2003 Mercury Sable Suspension Problems

ORIGINALLY, 2 DAYS PRIOR, CAR FELT LIKE I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AROUND CAR, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. LEFT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, THEN STARTED TO HEAD TO WORK. WAS GOING ONLY ABOUT 20MPH WHEN SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR. A MOMENT LATER MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. HAD A FRIEND COME TO HELP ME CHANGE TO THE SPARE. HE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 2 MINUTES BACK TO MY HOUSE AND AS SOON AS HE PARKED IT, HE TOOK THE SPARE OFF BECAUSE WE HEARD A WEIRD POPPING NOISE WHEN HE WAS JACKING THE CAR BACK UP. LOOKED AND THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN AND RUBBED SO VIOLENTLY AGAINST THE TIRE THAT IT HAD TORN A 10-14" LONG HOLE IN THE TIRE AND HAD BURNT A RING AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THANKFULLY I HAD 2 FRIENDS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY GOODYEAR TIRE BACK TO SAM'S AND THEY PRORATED MY TIRE (HAD LESS THAN 6,000 MILES ON THEM!!) AND REPLACED IT. TIME WILL TELL IF THE OTHER ONE WILL GO OUT BUT NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I AM VERY THANKFUL I HAD FRIENDS WHO WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE COIL SPRING FOR ME. BUT IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE END RESULT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701460

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

2003 MERCURY SABLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SLASHED TIRE WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE FLAT TIRE. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10578720

Incident

Mar 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO A FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONT CLOCK SPRINGS, THE COIL SPRINGS, AND THE STABILIZER SPRING BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10561182

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10522606

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

154,000 mi

FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO PLACES AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE (SPRING WENT THROUGH THE TIRE SIDEWALL). IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE CAR WOULD HAVE STEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND GONE OFF THE ROAD. OUR 2000 SABLE HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE 2003 SABLE DID NOT. SEARCHING THE WEB, SPRING FAILURE AND PUNCTURE OF A FRONT TIRE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510696

Incident

May 22, 2012

Mileage

91,553 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO THE FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE, AND SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509543

Incident

Apr 22, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO THE FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10508519

Incident

Apr 13, 2013

Mileage

72,000 mi

BACKING UP LESS THAN 5 MPH--ALL AT ONCE HEARD A POP, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AND WHOOSHING AIR. GOT OUT OF CAR-- DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED AT HOME-- NOT WHEN MY STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR MORE. OVER 2,400 CASES REPORTED AS OF JUNE 30, 2011-- YET, NO ONE HAS DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED YET-- SO NO RECALL. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD-- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS. THE SPRING WEDGED INTO THE TIRE AND STOPPED THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR-- NO WAY WOULD I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER AND GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. I HOPE THEY REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451553

Incident

Mar 13, 2012

Mileage

100,800 mi

COIL SPRING BROKE. IT ALMOST PUNCTURED THE TIRE...UPDATED 01/25/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10444669

Incident

Jan 20, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, CUTTING AND RUINING TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440280

Incident

Dec 17, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO PRIOR YEAR VEHICLES BEING RECALLED FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE 2003 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,600. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN UPDATED 09/26/11

NHTSA ID

10415156

Incident

Jul 25, 2011

Mileage

86,600 mi

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE RESULTED IN A PUNCTURED TIRE. SAME AS EA08-018. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408977

Incident

Jun 11, 2011

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,950.

NHTSA ID

10393837

Incident

Mar 25, 2011

Mileage

109,950 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COIL SPRING FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO FILED A COMPLAINT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 09/19/11

NHTSA ID

10393086

Incident

Mar 23, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE.

NHTSA ID

10385468

Incident

Feb 24, 2011

Mileage

34,000 mi

THE LEFT FRONT SPRING FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE AS THE CAR WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF A GARAGE. ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V332000, A PROTECTIVE DEVICE WAS TO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE TIRE FROM BEING PUNCTURED BECAUSE OF SPRING FRACTURE AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED ON THE SPRING. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER THE LATEST DATE APPLIED TO THE RECALL AS NOTED ABOVE. SINCE, THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS EXPLAINED IN THE RECALL DESCRIPTION; I CLAIM THE MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO COVER THE REPAIRS BASED ON PAST HISTORY. PLUS, THE "FIX" WAS NOT INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE THEREFORE EXPOSING THE TIRE TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BEING PUNCTURED BY THE BROKEN SPRING.

NHTSA ID

10380728

Incident

Jan 30, 2011

Mileage

68,000 mi

2003 SABLE WAGON WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WHEN WE WENT TO MOVE IT AGAIN A HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END, SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING SCRAPING ON THE DRIVEWAY OR CAUGHT IN WHEEL WELL. CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PARKED. WHEN IT WAS LIGHT AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A PIECE OF THE FRONT END COIL SPRING WAS FOUND LYING UNDER THE CAR, APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT LONG THAT IS SHEARED OFF FROM THE REST OF THE SPRING. NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE PART, JUST APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT BROKE. NOW THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE REST OF THE SPRING IS EMBEDDED IN THE TIRE, WEDGED BETWEEN IT AND THE WHEEL WELL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE CAR EVEN TO ALLOW FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET UNDER IT. THE TIRES WERE ALSO JUST PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO AND THIS CERTAINLY HAS RUINED AT LEAST ONE OF THEM. *LN

NHTSA ID

10378342

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 1 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10374079

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BECOME FLAT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10371077

Incident

Dec 9, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANG AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER BUT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BEING REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11

NHTSA ID

10369790

Incident

Dec 9, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

COMPLAINT OR INQUIRY RECEIVED VIA EMAIL, INTERNET BY THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION *TGW 2003 MERCURY SABLE. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10334864

Incident

May 7, 2010

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD WOOSHING NOISE. I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE AND SAW MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. I TRIED TO REMOVE IT BUT COULDN'T GET A JACK UNDER THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOW TO THE GROUND. I FINALLY MANAGED TO JACK UP THE CAR AND HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE REMOVING THE TIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I REALIZED THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND LODGED ABOUT 3 INCHES INTO MY TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $600.51 IN ADDITION TO THE COST FOR TOWING AND TWO NEW TIRES. I HAD JUST DRIVEN 40 MILES ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT 70 MPH AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPENED EN ROUTE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330512

Incident

May 13, 2010

Mileage

61,045 mi

MY 2003 SABLE SUFFERED A FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING FRACTURE THAT DESTROYED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AND CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO A FENCE POST WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. THE COIL SPRING THAT SLICED INTO THE TIRE WAS PINPOINT SHARP, AS WAS THE SMALLER PORTION OF THE SPRING THAT FELL OFF THE CAR. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS DESTROYED, THE STRUT AN SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FENCE POST DAMAGED THE LEFT DOOR OF THE CAR. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHREDDED TO PIECES AND THE CAR WOULD BE SENT OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY A FORD DEALER 4 DAYS AFTER THE FRONT SPRING FAILURE AND FOUND TO HAVE CORROSION ON THE REAR SPRINGS WITH THE PAINT OR ENAMEL ON THE SPRING COMPROMISED CAUSING RUSTING ON THE SPRINGS AN POSSIBLY CAUSING A FUTURE FAILURE OF THE SPRINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327648

Incident

Apr 20, 2010

Mileage

123,070 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 MERCURY SABLE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS EXITING A DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE NOISE UPON FURTHER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CUT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,068.

NHTSA ID

10324740

Incident

Apr 7, 2010

Mileage

55,068 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, NOTE* A DRIVEWAY WITH NOT EVEN A CRACK IN IT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. UPON REMOVING TIRE, PART OF THE SPRING FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE REMAINING SPRING WAS FOUND TO HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319492

Incident

Mar 13, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi