Front left coil spring broke into two pieces. Spring was not rusted. Pieces were extremely sharp and could have punctured tire easily. Could have been extremely dangerous at high speed. I replaced both springs but did not think to keep busted one.

- Kaingsburg, MI, USA

1 I was leaving work parking lot and heard a clunk noise and got out of my car to see if I had hit something and checked my tires and everything appeared alright so I proceeded to pull out again and heard a clunk and then pssssssssss. Got out of my car again and my front passenger tire was deflated. 2 when pulling tire off to change it we couldn't get the tire off because the coil spring shot through the tire. Finally got tire off and changed it. 3 took car to steve shannon tire and auto center and had it repaired. Checked with GM dealership to see if there was a recall (before having shannon's fix it) but there was not. Told them what happened and they said they never heard of it. Parts replaced : 2 struts, coil spring set, 2 strut mounts, 1 tire. I do have the tire and coil spring. I reported this to GM and told them I would be filing a complaint with NHTSA.

- Danville, PA, USA

Oldsmobile Alero 1999 the vehicle experienced brake and rotor problems. The alternator failed. The driver's side window regulator failed. The front coils spring failed. The oxygen sensor was replaced. Left front ABS sensor and hub assembly were replaced.

- Erie, PA, USA

I have a 99 oldmobile Alero. I was driving it out of my driveway at a slow speed. Near the end of my driveway I heard a loud crack. I manuvered my car into the street and there was a loud crunching dragging sound. I stopped my car and checked underneath and saw nothing. I moved my car back into the driveway and parked and checked under the hood and walked around again. I noticed my passenger side tire was flat to the ground. I took off the tire and noticed a large groove and split in the tire. Upon further investigation I noticed the spring on the passenger side had broken and punctured my tire. I feel very fortunate that I was so close to home and traveling at slow speed when this happened. My car is now in the shop waiting for a cost estimate and service. It doesn't appear that there has been a recall on this part.

- Maplewood, MN, USA

On 5/27/05, the front spring broke and punctured tire, causing a blow out. There was no warning on dash to indicate there was a problem. There was a clanking in the front end as the driver approached a stop sign, then tire was punctured. There were normal driving and weather conditions on the day of the incident. The vehicle had experienced front wheel bearing issues. The front passenger side tire was punctured as a result of the spring breakage. The driver noticed a worn pattern on the tire where the spring had been rubbing. The speed at the time of the failure was 5 mph. The vehicle was regularly serviced. Upon the last inspection there where no reports of a defect in the vehicle. The front coil spring surrounding the strut broke and the sharp steel edge from the brake gouged the tire wearing a groove in it and after a short time caused it to fail. The rubbing against the tire caused smoke. The consumer requested reimbursement.

- Tinley Park , IL, USA

My car was sitting in the parking lot, as I was pulling out of the stall, I heard a bang. After looking at the car, I could see that the right front end was sitting on the tire. I had to have the car towed to a dealer, who told me that the right front coil spring had just broke. Luckily, I was not driving at the time. It could have been potentially fatal had the spring broke while I was driving. I noticed that this same spring has broken on several allergy and 26 Grand Am, based on other complaints filed. I have the part, if further investigation is needed. This sounds like a manufacturer's defect. GM could be exposed to strict product liability because this defect is unreasonably dangerous. I contacted GM, filed a complaint with them, and am waiting for them to call me back. I left 2 additional messages, and no one is returning my calls. I am also going to file a complaint with the Pennsylvania attorney general's office.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

October of 2004 I was parked on school grounds waiting for my daughter to finish school.when I heard a big bang. I got out of the car, and walked around it. I could find nothing. When I started to drive it there was a crunching coming from the front end. Upon further inspection the front drivers side coil spring snapped. I replaced it thinking it was a freak accident. Then this week April 10,2005 I was pulling into my driveway and again heard another bang. This time the passenger side front coil spring snapped. I can see one breaking as an accident, but when both go. There is something wrong. My last car was a 1993 Ford Taurus. They too had a front coil spring issue. Ford recalled our car and replaced the spring at no charge.

- Glace Bay, 00, USA

I have had two different occasions the front spring broke and punctured my tire and also my back coil spring broke and punctured my back tire. I spent almost a 1000 dollars in repairs for these repairs.

- Jackson, MI, USA

While driving at 50 mph consumer heard a noise coming from the front end. Stopped the vehicle an saw the right tire flat. A mechanic indicated to the consumer that coil spring broke and punctured the tire. Dealer had been not notified.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

I was pulling out of my driveway and my coil (spring) snapped off and broke. It sliced my tire and I had to replace my tire as well as the coil (spring). It was the drivers side front wheel. I am nervous that the other one may snap and I don't know what would have happened if I was driving my car at the time that coil snapped. I am aware that this part was recalled on the Ford Taurus.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

I was driving my car less than one mile from my home. I made a left turn at a light, and upon completion of the turn, I heard a loud bang and my right front passenger tire was on it's rim. Thinking that I hit something, I immediately pulled over. The road was clear. When I jacked up my car and attempted to remove the tire to put on the spare, I realized that the front suspension spring had broken and the jagged edge of the spring had pierced my tire. Since I was driving at the time, in seconds it sheared my tire all the way around, causing steering to be difficult. I reported the problem to General Motors, but they refused to offer assistance or towing fees. Unfortunately I was stuck paying for the repairs at a dealership and a tow that was due to a mechanical failure causing a near-accident.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

1999 Alero having problems with manifold leaking oil and failed fuel injectors. The front spring had broken suddenly as the vehicle was in motion. The manifold and injector problem occurred within one week. Recall #3V473000 and there was a recall for the suspension.

- South Barrington, IL, USA

I was not given any warning to the events that lead up to the problem with my car. Upon returning home at 11 P.M. may15, 2004 from my parents home, I turned into my driveway, the car immediately started filling with smoke and I smelled rubber burning. I immediately stopped the car and turned off the engine. I checked the car over inside and out and found nothing amiss, only the smell. I retreated to the confines of my home and after a period of 10 minutes, I heard what appeared to be a gun shot noise then a hissing sound. I stepped outside and noticed the hissing sound was coming from my cars right front tire, which had gone flat. Deciding I would check the situation the next morning then returned to the house. The next morning, I looked to find in fact the right front tire was flat. My fiance tried to place a scissor jack under the front of the car to jack it up and replace the tire, but was unable to do so. We placed the jack under the rear tire and jacked that up until there was sufficient room to place another jack under the front tire. When the car was jacked high enough to look at the tire, we noticed the coil spring had scheared in half causing the jagged edge of the spring to gough into the front tire causing it to go flat. There is an indication that the manufactures weld on the spring was poorly done as apparent by a rust spot at the breaking point. I also believe the strut inside the coil spring is damaged also.

- Three Mile Bay, NY, USA