2001 Ford Taurus: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jan 8, 2008 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · IN

Dealer found all four springs broken after car was grinding on rear tire. Dealer is replacing front ones per recall but I feel rear springs are also prone to failure and ford should issue a recall. Car suffered tire damage to right rear wheel.

Filed Dec 13, 2007 · Suspension · IL

2001 ford taurus. Rear springs have broken. Would have punctured a tire, but was able to grind off broken part of spring. Have not repaired spring yet, only have ground off point of spring.

Filed Jan 24, 2007 · Suspension · WI

One winter morning I pulled my 2001 ford taurus out of my garage to do some errands. Because I had some snow build-up on the back passenger side rear wheel, I figured the light grinding noise was from the buildup. When I pulled unto the street and reached higher speeds (about 45), the noise stopped leading me to believe that the snow had fallen off. After about 4 miles of driving, I reached the location I was going to. I got out of my car and noticed the back end sagging. I kept walking around my car to get my 22 month old son out when I realized I had a flat tire. After taking the tire off to replace it with the spare, I took a closer look at the tire. A grove had formed perfectly around the lower wall of the tire. I took the tire in to be replaced and asked that they check out the cause. After being reassured that it was okay but should be looked at more closely, I drove 2 miles home. Once at home the tire was removed again only to again see the deep grove in a brand new tire. Closer inspection of the car resulted in finding a broken coil spring the had been rubbing on the tire and had cause rapid air deflation after no more than 4 miles of driving. Needless to say, the tire, the coil springs, and the rear struts had to be replaced at the tune of nearly $700. I was thankful that I had forgot to take out all the warm winter clothes out of my car that we had used the night before to go sledding; I was able to keep my son warm on a cold and fridged day where I was trapped with a flat.

Filed Jan 8, 2007 · Suspension · 75,000 miles · NE

Tl* - the contact stated that on january 5, 2007 the contact was traveling in reverse when she heard a noise. The contact noticed the left front tire was flat. The contact stated on january 4, 2007 heard a loud noise coming from the garage, he went to investigate and found nothing. The contact believed that the noise he heard was the front tire spring rupturing. The contact stated he had heard squeaking noises coming from the front of the vehicle when it would go over bumps, but did not know what it was. The contact had the mechanic take a look at it, but he did not find anything. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop. Where they ordered two new front springs. *ak updated 02/22/07.

Filed Sep 21, 2006 · Brakes · VA

2001 ford taurus ses wagon. Purchased 4/2001 with 32 miles on it. Found out right after purchase that rotors had been ground down. Dealer blamed original parts. Upon braking, steering while heavily rocks from side to side. Obvious to anyone sitting in the car. Rotors have been replaced at least twice, and ground down at least 3 times. Car only has 70,000 miles on it. Travel is 90% highway miles, little braking at all. Dealers just keep suggesting new rotors and pads or grinding down but I have been doing this approx. Every 8,000-10,000 miles. Shimmy in wheel never fully goes away no matter what I do. I am afraid that I will not be able to stop one day given how much vibration in the car there is. No one knows what's wrong or is admitting it. Research will show that I am not the only one with this complaint, so clearly there is a design flaw of some kind.

Filed May 27, 2006 · Steering, Suspension · 74,188 miles · MO

Strange sound from front right tire in terms of loud squeaking when going over bumps and rolling road. Took car to dealer. It was found to have a broken tie rod at the front right end. However they also found the right rear coil spring was broken. The broken spring had cut a deep groove into the inner sidewall of the tire. I had the broken spring and tie rod replaced by the dealer under the terms of my extended warranty but they were not obligated to pay for the tire. I paid for a new tire. On the way home a loud hammering sound now came from the right rear tire area when riding over bumps. Took car back to dealer and he found that the right rear strut was ruined due to the broken coil spring and replaced it. The dealer said the left rear spring was good and did not need to be replaced. My main concern is not that I was not covered for cost of the replacement tire but rather that this broken spring be allowed, by design to ruin a tire that can result in an accident. A new spring can still break and puncture the tire. I now have to spend my own money as soon as my warranty runs out (in a few weeks) to replace the coil spring on the left rear side. If these things were not designed right or made right, we should at least be told to change them after a certain number of miles rather than wait for a failure to occur and risk a tire blowout.

Filed Jan 29, 2006 · Suspension · 84,500 miles · IL

I entered my car one morning and started backing out of the garage and I heard a metal grinding sound from the right rear side. While driving to work I noticed the car seemed to be riding lower on the right rear side. A week or so later I took the car into a ford dealership and was told the right rear spring and both struts needed to be replaced. He said the broken spring was gouging a hole in my tire. The right rear strut was leaking and needed to be replaced, but he said I would to have both replaced for the ride to be even. Additionally, he said I would need to have an alignment done. I did not have the work performed on my car as the dealer was asking over $700 for the repairs. I called for other estimates. I pulled the tire off at home and did find the spring was broker and causing a gouge to be dug into my 1 year old tire just an inch below the top of the tire and about 1/4 inch deep. I have yet to speak to ford about the problem.

Filed Oct 11, 2005 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · FL

Dt: the contact stated that when applying the brake they jerked and squeaked intermittently. At times when the brakes were applied they almost went to the floor. Dealer said they could not find the cause of the problem. Once the dealer drove vehicle it jerked. Manufacturer took the contact's complaint, and told her they could not duplicate the problem, and could not offer any help at their expense. She was not sure if it was the front or rear brakes.

Filed Jun 10, 2005 · Suspension · 16,227 miles · PA

I first noticed a grinding noise coming from the rear of my 2001 ford taurus. Looking under the rear of the car I noticed a gouge around the entire sidewall of the tire. After removing the left rear tire I found the rear coil spring was broken and was gouging the tire.I called the service department at whitmoyer ford in mt. Joy, pa. To ask if there was a safety recall on the rear springs of this vehicle. He said there was not. I then called customer service at ford in michigan and reported the problem and requested if this dangerous defect could be repaired at no cost to me as the vehicle had only been driven 16,227 miles. I was told I would have to drive the car to the dealership about 15 to 20 miles to have the problem evaluated before a decision could be made if any of the cost would be paid by ford. I was suprised by the lack of concern by ford customer service to an obvious safety defect.

Filed May 23, 2005 · Suspension · 45,000 miles · MI

Driving to work and a grinding noise came from right rear of car. Metal grinding against meytal noise. Moments later the right rear tire blew. I pulled over immediately to see what happened. Something had made a gouge in the inner part of the tire. After the car was placed on the tow truck, I could see a piece of metal dragging. The repair shop called a said the rear right spring broke and damaged the tire. I believe rusting caused the failure.

Filed Mar 30, 2005 · Suspension · 63,000 miles · OH

While backing out of the driveway consumer heads a loud squealing noise. Consumer inspected the vehicle , and noticed the left rear coil spring broke. Consumer cut the coil spring, and took the vehicle to a repair shop. Dealer and the manufacturer were notified, and confirmed that the part was not covered under a recall.

Filed Feb 16, 2005 · Brakes · 130,000 miles · IL

A loud grinding noise was coming from the left rear wheel while driving 35-40 MPH. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that a part of the brake broke off into the brake drum, and that the drum/pads, and brake cylinder need to be replaced. The dealer was notified.*ak before the loud grindng noise there was a loud pop from the left rear wheel. Rear shoes and rear wheel cylinder were repalced and brake system was bleed. 2 brake drums also had to be resurfaced.