2001 Ford Taurus Tires & wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE HAD COOPER TIRES, LINE DEAN ALPHA, DOT 3DX8DK30707, SIZE P215-60-R16. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY VIBRATING FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE REAR TIRES. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STEEL BELTS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10351346

Incident

Aug 16, 2010

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORT P195/60/R15 TIRES. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION JUST AFTER 40,000 MILES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE SAME TIRE FOR A 2001 FORD TAURUS AND A 2001 FORD FOCUS. BOTH THE VEHICLE DEALER AND TIRE STORE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TREAD SEPARATION BUT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER DISAGREED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT 35,000 MILES AND FAILED 5,000 MILES LATER. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES THAT HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED, WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 08/23/10 UPDATED 08/19/10*BF UPDATED 09/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/10

NHTSA ID

10327862

Incident

Apr 2, 2010

Mileage

43,000 mi

2001 FORD TAURUS REAR SPRING COILS. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THE REAR SPRING COILS, WHEN THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT SPRING COILS? THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE REAR SPRING COILS THAT HAPPENS WITH THE FRONT SPRING COILS. TIRES ARE EXPLODING! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!!!! FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10299628

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

28,000 mi

WE OWN A 2001 FORD TAURUS WITH ABOUT 28,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I AM HANDICAP AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE THAT WE USE TO GET ME TO APPOINTMENTS, ETC. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT THE FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE WE WERE ALREADY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHERE EVER! WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE TOLD US THAT THE TIRE EXPLODED BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SPRING COIL. ONCE WE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR ANY ISSUES OR RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND LOW AND BEHOLD THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SPRING COILS. WE THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEY ARE FIXING THE CAR NOW. YESTERDAY WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SPRING COILS AND THAT THEY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THE REAR SPRING COILS, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS AND IT APPEARS THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THE REAR SPRING COILS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE REAR SPRING COILS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THE TIRE THAT EXPLODED (BTW: THE 2 FRONT TIRES WERE JUST REPLACED THIS PAST SUMMER) AND THEY WON'T PAY FOR THE REAR SPRING COILS TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED! I THOUGHT THAT FORD MADE SAFE VEHICLES, BUT I NOW KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10299615

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

28,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2001 FORD TAURUS USED, IN 2004 IT HAS BEEN A GOOD CAR UNTIL 2008 WHEN IT STARTED SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A RACK AND PINION, SO I HAD THAT REPLACED AND PAID THROUGH THE NOSE. THE CAR WAS STILL SHAKING, I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID THAT I HAD TO GET IT ALIGNED BECAUSE IT WAS TOWED OUT AND HE DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT. I REPLACED THE NOW BALD TIRED AND HAD IT ALIGNED. STILL SHAKING AND NOW WORSE, I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE WARRANTY ON THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO IS UP AND HE SAYS IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR HIM TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER. WHEN I HAD IT ALIGNED THEY DID TELL ME THAT THE RODS AND THE STRUTS WERE FINE. SO WHAT EXACTLY COULD THIS BE? AFTER 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LIKE CRAZY AND THERE IS A WHIRLING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275779

Incident

Dec 31, 2008

I OWN A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES OVER THE YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT SPRINGS BUT NONE ON THE REAR. MY RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OCTOBER. I HAD FIVE KIDS IN THE CAR WHEN THE FRONT COIL BROKE OFF AND RIPPED THE TIRE. THE COST TO FIX WAS $1,700. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A STRONGER DEMAND FOR FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SEARCHING THE INTERNET I KNOW THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248757

Incident

Oct 20, 2008

Mileage

66,000 mi

SEARS AND THEIR DEFECTIVE CHINESE TIRES. ON JULY 26, 2007, WE PURCHASED FOUR NEW SUMITOMO HTR H4 P215/60HH16 TIRES FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD SONS 2001 TAURUS FROM SEARS IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA. ON AUGUST 12, 2007 HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE TO GO TO A PARK WITH SOME OF HIS FRIENDS. SHORTLY AFTER PULLING INTO THE PARK, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE FLAT TIRE, REPLACING IT WITH THE DONUT IN HIS TRUNK. I HAD NEVER SEEN A NEW TIRE WITH LESS THEN 300 MILES ON IT IN THIS CONDITION. THE FLAT TIRE HAD SPLIT OPEN ALONG THE SIDEWALL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE OTHER THEN THIS SPLIT. IT WASN'T SCUFFED LIKE HE HAD HIT A CURB AND THERE WERE NO NAILS OR PUNCTURE HOLES IN THE TIRES. TO ME, IT JUST LOOKED TO BE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE CHINESE TIRE. I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH THE EMPLOYEES AT SEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE AND WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF WORKING TOWARDS A RESOLUTION, THEY DID FINALLY AGREE THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND PLACED A NEW TIRE ON THE RIM. HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO PLACE THE WHEEL BACK ON THE CAR AND TOLD MY SON HE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT HIMSELF. I EXPECT WE WILL END UP IN COURT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199587

Incident

Aug 12, 2007

I NOTICED A NOISE AFTER TIRES WERE ROTATED. I ASKED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT DURING 90,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ON 2001 FORD TAURUS BROKE. REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AS RESULT OF BROKEN COIL. HAD TO HAVE BOTH REAR COILS REPLACED, AND BUY TWO NEW TIRES FOR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199547

Incident

Jul 24, 2007

Mileage

91,076 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE $1,300 REPAIR COST, BUT WAS DENIED ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED 2 TIRES WERE NEEDED 4 WERE BOUGHT, BOTH SETS OF SPRINGS, STRUTS, MOUNTS. THE DEALER STATED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES SEEM TO BE HANGING. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10197038

Incident

Jul 19, 2007

Mileage

43,000 mi

LARGE BANG NOISE ON MODERATE (NORMAL) BRAKING TO STOP SIGN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. FOUND 2 FRACTURED REAR COIL SPRINGS AS WELL AS TWO TIRE SEVERELY GROOVED ON INTERIOR OF SIDEWALL. REPLACED TWO SPRINGS, AS WELL AS TWO REAR TIRES. PREVIOUS TIRES WERE ABOUT A MONTH OLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192215

Incident

May 4, 2007

Mileage

104,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL, TOURING CONTACT AS P215/60R16, DOT NUMBER UPTR4561205. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10169592

Incident

Sep 23, 2006

Mileage

73,957 mi

2001 FORD TAURUS' LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. *KB THE DRIVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAVELED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY STRIKING A GUARDRAIL. THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SCRAPED. THE TIRE WERE PURCHASED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO RIGHT SHOULDER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166898

Incident

Jul 30, 2006

CONTINENTAL TIRE-P215/60R16 94T, TOURING CONTACT AS. I LOOKED FOR A DOT # BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT SAID DOT. DID FIND DK67838 34255 ON THE INNER EDGE. THIS TIRE HAS LARGE KNOTS AND IS SPLITTING AND SEPARATING IN ONLY ONE PART OF THE TIME. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIP. ON A 2001 FORD TAURUS. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT STILL HAS THREE ORIGINAL ONES WITH VERY GOOD TREAD. THE CAR HAS ONLY ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER TWO TIRES HAVE NO PROBLEMS SO FAR. WE HAD NOTICE A SEVERE BUMPING ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHERE THE TIRE IS, BUT I SUPPOSE THE CAR HASN'T STOPPED IN THE RIGHT POSITION FOR US TO SEE IT UNTIL NOW. WE FOUND OTHER CONTINENTAL TIRES ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WERE INSTALLED THE SAME YEAR. WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT SINCE WE ARE AFRAID THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF WE CONTINUE DRIVING IT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10133102

Incident

Aug 16, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING AND NOT HOLDING AIR.. TWO REAR SPRING WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10117791

Incident

Mar 21, 2005

Mileage

27,355 mi

DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND, AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RIGHT SIDE COIL SPRING AND TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115498

Incident

Mar 21, 2005

THERE WERE TIRE CRACKS 3-5 INCHES LONG AND THEY LEAKED AIR. *SC THEY MANUFACTURER GAVE THE CONSUMER 88.00 WHICH ONLY COVERED THE COST OF ONE TIRE. (THE CONSUMERS SON IN LAW WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMER LAWRENCE MARINELLI) *JB

NHTSA ID

10109075

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRES HAD STRESS MARKS AND TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE SIDEWALLS. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. CONTINENTAL, P215/60R16. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103785

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

BOUGHT USED 2001 TAURUS IN AUG. OF 2002. ON THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCE. I DROVE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE. APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES LATER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION RETURNED AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION WAS THAT A WHEEL WEIGHT WAS LOST, BUT HAD NO EXPLAINATION FOR THE PULLING. THEY REBALANCED THE WHEELS AND ROTATED THE TIRES. AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL NOV. 2003 AS I WAS DRIVING I ONCE AGAIN FELT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE ON CORNERING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP(NEAREST FORD DEALER WAS 25 MILES AWAY). THEY FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT ON THE OUTER TREAD AREA(SLIPPED BELT) AND BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS TO BE LOOSE, THE LEFT ONE BEING EXTERMELY WORN. THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTINENTAL OE TIRES NOT HOLDING BALANCE, HAVING BAD WEAR PROBLEMS, ETC. THEY INSTALLED TWO AFTERMARKET, GREASABLE TIE ROD ENDS AND DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. AT THIS POINT I HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPAIR BILL TO A FORD DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSMENT, HOWEVER I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. MY OPINION IS THAT CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE JUNK AND FORD KNOWS IT. THE FORD DEALER INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHE PROBLEMS LIKE MINE, A MUCH DIFFERENT OPINION THAN THE INDEPENDENT GARAGE. ALSO TIE ROD ENDS USUALLY DON'T FAIL AT 39K MILES FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 2002 TAURUS WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES AND HAS HAD TO HAVE THEM BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID

10071229

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

39,415 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE HEARD CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND SOON DISCOVERED THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK *LA *JB

NHTSA ID

10042592

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, INFINITY, SIZE #P215/60R16, DOT#UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10043975

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

TREAD SEPARATION ON THE TIRE, THE DEALER REPLACED ONE IN FRONT AND WE HAD TO SPEND OUR FUNDS TO REPLACE THE OTHER. TIRE IS P215-60-R16 94T M+S. INFINITY TOURING T3. ONE IN BACK WILL NEED REPLACE SINCE THE TREAD IS SEPERATING. THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE THE MILAGE ON OUR TAURAS IN 31,000 THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033041

Incident

Aug 18, 2003

Mileage

31,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT AND REAR PASSENGERS SIDE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. TIRE SIZE P215/60R16. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024412

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, AND HALF OF THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. IT APPEARS THAT THE RIM WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021269

Incident

May 7, 2003

Mileage

43,500 mi

LEFT FRONT TIRE, ON FIRESTONE AFFINITY 206016, BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. IF I WAS DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED WOULD HAVE CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018621

Incident

May 12, 2003

Mileage

33,200 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019497