The rear coil springs in my 2001 Mercury Sable have failed. This is a wide spread problem with these cars and well known. It is not a question if your Sable/Taurus springs will fail but when they will fail. You should head out of were ever it is and get Ford to do something about this.

- Bridgewater, MA, USA

Passenger side; rear spring and strut of 2001 Mercury Sable failed causing an abrupt stop and minor loss of control. Vehicle was taken to repair shop where both rear springs and struts had to be replaced. Passenger side rear strut was bent. Repair cost over $700. Was told front springs under recall but not rear.

- Lincoln Park, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The rear springs continue to fail. The failure has occurred twice and punctured the tires on both occasions. The contact paid $237 for both repairs. The dealer and manufacturer have not offered any assistance. Ford Motor Company took a complaint on his behalf (claim number 1529113467). He stated that there was a recall (NHTSA campaign id number 04V332000) for the front springs, but not for the rear coil springs. The failure mileage was 58,000 and current mileage was 75,000. Updated 01/02/08 updated

- White Hall, PA, USA

I sent car in for inspection. I got a phone call from the shop and was told both rear strut assembly and springs were broke. I understand there have many complaints about this problem. Why is nothing being done and where am I going to come up with $650 to get the repair done.

- Tyrone, PA, USA

On Sep 6, 2007, my 2001 Mercury Sable at 56,640 miles was determined to have broken rear springs. My local Ford dealer replaced rear springs, struts, sway bar links, and upper strut mounts. This seems similar to problems that you have previously investigated.

- Framingham, MA, USA

2001 Ford Sable gs with broken rear coil springs customer states that this is a design defect** the consumer stated while getting a routine oil change it was discovered both rear springs were broken and the springs and struts had to be replaced. The consumer stated he would like an investigation to be done and reimbursed for out of pocket expenses for the defect.

- Dixon, IL, USA

Have a 2001 Sable that the left rear coil spring busted. Cost is over $900 to replace. Saw on many forms that other Sable owners are having same issue. Mercury replaced front coils, but not back......why not?

- Pickerington, OH, USA

Got in my '01 Sable and heard a loud bang. Couldn't find the problem so drove home. Some days later I had the brakes repaired and the mechanic found a broken coil spring, driver's side rear. I haven't figured out why Ford put shields on the front and not the back. Actually, I can't figure out why Ford doesn't replace these at N/C. I hate paying for other's mistakes like we're beta testers. I also had to replace both rear springs on my aerostar after they broke. You'd think the Ford engineers learned... unfortunately, I also own an '01 Taurus.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The contact noticed that the vehicle was lower to the ground on the driver side than on the passenger side. Prior to purchasing the vehicle and during the vehicle inspection, the dealer stated that the rear coil spring on the driver side needed to be replaced. The coil spring was replaced. The front coil springs were a part of recall # 04V332000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). The contact was advised that since the front coil springs have after market parts, he would be required to pay $250 for the repair. The current mileage is 86,000 and failure mileage was 85,000.

- Deerfield , IL, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. While driving 55 mph, the passenger side rear coil spring snapped. By the time the contact was able to pull over, the tire was shredded. He replaced the spring assembly at the time of failure. He later noticed that the driver side rear spring had failed in the same place as the passenger side spring. Ford Motor Company stated that there is a recall for just the front springs, not the rear. The current mileage is 45,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. The consumer stated the problem was due to corrosion from salt. The consumer stated does not know why the salt corrosion affected the front spring but not the rear spring. Updated 07/31/07

- Danvers, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. The contact stated that the driver side rear coil spring failed and caused damage to the vehicle. The failure occurred while driving 25 mph. The Ford dealer stated that there was a defect with the coil spring. The manufacturer stated that there was a recall regarding the front coil springs, but not the rear coil springs. The current and failure mileages were 52,000. Updated 02-01-08

- Muskegeen, MI, USA

Turning left had extremely loud noise due to fractured right front and left rear coil springs, replaced 4 coil assemblies.

- Derry, NH, USA

I work nights in kankakee, I had just got off of work and was heading home on route 45/52 South 3 miles from kankakee at 60 mph when I heard a noise coming from under the car about 15 seconds later the left tire blew, I pulled over to change the tire, when I removed the wheel I noticed the tire (side facing coil spring)looked as though it had been cut open like the top of a tin can, I then noticed the coil spring was broken and had a sharp edge protruding toward where the inner side wall would be, I mean this tire was cut all the way in a perfect circle aproximately 2 inches from the wheel edge, while changing the tire I was almost hit by a car that was passing another car.

- Crescent City, IL, USA

The contact owns 2001 Mercury Sable. While driving 25 mph he heard a noise in the right rear. He looked in the right side mirror and he could see part of the coil spring falling off the vehicle. The contact retrieved the coil spring. The dealer noticed there was missing pieces on the passenger side rear coil springs. There is a recall for the front coil springs (recall #04V332000). The failure mileage was 92,500 and the current mileage was 93,000.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

Right rear coil spring broke - puncture tire while driving.

- Cesson, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. While driving 50 mph, the front end of the vehicle would vibrate. The dealer noticed a fracture on the drivers side rear coil spring during a routine inspection. The vehicle is currently being repaired. There was recall # 04V332000 for the front coil springs. The current and failure mileages were 67,000.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

Left rear coil spring failure on my 2001 Mercury Sable with only 48,000 miles. Spring was rubbing on the tire. Little damage to the tread. Not enough to warrant tire replacement. I learned of an NHTSA probe of this problem on Consumer Affairs.com.

- Concord Twp., OH, USA

Heard a loud bang in rear of vehicle while driving. Further inspection revealed a broken driver's side rear spring. I then found out there was a dealer recall on the front springs due to them breaking prematurely, but no recall on the rear spring. I will have to replace rear strut and spring.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercury Sable. While driving 20 mph, the contact heard a loud noise. She noticed that the rear driver side tire was flat because the coil spring punctured the tire. There was a recall for the front coil springs (recall# 04V332000). The contact feels that the rear coil spring should be included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

Yet another Ford Taurus - Mercury Sable rear spring failure and no corrective action to date by the company or nhts. Your database is full of complaints. The mfg has recognized the failure of the front spring (recall# 04V332000), yet will not offer repair service or corrective action on the rear springs that appear to be the exact same part/design and are exhibiting the same defect. How many people don't even know of the website or the recall? Ford plays off the front spring failures to less than 2% failure, but mechanics performing state safety say they fail more then 25% of this model for the exact problem. If it's a failure for a state safety inspection, then it must be a safety concern, someone needs to take immediate action and add the rear springs to the recall list. I see avg repairs totaling over $500-$600 + cost of a new tire. Some one please review this major concern.

- Lake View, NY, USA