My father went to move our 2002 Mercury Sable, which is currently in storage. After climbing in the driver's side he heard a loud "bang"; when he checked the drivers front tire was flat. He jacked up the car to remove the wheel for repair, and found that the spring had broken, cutting the tire. When I spoke to him he mentioned having the same issue with his 2001 Sable, which was covered under a recall. It appears Ford has not fixed this problem, and wants to sweep it under the rug. I'm just thankful it happened while sitting in a garage, and not when my wife or children were in it. We just stuck a lot of money into a head gasket repair on the engine (a problem I'd heard of others having with this engine), but hadn't heard how many times this had turned up with Taurus/ Sable. This is almost as bad as the Toyota's; how many of these are on the road with springs that could break at any time? Ford needs to take action to correct this, now.

- Wausau, WI, USA

Started up my 2002 Mercury Sable with 140,000 miles on it in the driveway. Put the car into reverse. Heard an awful noise. Got out the car the left front driver's tire was flat. Took tire of and found that the driver's side front coil snapped of and gouged the tire. Luck this was in the driveway and not on the open road. Noticed on line that there are many complaints about this, but that Ford only has a recall for years 1999 to 2001. This doesn't seem right.

- Baldwinsville, NY, USA

I have a 2002 Mercury Sable that broke a front coil spring and noticed that 2001 Mercury Sable were recalled for the same problem NHTSA campaign id # 04V332000 action #PE04044 should this recall be updated to include year model 2002?

- Constantia, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Mercury Sable. He heard an unusual noise coming from the vehicle while driving approximately 25 mph, and upon further inspection, he noticed that the front driver's side tire was flat. In an attempt to change the defective tire, he heard the same noise a second time. He then noticed that the front driver's side coil spring had fractured and punctured the tire through the sidewall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the manufacturer was contacted. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 74000 and the current mileage was 74000.

- Lowell, MA, USA

In February 2010 while leaving our home heading towards highway I noticed the car handling unusual. Pulled off to the side and had a front left flat tire. Had the tire changed it was totally shredded on the inside and was not able to move the car. After inspecting the tire there was a piece of broken coil spring inside the tire. My car now sits in the driveway because of the cost Ford wants to repair the problem and if I have it repaired "I can pursue a refund if a recall is made". this has caused now the need to also have to purchase new tires.

- No. Attleboro, MA, USA

A front coil spring broke and punctured my front tire on my 2002 Mercury Sable. It happened when I was pulling out of a parking spot. I had it towed to a dealership for repairs.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

While backing out of a driveway the front right coil spring fractured and tore a 1foot long hole on the inside wall of the tire. The car was towed to a repair facility, where beside the front right coil spring and tire replacement, I had both front strut assemblies replaced on each side. I have the spring and tire. Evidence of corrosion on spring, mileage 101000. I contacted Ford and they told me there was no recall and they couldn't do anything about it. I subsequently found out that the 2001S were recalled for the same problem, and the solution was to install a spring shield. Ford did not tell me anything about it. I am appalled that the problem was recognized in 01 and was not rectified by 02, and that I was not told anything about a preventable spring shield on the 01S. Why should I have to pay for something or worry about a potentially life threatening situation, for which Ford appears to be fully aware of.

- Sparta, NJ, USA

My 2002 Mercury Sable has broken all four coil springs, both sets in multiple fractures in each spring. Although they admit this is frequent (the local dealer service garage said that they had seen hundreds of 02S with this problem, I believe that the 450 or so shown on this site on this site is very far off) the front pair broke around the 50,000 mark, it took about five visits to the dealer to get even limited credit toward replacement. The failure was progressive, sag was only noticed when it got extreme. Interestingly they did break in pairs. Tire damage occurred when one edge of the spring protruded into the tire. They refused to allow me to keep the spring/strut combo(the struts were leaking from the added abuse and travel) the spring looked to have broken through inclusions in the steel, from my auto industry connections, I found these had been sourced in china, and were hold-overs from the 2001 model. At about the 80,000 mile mark, the rear springs were obviously failed, again multiple crack points, one tire was gouged out by the protruding spring. Dealer service again indicated that no help was being issued, despite again in their words hundreds of complaints I still have both the damaged tire and spring/strut combos. Again, the fracture surface was marked with inclusions, and voids, corrosion looked to be secondary. I have run into at least five additional owners who have a fracture and were denied any satisfaction from Ford. Ford zone and regional people underplay the problem as if trying to convince it is rare, yet both times the service people indicate it to be common. This has been very frustrating. There are also unscrupulous repair facilities, one of which initially refused to take my car down from the lift saying it was deadly, while trying to extort over $1,200 to repair same. I had to threaten to call the local police before they would let me have my own car.

- Wickliffe, OH, USA

Spring on front struts broke on both sides, causing tire blowout and potentially dangerous condition. Springs were broken at identical points and show partial rust prior to breaking indicating a defective manufacturer of the spring.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

On 1/21/2010 I discovered that the right driver side spring on my 2002 Mercury Sable had broke and punctured the nearby tire. Somehow (luckily) this happened while the car was parked. I discovered that there had been a recall for the exact same problem on 1999-01 Sable that included the installation of a protective shield to prevent a broken spring from puncturing a tire. This recall was not issued until July 2004, well after my vehicle had been manufactured. Obviously my vehicle had not been equipped with anything to prevent the exact problem that initiated the other recall and as such I cannot understand why my own vehicle would not be also recalled. I am requesting that something be done. This is a very, very serious defect and I am baffled as to how it was overlooked when older model cars were recalled for the same problem.

- Erie, PA, USA

As I was beginning to back my car out of my driveway, the left, front suspension coil spring broke, ruptured the tire, and put a 4-8" gash into the back of tire. I had to have the car towed to a dealer for repair. The dealer's recommendation was to replace the coil springs on both sides, as this was the recommendation from a recall of earlier models with the same problem. After the repairs were made, I had to bring the vehicle to a tire dealer for a replacement tire. This also involved having to get an alignment. Fortunately, this incident occurred in my driveway - we were about to leave and would have been on a highway in a matter of minutes. No injuries, but this could have been catastrophic.

- West Springfield, MA, USA

This complaint may be relative to NHTSA action number EA08018. This is in regards to my 2002 Mercury Sable. On 8-27-09 I was driving at a slow speed on a residential street when I heard and felt a loud pop followed by a friction grinding and before I could slow to a stop, my rear tire blew. Both rear coil springs had broken with one of the springs piercing a tire. Replacement of the rear assemblies and tire cost me approximately $1200. I feel that if I was going at a higher rate of speed, I would have been in a dangerous accident. I was headed to the expressway that day and was glad I never made it to a high rate of speed. Today on 1-3-2010, I was backing my car from a garage when I heard the loud pop again followed by the hissing of my right front tire. This time the right front coil spring cracked and pierced my tire. Affording to fix this defect is one headache. I am looking at tow and repair fees. Worrying when the final coil will break concerns me more, as I drive the highway alot. This defect should be recalled. As of the time of this complaint, my vehicle has yet to be repaired, and I will save the old parts for examination if requested. I do live in a "salt belt state", Illinois, but my car is garage kept. It only has 56,000 miles on it. I have owned this vehicle since 2004 and not only has it been garage kept, but never used to haul heavy loads or anything to compromise the coil springs. They just snap and tear up your tires.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Right front spring broke, puncturing the tire. Thankfully, we were just pulling out of the garage, not driving on the expressway at 70 mph.

- Irons, MI, USA

Left front spring broke and punctured left front tire. Occurred as vehicle was being backed out of driveway at low speed. Vehicle was towed to repair shop. Replaced both front strut springs, both sway bar links, and left front tire at a cost of $570.

- Clarkston, MI, USA

2002 Mercury Sable the front spring broke and punctured the front tire. The spring cracked in half.

- Novi, MI, USA

While backing-up my 2002 Mercury Sable, the drivers side front coil spring snapped and punctured the front tire.

- Whitmore Lake, MI, USA

I drive a 2002 Mercury Sable. I was turning left into a gas station driveway and I heard a loud metal sound, as loud as a gunshot. I got out of the car and looked underneath and all around the area adjacent to the car but I could not see anything. I was able to drive the car to a repair shop without incident, but every time I went over the slightbest bump, the car sounded like it was going to fall apart (lots of metal scraping noises). The repair shop said that my front coil springs had broken and that I was lucky that the spring had not punctured my tire. The mechanic called Ford to check on a recall for the springs because he said that this was a very common problem for Ford/Mercury cars. Ford informed him that my car was not included in the recall. I went ahead with the repair which was a complicated mess because of twisting, rust, etc. My bill was close to $900. I was just thankful that no one in my family was injured as a result of this faulty equipment. As stated in many of the complaint forums relating to this spring problem, I agree that Ford is just waiting until there are deaths involved with this problem before they will take any action. Just another example of what is wrong with the american automobile industry. I owned a Saab for 18 years until my husband totaled it. I owned a Toyota before that. This Mercury was forced upon me because of my economic condition at the time. I will never own another Ford/Mercury vehicle again. Just an added note: My husband just found out yesterday that his rear coil springs on his 2001 Ford Taurus are broken. I am anxious to see if Ford will take responsibility for this spring failure.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

I have a 2002 Mercury Sable. The front springs broke and ruined a tire. I know this is a known defect for Ford co. Why is 2001 Sable springs covered but not a 2002. I am glad I was in a parking lot going slow instead of 65 mph on the thruway, I might have been killed and my family too. Ford co told me that this year is not covered on their recall. I think it is a big safety issue and they should be forced to correct their defective springs.

- Morrisville, NY, USA

I am the owner of a 2002 Mercury Sable. While traveling on the mass pike, there was a grinding noise coming from underneath, and immediately after a burning smell. The drivers side tire blew out. We managed to the get the spare tire on and get to a repair shop. We were told the front coil broke puncturing the tire, and also damaging the sway bar link. The rear coil also was also broken and needed to be replaced, at a total cost of $1005. When this incident took place the mileage was just over 77,000 miles.this is a very serious problem, that could have resulted in very serious injuries. As a result of this incident, I am not very confident in driving my own car. Both the dealership and Ford assured me that this was not part of a recall.

- Bellingham, MA, USA

Pulling backwards out of the driveway a sudden bang occurred and the front left end of my vehicle dropped. I put the vehicle in park and checked the front left tire and it was completely flat and the bottom of the vehicle was nearly touching the driveway. I jacked it up and took off the tire and the 1st coil of the spring was sheared off and tore the inside sidewall tread with 8" length tear. I also noticed that the sway bar link was destroyed.

- Clarkston, MI, USA