORE WE DISCOVERED THE BROKEN SPRING ISSUE. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE SPRING/STRUT PROBLEM AS THE TIRE STORE DOES NOT PERFORM THAT TYPE OF REPAIR. WE ARE PLANNING TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS AS WELL AS REAR SPRINGS TO HAVE SOME PEACE OF MIND. WE PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AND WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FULL-SERVICE REPAIR SHOP ON 12/21/2010. THE TIRE STORE COULD NOT MOUNT THE NEW TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN SPRING. THE TIRE STORE MOUNTED...

I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND REALIZED I HAD A VERY FLAT TIRE. I CALLED THE SERVICE STATION UP THE STREET. HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT DOWN SLOWLY & HE'D PUT THE DONUT ON IT AND ORDER ME A NEW TIRE. WHEN HE LOOKED AT MY CAR AT HIS SHOP, HE SAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE, FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND SLICED THROUGH MY TIRE. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY OR I COULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. HE SAID I WAS ALSO LUCKY I HADN'T JUST PUT THE DONUT ON IT MYSELF AND DRIVEN IT OVER THE WEEKEND, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE SNAPPED THE DONUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND REALIZED MANY, MANY 2003 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. FORD HAS HAD TO RECALL SEVERAL MAKES & YEARS, BUT THE 2003 FORD...

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A SMOOTH PAVED VILLAGE HIGHWAY CAUSING A PUNCTURE AND RESULTING IN A BLOW OUT OF THAT TIRE. *TR

CAME BACK FROM VACATION (WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR ON VACATION), BACKED UP CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. LOOKED AND THE TIRE WAS FLAT. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WHEN TOW TRUCK OPERATOR REMOVED THE TIRE TO REPLACE IT, HE FOUND A BROKEN FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE, IT HAD NUMEROUS TEARS AND PUNCTURES. WE WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE COIL AND THE TIRE. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKE ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AND BLEW OUT THE TIRE. MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A POP SOUND. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. SOME DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, TIRE APPEARS TO BE UNDAMAGED. REPAIRS ARE PENDING. VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM THE WESTERN NEW YORK STATE AREA. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS FRONT AND BACK COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND THE FRONT PUNCTURED THE TIRES WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL PROBLEMS HAPPENED ON MARCH 1, 2010 COSTING $1149.01 WHICH INCLUDED THE TWO NEW TIRES WE HAD TO BUY THAT GOT PUNCTURED BY THE COILS. THE BACK SUSPENSION PROBLEMS HAPPENED ON MAY 10, 2010 COSTING $142.75. I HAVE READ MANY TIMES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS ON 2003 FORD TAURUS FRACTURED. THE FRONT SPRING FRACTURED WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE BRAKE LINES AND HIT THE TIRE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT CAUSED BY TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND BRAKING. BOTH REAR SPRINGS FRACTURED ON AN UNKNOWN DATE BUT FRACTURED AT THE BOTTOM WITHOUT TOTAL FAILURE. *TR

WHEN BACKING A 2003 FORD TAURUS FROM ITS WINTER STORAGE PLACE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, A STRANGE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT TOOK MORE POWER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE TO BACK OUT. UPON STOPPING THE CAR AFTER A FEW FEET TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS UNDER THE CAR, IT WAS NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. AFTER COMPLETELY BACKING OUT OF THE CLOSE QUARTERED GARAGE AND A BETTER INSPECTION OF THE TIRE AND ITS REMOVAL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE WHOLE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE WAS TORN AND THE TIRE WAS IN TWO PIECES. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE BROKEN PORTION'S POINT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RIPPING THE TIRE. INQUIRIES TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER CONFIRMED FORD WOULDN'T DO ANY SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM BUT DID SAY HE THOUGHT...

RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND BLEW OUT RIGHT FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY, MY WIFE WAS NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE,AND THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING AND STRUT ASSEMBLY. *TR

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN AM, THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND RUPTURED THE TIRE. VEHICLE LOWERED UNTIL FRAME WAS ONE INCH FROM GROUND. HAD TO BE TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE STATION FOR REPAIR. *TR

1) THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, NONE, CAR WAS RIDING SMOOTH, NO NOISES, BOUNCING, ETC... 2) THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES. THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUT SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THROUGH THE TIRE. THIS IS A HUGE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (30 MPH) WHEN THE SPRING LET GO. HOWEVER, I DO TAKE THE EXPRESS WAY TO AND FROM WORK AND TRAVEL OFTEN. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY I MOST DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL WHEN THE SPRING PUNCTURED THROUGH THE TIRE. 3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE? STRUTS, SPRINGS, AND TWO FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. LUCKILY MY DAD, A FORMER MECHANIC, WAS ABLE TO DO THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS FOR ME. TOTAL COST ENDED UP BEING $600. *TR

WHILE BACKING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW UP. IT WAS A LOUD NOISE. MY HUSBAND WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND THOUGHT I RAN OVER SOMETHING THAT MADE THE TIRE BLOW. WHEN HE TOOK THE TIRE OFF HE FOUND THAT THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. WE FEEL SO LUCKY NO ONE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. IT VERY EASILY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED SOMEONE. WE HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE CAR AND NOW I SEE MANY OTHER FORD TAURUS DRIVERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAD A RECALL FOR 1999-2001 CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR