2001 Ford Taurus Suspension Problems

SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OFF MEANING ... TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT HAS TO SAY 1 ST. ON THE DASH REVERSE IS WHERE DRIVE IS OR D. ... YESTERDAY I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS A HUGE THUNK AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR HAD FROZE THEN AFTER MESSING WITH THE SHIFT ARM IT WENT THUNK AGAIN AND I GOT IT HOME BUT CANT DRIVE ANY FARTHER ..I ALSO HAVE HAD ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT ONE DASH LIGHTS INSIDE WONT WORK NEXT DAY BLINKER NEXT DAY RADIO NEXT DAY HEAD LIGHTS .... AND THE FRONT END THUNKS WHEN DRIVING AND IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ROAD ...IT FEELS *TR

NHTSA ID

11389681

Incident

Jan 23, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY HIGH BEAM LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON BUT THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON. WHEN I PUSH THE SWITCH TO TURN MY HIGH BEAMS ON THEY TURN ON BUT THE LIGHT INDICATOR TURNS OFF AND WHEN SWITCH MY HIGH BEAMS ON MY SPEEDOMETER STARTS KINDA WORKING, OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11278592

Incident

Nov 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A POPPING NOISE AND A FOUL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10926655

Incident

Nov 17, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE REPAIR, THE REAR AND FRONT COILS SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE EXPOSED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 10/26/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10904911

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,341.

NHTSA ID

10723170

Incident

May 30, 2015

Mileage

149,341 mi

ON 5 15 2015, 2001 FORD TAURUS WITH 32K MILES WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS. MECHANIC OBSERVED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND HAD DAMAGED THE TIRE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND YEAR. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL FOR THE FRONT SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES IN SPECIFIC STATES, HOWEVER RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO REAR SPRINGS OR SUSPENSION AS OF MAY 2015. ON NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT WEBSITE, DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED INDICATING AT LEAST TWO DEATHS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE FAILURE OF THE REAR SPRINGS.

NHTSA ID

10717026

Incident

May 15, 2015

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REMEDY ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10667089

Incident

Sep 12, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR SUSPENSION FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,330.

NHTSA ID

10630623

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

20,330 mi

AS I WAS TRAVELING THE REAR SPRING SNAPPED AND STARTED TO GOUGE INTO THE TIRE AND CUT THE TIRE ON THE TOP CORNER SIDEWALL WHERE THE STEEL BELTS ARE NOW SHOWING ALSO HEATED UP SO FAST THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE OFF THE LUG NUTS OF THE TIRE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISORS AND IT COULD BE FATAL IF THE TIRE EXPLODES. FORD CLAIMS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO ORDER A RECALL FOR A POTENTIAL FATAL FLAW IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587476

Incident

May 2, 2014

Mileage

78,300 mi

I WAS DRIVING CAR AT THE SPEED OF 40 AND SUDDENLY SOME SOUND CAME FROM LEFT WHEEL. I SAW AROUND AND FOUND SPRING COIL BROKEN AND THAT COIL IS RUBBING THE TYRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586433

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

129,123 mi

EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE MAY IMPACT ITS STRUCTURE AND FAILURE CAN IMPACT SUSPENSION AND STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578392

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING RUBBER ODOR AND MERGED OFF THE ROADWAY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT NO DIAGNOSIS FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ

NHTSA ID

10560084

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FORD TAURUS SES TODAY AT CITY SPEEDS (30 MPH) I HEARD A VERY LOUD METALLIC CLANKING SOUND. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND WE PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT TO INSPECT. WE FOUND THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE RUST/CORROSION. WE LIVE IN ILLINOIS & CALLED FORD TO SEE ABOUT THE RECALL (04V332-4235) AND HOW TO GO ABOUT REPAIRING THIS. THE AGENT CHECKED OUR VIN AND TOLD US THAT OUR CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL DESPITE HAVING BEEN PRODUCED IN THE CHICAGO MANUFACTURING PLANT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PLANTS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. OUR TIRE WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING SHREDDED BY THE BROKEN SPRING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE OUR CAR SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS RECALL AND STATED TO THE FORD AGENT THAT I WAS DISSATISFIED BY THE APPARENT RUNAROUND I WAS RECEIVING. I REQUESTED A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO BE MADE, AND HE STATED HE WOULD PLACE MY COMPLAINT IN THEIR DATABASE. IF HE ACTUALLY DID, I HAVE NO IDEA. ALL CARS PRODUCED IN THE TIME FRAME AT THE CHICAGO PLANT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512596

Incident

May 16, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

DURING MULTIPOINT INSPECTION DEALER FOUND REAR SPRINGS BROKEN TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $572.58 . YOUR DATA BASE SHOWS THIS HAS BEEN A DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE AND NO RECALL. LOCAL DEALER NOT AWARE OF REAR SPRING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512415

Incident

May 2, 2013

Mileage

162,830 mi

2ND REQUEST ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENTS, REQUESTING NHTSA NOT ONLY RECALL THE 2001 FORD TAURUS BUT REOPEN A 2007 INVESTIGATION RE THIS MATTER, ES HAVE NO REC OF PREVIOUS LTR FM SEN. MCCONNELL BUT RE ES11-005500/S/ C.LIEU *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER BROTHER AND HIS FRIEND DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND A THIRD PASSENGER WAS INJURED, WHEN THE REAR SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10491381

Incident

Nov 9, 2008

THE FRONT, LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE LEAVING A JAGGED EDGE THAT SHREDDED THE TIRES SIDEWALL WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE SPRING BROKE, BUT I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY PRIOR TO PARKING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THE TIRE THAT WAS SHREDDED WAS A NEAR NEW STUDDED SNOW TIRE. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE SUSPENSION AND REPLACE THE TIRE WILL BE ABOUT 400 - 500 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490623

Incident

Dec 31, 2012

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V332000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. ..UPDATED 09-19-12 *BF UPDATED 09/20/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10464447

Incident

May 31, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS COVERED BY RECALL 04M04. THE FIX WAS TO INSTALL A CHEAP PLATE TO PREVENT THE COIL SPRING FROM PUNCTURING THE TIRE WHEN IT CRACKS. THE RECALL INCLUDED A PREVISION TO REPLACE A BROKEN SPRING IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE LESS THAN 10 YEARS OR LESS THAN 150,000. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS NOT TO FIX THE COIL SPRING ITSELF BEFORE IT WOULD BREAK. *JS

NHTSA ID

10456923

Incident

Apr 23, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD "KLUNK". FROM THAT POINT ON WE ALWAYS HEARD DURING LEFT TURNS. THE NEXT DAY, I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND THE REAR SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. HE SAID THAT IT WAS GOOD TO GET IT IN. $600.00 BILL. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! PEOPLE HAVE DIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454974

Incident

Apr 8, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE WHILE REVERSING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A PRIOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE COIL SPRINGS BUT THE RECALL HAS SINCE EXPIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500,000.

NHTSA ID

10452958

Incident

Mar 26, 2012

Mileage

500,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD MY 2001 FORD TAURUS HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE LR TIRE. THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES WHICH CAUSED PART OF THE SPRING TO GOUGE THE INSIDE WALL OF THE REAR TIRE. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR COIL/SHOCK ASSEMBLY IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451523

Incident

Jun 4, 2010

Mileage

65,101 mi

HEARD CLUNK FROM REAR OF VEHICLE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. INSPECTION LATER THAT EVENING REVEALED REAR SPRING BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445271

Incident

Jan 22, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY FRAME IS TOTALLY ROTTEN!!! THE A ARM ISN'T EVEN ATTRACTED TO THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432368

Incident

Oct 20, 2011

Mileage

144,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,448.

NHTSA ID

10418176

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,164.

NHTSA ID

10412393

Incident

Jul 13, 2011

Mileage

120,164 mi