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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,395 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.
The car was parked in my driveway. I went to drive it and it had a flat tire. On closer inspection the front drivers side spring had broken and went into the back side of the tire. This is the first time this has happened, but the car only has 70K miles on it. I had to have the vehicle towed, a new tire put on it, a new spring put on it, and a new stability link. I am glad it didn't break while I was driving it. My mechanic said that this happens a lot on this model and we should contact Ford to see if there was anything that could be done about this, or report it. I don't have the whole broken spring, but II do have a small part of it. It broke about 5 inches from the bottom spring seat. I have the 5 inch piece.
When backing out of my driveway I heard a loud pop followed by rapid release of air from my right front tire on my 2002 Ford Taurus. Upon examination it was found that the right coil spring had fractured and that the protruding sharp end had reached out and snagged the tire ripping a gash 16 inches long in the inner sidewall. Replacement of both front coil springs has been recommended and replacement of the tire will be required. Spring which failed showed rust penetration at point of failure to be about 30% of the cross section of the spring wire diameter. The painted coating also showed signs of failure at the point of breakage due to the presence of surface rust on the sprint in that area. There are also indications on other areas of the painted coating that corrosion is present under the coating. I have both parts of the broken spring in my possession.
Ford Taurus 2002, built on 10/9/01 in Chicago. Front passenger side coil spring broke and cut into tire. Wife was pulling out of drive way to go to shop. Son in law and I disassembled strut and spring. Trying to find replacement. 1999 through 2001 models have a recall notice of 04V332000 dated 2004-Jul-15. 2002 should be included after seeing all the complaints and safety issues associated with this issue.
Yesterday I dropped off my car for an oil change, just as I pulled in to the mechanic's drive the front-left of the car dropped 4" and the front driver's side tire blew. A coil broke, and researching on the internet it appears this is a common problem for Ford. The 2002 and later models are not covered under any recalls for some reason. Fortunately I wasn't on the interstate since that is where most of my driving is done.
- Wooster, OH, USA
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Within one month, two brother-in-laws and I have had our 2002 Taurus front springs break causing a flat tire and extensive linkage repairs. There is NHTSA campaign #04V332000, but it only goes to model year 2001. Ford should extend this recall to what every year they used this design! a search of the internet finds many 2002 complaints...
I was pulling out of parking spot. I heard a loud popping sound and air rushing out. I stopped and got out and noticed I had a flat tire. I called aaa and service guy came and told me the driver side front spring broke and punctured the tire. I know Ford has a recall on some model Taurus but not mine. I was forced to pay out of pocket for a tire new and two new springs.
I was pulling my 2002 Ford Taurus out of the driveway when I heard a loud clunk followed by the sound of a spring uncoiling. As I continued out of the driveway I heard the sound of something rubbing and smelled burning rubber. I made a U-turn and pulled back into the driveway. It was then that I noticed the left side of the car was sitting lower than the right and the left fender was resting on the left front tire. It is obviously a broken spring. Ford has recalled the 2001 Taurus for this same problem. According to the dealership repairs will be around $500. The car as 60,000 miles.
Backing out of the garage heard a loud bang, stopped car, drivers side of car was almost completely laying on the ground, the drivers side coil spring had broken and pierced and flattened the front tire also the upper strut mount had stressed so much that the ball bearings had popped out. Had a heck of a time to get a jack under the car to put on the spare so we could have it towed to the shop. Replaced the both front coil springs, replaced both upper front strut mounts, replaced both front tires, front driver side sway bar end link was damaged when coil broke and car leaned. Also found the rear struts to be bad and had both rear struts and coil springs replaced. Then had to have a 4 wheel alignment done. This coil spring failure at less than 22000 miles coasted over $1,000. We are just glad that we were not driving at highway speeds when the coil spring failed!!
My daughter who is at college, drives a 2002 Ford Taurus. The other day she went to back out of her parking space at school. The front driver side tire blew out. When they tried to put the spare on they found that the coil spring had broken and pierced the tire. The car had to be towed to a garage. Apparently this is a very common occurrence on these cars. Thank god she was not driving down a busy highway!
Ford issued a recall on its Taurus that ended with 2001 models. The NHTSA action # is PE04044. It describes failing coil springs that can cause tires to be torn up. I have had this happen now to my 2002. The car was in the garage and being loaded with some things my daughter was taking back to college after the weekend. There was a "bang" we heard whose source was undetermined. When she began to back out the front left tire blew out. Upon inspection the spring had broken and pierced the tire. This website outlines many similar cases involving all 4 corners of the car. www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_springs.html I've understood Ford will not provide any satisfaction to owners of these cars. As it is Sunday I have no repair options available, but the car will have to be towed and a tire and at least the spring will have to be replaced. Based on the responses in the above web page costs could go beyond $1,000.
Events leading up to the failure was a approximately 100 mile round trip on the interstate traveling 65 mph, the evening prior to the incident. The failure consisted of the driver's side coil spring breaking and severly damaging the front diver's side tire and sway bar. The incident occurred while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot and not being driven. The make and model of the car was a 2002 Ford Taurus SE. The dealership had to replace both front coil springs, replace the driver side sway bar, replace the tire, and realign the suspension.
On my 2002 Ford Taurus the left front coil spring broke which in turn ruined the left front tire, luckily my wife was just starting the car when this happened or it could have been a lot worse. The cost of repairs is over $600. I called Ford, which was pointless, they are not covering 2002 model years. The Ford rep stated that they have my compliant on file and if there ever is a recall to keep my receipts and I would be reimbursed. In my 30 plus years of driving I have never had a coil spring break and through my research this is the exact same problem that was recalled on all 1999 thru 2001 model year Taurus's. what does it take for NHTSA to see that this issue still exists and Ford needs to handle these. Hopefully my tax dollars are not going to waste and NHTSA will force Ford to step to the plate and handle these before someone really gets injured.
The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing a violent vibration in the steering wheel. Along with the vibration heard a loud clanking sound in the front end. The noise and the vibration get worse when driving at 45 mph or higher. He had a situation where he was trying to avoid a road hazard and the vehicle was extremely hard to control. The vehicle has been in the shop several times for the problem. There has been no conclusion to the problem. He has been in contact with Ford, and they offered no free remedy. Dt: dealer had been working with the contact to find the source of the vibration, when suddenly they told him that they did not want to see him or his vehicle in their dealership again. He has not yet decided what approach he should take with the vehicle.
Front end has had vibration since I bought the car. Have had Continental original tires replaced under warranty 3 times because dealership said vibration was due to tire failure "excessive runout". vibration is returning again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Auburn, NY, USA