1997 Mercury Tracer Suspension Problems

1997 MERCURY TRACER TRIO VIN [XXX] MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM WANTED AUTO SALES IN WORLEY IDAHO. MY WE HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. MY WIFE THOUGHT WE WERE BOTTOMING OUT. I CAME TO DISCOVER THAT BOTH REAR FACTORY STRUTS THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUT HOUSING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE METAL HAS JUST FRACTURED AND FAILED. THE COILS MATERIAL MUST BE DEFECTIVE AND NOT UP TO SPECS FROM FORD THIS IS CLEARLY A FORD DEFECT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR US WITH A ONE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. WE ARE NOT HAPPY IF THIS COULD COST THE DEATH OF A CHILD BECAUSE OF A UNSAFE CONDITION. THE CAR IS NOT NEW BUT THE SPRINGS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR NOT BREAK LIKE THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ID

10359948

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

Mileage

181,675 mi

1-CAR SEEMED TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE REAR WHEN 4 OCCUPANTS WERE IN CAR, ALSO SCRAPING NOISE. 2-CHECKED CAR AND FOUND CONTACT-COIL SPRINGS RUBBING AGAINST CAR, APPEARED TO BE OUT OF THE HOLDER. CHECKED AND FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. SPRINGS PROVIDE VEHICLE STABILITY, CONTROL AND HANDLING. 3-REPLACED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS, I HAVE BOTH OLD SPRINGS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION OF NEW SPRINGS HAVE THE SPRINGS INSTALLED 180 DEGREES FROM THE POSITION OF THE OLD SPRINGS. TIGHT COILS UP, OEM WAS TIGHT COILS DOWN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151381

Incident

Feb 27, 2006

Mileage

139,000 mi

MY 1997 MERCURY TRACER FAILED THE PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO BOTH REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS BEING BROKEN. A REVIEW OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER LIKE VEHICLES BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO RESULTING OPERATIONAL CONCERN. WHY THEN DID THE STATE INSPECTION FAIL THE VEHICLE? WHAT COURSE OF ACTION CAN I TAKE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR SPRINGS? *LA

NHTSA ID

10049337

Incident

Dec 5, 2003

THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB FORDS SYMPTOM (14993) STATES SPRINGS POSSIBLE TO BREAK IF THE PAINT WEARS OFF, THE SPRINGS ARE SUBJECT TO BREAK. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN THE REAR AND NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEANED TO THE RIGHT ALONG WITH A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALERS STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10019506

Incident

May 5, 2003

Mileage

37,040 mi

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS ON 1997 MERCURY TRACER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011071

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

83,500 mi

BOTH SPRINGS DISCOVERED BROKEN, REAR TIRES WORN OUT DUE TO BREAKAGE. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768232

NHTSA ID

10007466

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

Mileage

31,585 mi

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A CRACKING/SQUEAKING NOISE AND VEHICLE WAS HANDLING LOOSE/UNSTABLE, WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE REAR COILS SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

564110

HEARD FOR QUITE A WHILE A "CRACKING NOISE" IN THE REAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, BUT ALSO DURING SHARP TURNS. GARAGE LOOKED AT IT AT 60K MILES AND REPORTED BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO GARAGE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORT/TRACER. RECEIVED ADVICE NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, PARTS WERE ORDERED, WHICH TOOK 2 WEEKS. ACCORDING TO A DEALER "THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN SPRINGS, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"

NHTSA ID

750245

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE RUSTED AND BROKEN NEAR BOTTOM. *AK

NHTSA ID

746120

Incident

May 26, 2001

UPON INSPECTION THE TIRE HAD UNEVEN WEAR AND THERE WAS A CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVNG OVER 35 MPH (BF GOODRICH ADVANTAGE PLUS 185/65/14 DOTBF76TU1135). NLM

NHTSA ID

559922

Incident

Feb 10, 2001

REAR COIL SPRINGS RUSTED OUT AND ARE BROKEN PREMATURELY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

725394

Incident

Jul 10, 2000