CarComplaints.com Notes: Most people need a car where the coil springs don't puncture or shred tires while driving. The Taurus fails in that respect.
The 1999-2003 Ford Taurus has a huge problem with coil springs breaking, which can puncture or even shred tires while driving.
The US government spent THREE YEARS (2008-2011) investigating the 2002-2003 Taurus coil springs. Although Taurus/Sable from earlier years were recalled, ultimately the NHTSA did not force a recall. They determined that because there had been no deaths & very few bad crashes & injuries, the broken coil springs defect was no big deal & not a safety defect. Tell that to all the owners who had close calls...
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,218 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving my front passenger side dropped & my tire exploded. It was discovered that the coil spring failed which torn the inside of my tire almost completely off. I know this has happened to other Ford Taurus however was told by Ford my VIN number was not included in the recall so they would not be checking into the issue. This happened without warning & had I been going faster, been in heavy traffic or on bad road conditions this would have been worse. I'm not asking for them to pay for it. Just include more vehicles in the recall to prevent fatalities.
Driving about 50 mph. Heard noise. Spring coil drivers front snapped. Hit no bumps, smooth road. Reading about Ford's issue with this. They should step up.
The driver side front coil spring broke, it simply snapped in half. It doesn't appear that it did any tire damage though I will recheck it after speaking to my mechanic who also told me that this is a common problem with Ford and he stated "the springs that Ford uses are junk".
When I put the car into reverse I heard a pop and then my tire went flat after looking at the tire I seen that the suspension coil was lodged in my drivers side front tire. The coil wasn't even rusted. I looked up to see if anyone else had this problem and there were tons of Taurus that this has happened to.
- Hillsboro, OH, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph when the front passenger side tire suddenly blew, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the front passenger side coil spring had ruptured and punctured the front passenger's side tire. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V332000 (suspension) and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 156,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact shifted into reverse and the front driver's side coil spring failed, causing the tire to blow. The contact did not take the vehicle to a mechanic or dealer. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The contact did not have any repairs done performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 122,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, an extremely loud noise emitted as the vehicle began to swerve. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the contact noticed that the front driver's side coil spring had fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence and was not repaired or diagnosed for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. A section of the broken spring punctured the tire causing it to blow out. The two front tires were replaced at a cost of $300. Two new front strut/spring assemblies were installed. Parts $220 labor $175, broken stabilizer link $19.68. The right front strut was replaced as a precaution as the spring was rusty.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the passenger's side coil spring fractured and punctured the front passenger's side tire. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side coil spring needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 99,103.
Brought car in for inspection and the rear coil spring fractures almost slicing the tire. Why is this not a recall as the number of complaints are quite enormous. Plus this is dangerous and a life could be lost!
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side coil spring fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the coil spring was replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 109,833.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving in reverse approximately 5 mph, a loud noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the front passenger's side tire was deflated and exhibited a puncture as a result of the fractured coil spring. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was experienced several times. The manufacturer had not been notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 06/18/13 the consumer stated the coil springs in the front failed 3 times as well as 2 in the back. This failure punctured 3 tires causing them to go flat. Updated 06/24/2013
I looked up my car recalls and there where 3 and when I called Ford they told me that this website is wrong and there is no recalls. Even when everything that is wrong with my car is on the recalls. I just need to known what to do now.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact was driving approximately 50 mph when a loud noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The contact continued to drive to her destination and later noticed that the front driver's side tire was deflated. The tire was replaced with the spare tire. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who advised that both front coil springs were fractured and had punctured the tire, causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired and both tires were replaced. In addition, both rear coil springs were also recommended to be replaced. The repair was not performed. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 161,000.
Took car to tire shop for wheel alignment. Shop called to us that right rear spring broke at top of coil near the rubber damper. No accident has ever occurred with this vehicle. Told by shop both rear springs must be replaced for safety purposes. Shop and local Napa store confirmed that this problem is rampant on older Ford Taurus models. Found online that 99-01 Ford Taurus has already been recalled for this issue, but not 2002 model. Spoke with Ford today and put them on notice about this problem.
This incident is like the others previously filed. The left front coil spring broke and popped the tire. Actually slicing inside the tire. The mechanic said he sees this problem alot. There should be a recall. I had to change both front springs for the safety of the vehicle.
Left front coil spring snapped in two places - approx 3/4 of a coil at the top and approx 1/2 coil at the bottom. Sliced tire all the way through the inside sidewall - almost all the way around. Also damaged the top mount of the sway bar link. This is my daughter's car. Had this occurred at speed on a two-lane highway I shudder to think of the result - the drag would have sent the car immediately into oncoming traffic! as possible background, we had a cold snap recently where the temp got down to single digits. My daughter's Taurus was parked beside our garage. There was a sudden loud, metallic bang in the area of her car - sounded almost as if a rock had been thrown at it - but even louder. I went outside to investigate but I couldn't see anything obvious. Next time my daughter attempted to drive the car she only got a few feet down the drive when she stopped to alert my wife of a 'horrible grinding noise'. my wife thought it was just rusty brakes due to non-use of the car while she was away at college. When my daughter put it back in gear and pulled out into the street the left front corner collapsed to the ground. I had the car repaired today but now I'm seeing evidence on the internet that these coil springs have been failing and continue to fail even beyond the 1999-2001 models previously recalled. I also have a 2004 Sable and a 2007 Taurus. How can I not be concerned about a possible spring defect on them as well"? regardless, how can Ford be allowed to trivialize our lives with such a glaring risk which can only be mitigated by proactive recall? (it sure would help to know the resolution of prior recall - was it better metal or thicker coil spring") anyway, please help!
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the passenger side coil spring fractured and destroyed the front passenger side tire. The contact stated that he ordered a spring and a strut and would personally repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and stated there was no recall and offered no other assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 75,000.
I have had to replace all the coil springs on my 2002 Ford Taurus. I was lucky not to be on the highway when the front one broke. I was more or less setting idle when it broke. The spring went through the tire. I have been told other people have had the same problem. Ford Motor Company should have to do something about it.
The vehicle was parked in garage when this incident happens. I heard a loud noise and noticed front driver side tire blew. After I removed the tire I realize the front driver side coil spring fractured and punctured the tire. As I think it is a safety concern I called Ford informing this incident. The vehicle was towed to a local garage and my mechanic advised to change both sides of front coil springs and struts. The vehicle will be repaired in two days.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kewaskum, WI, USA