2002 Ford Taurus Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUBURN AUTOMOTIVE (500 S. OPDYKE RD, WATERFORD, MI 48328, (248) 332-9300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF

NHTSA ID

11383037

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACT NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11328887

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING A BLOWOUT ON THE TIRE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11076150

Incident

Feb 26, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SPRING RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. FIRST AT 75,000 MILES SECOND AT 100000 MI. BOTH TIRES FLATTENED AT BETWEEN 30 & 50 MPH

NHTSA ID

11033406

Incident

Oct 14, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

COIL SPRING IN DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT FAILED SUDDENLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN SISTER BAY, WI. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG WHEN SPRING FRACTURED AND SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. FAILURE OF COIL SPRING OCCURRED AT ABOUT 10:15 AM ON THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PARKED IN A BANK PARKING LOT THE OWNER THEN JACKED UP FRONT END AND REMOVED WHEEL/TIRE. OWNER NOTICED HOW ENERGY RELEASED WHEN COIL SPRING FRACTURED DROVE SPRING VIOLENTLY DOWNWARD TO FRONT WHEEL KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY WHEN SPRING WAS DRIVEN DOWNWARD IT DID NOT PUNCTURE TIRE. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS LOADED ON A TRANSPORTER AND TAKEN TO JIM OLSON EXPRESS IN STURGEON BAY, WI, FOR REPAIR. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNMENT CHECK/ADJUSTMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR INCLUDING CHARGE OF USD 165 BY TRANSPORTER COMPANY WAS USD 1,010. AT TIME OF COIL SPRING FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD 134,128 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. VISUAL INSPECTION BY OWNER OF BROKEN PIECE OF COIL SPRING DID NOT REVEAL ANY SURFACE CORROSION. OWNER SPECULATES COIL SPRING FRACTURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO 15 YEARS OF STRESS LOADS ON THE SPRING OR PERHAPS THERE WAS A DEFECT IN METAL OF COIL SPRING.

NHTSA ID

11025204

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

Mileage

134,128 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING, PUNCTURING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT AND HER CHILDREN WERE RESCUED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,365.

NHTSA ID

10979066

Incident

Apr 15, 2017

Mileage

79,365 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE TIRE SEVERELY. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 04/05/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10948940

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE SUSPENSION COIL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND DAMAGED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10940223

Incident

Dec 23, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10917625

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,654.

NHTSA ID

10895281

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

120,654 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING AND GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, REMOVED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE, AND NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,500.

NHTSA ID

10894625

Incident

Aug 7, 2016

Mileage

150,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT AND THE SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, BECAUSE THE FRONT SPRING WAS BROKE AND DAMAGE A NEW TIRE.

NHTSA ID

10860996

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

ALL SPRINGS ON THE CAR CRACKED. THE FRONT SPRINGS WENT FIRST AROUND 80000 MILES. THE REARS SHORTLY AFTER. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVE ABLE AFTER THE FRONT SPRING BROKE. WHILE BACKING UP, I HEARD A BANG FOLLOWED BY A RATCHETING SOUND. THEN NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR WAS DROPPED WAY DOWN. FOR THE REAR SPRINGS, WE HEARD THE BROKEN SPRING PART HIT THE HIGHWAY WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THEN LATER NOTICED THE REAR OF THE CAR SAGGING BADLY.

NHTSA ID

10854272

Incident

Jun 13, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE COIL SPRING ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FRACTURED. COIL SPRING PUNCTURED TIRE AND THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10822970

Incident

Jan 27, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY 2002 FORD TAURUS HAS A BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE SPRING POPS OFF IT COULD SHRED MY TIRE WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE FORD TAURUS 1999-2001 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, BUT THE 2002 HAS NOT BEEN. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER 2002 TAURUS OWNERS, THAT HAVE ALSO HAD THE REAR COIL SPRING BREAK ON THEIR '02 TAURUS, AND MANY OF THEM EXPERIENCED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THEIRS BROKE. LUCKILY MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD BY HAVING MY WHEEL SHREDDED OR RIPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE'S NO REASON THE '02 SHOULDN'T BE RECALLED ALONG WITH THE EARLIER MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10749223

Incident

Jul 3, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

I NOTICED THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS LOW. FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE TWO BROKEN SPRINGS AT THE REAR. I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL UP UNTIL 2001 BUT NOT FOR 2002. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG SINCE THE COMPANY IS STILL USING THE SAME SPRINGS THAT WERE UNDER RECALL. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH THE SAME POTENTIAL OUTCOMES. I WAS FORTUNATE.

NHTSA ID

10732887

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10714963

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING COIL BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL OF 1998-2001 TAURUSES BECAUSE OF THAT DEFECTIVE PART. THOUGH OLD, THE CAR HAS FEW MILES ON IT AND RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER. THE SPRING COIL LOOKED ALMOST NEW...NO RUST. OBVIOUSLY 2002'S SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I'D BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH? THE LOCAL FORD DEALER REPLACED BOTH SPRING COILS AND TIRE AT COST BUT FORD SHOULD HAVE STOOD BEHIND THIS REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630682

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10618781

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

SEE ODI 10222968 FOR DETAILS. THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION. SUMMARY: DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THIS HAD THE SAME CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 04S17 ON 1999 TO 2001 TAURUS. AFTER REPAIR AT MY OWN COST, I SOLD THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE IN THAT IT WAS A FORMER GSA VEHICLE. I HAD BROUGHT IT AT A GSA AUCTION. THIS IS UNIQUE SINCE THE GSA VEHICLES ARE BROUGHT UNDER A LARGE CONTRACT AND MAY BE MANUFACTURED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY FROM THE OTHER VEHICLES THUS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATIONS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617432

Incident

Mar 30, 2008

Mileage

90,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING BECAME FRACTURED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE FRONT LEFT SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10611038

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD TAURUS ON 4-15-2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 A.M. HE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 35 MPH. WHILE DRIVING, THE CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. HE TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING REACHING THE SPEED OF ABOUT 70MPH. AS A TURN APPROACHED HE COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE HIT A CURB AND A STOP SIGN BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP ON THE ROADWAY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE WITH THAT VEHICLE AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS, THOUGH THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $6005.00 OF DAMAGE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF FIXING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607475

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

141,768 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DROPPED & MY TIRE EXPLODED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING FAILED WHICH TORN THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF. I KNOW THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FORD TAURUS HOWEVER WAS TOLD BY FORD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THEY WOULD NOT BE CHECKING INTO THE ISSUE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING & HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON BAD ROAD CONDITIONS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. I'M NOT ASKING FOR THEM TO PAY FOR IT. JUST INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES IN THE RECALL TO PREVENT FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604525

Incident

Jun 10, 2014

Mileage

153,940 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ 3/10/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10586668

Incident

Apr 28, 2014

Mileage

97,000 mi

DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH. HEARD NOISE. SPRING COIL DRIVERS FRONT SNAPPED. HIT NO BUMPS, SMOOTH ROAD. READING ABOUT FORD'S ISSUE WITH THIS. THEY SHOULD STEP UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586165

Incident

May 1, 2014