2002 Ford Taurus: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Aug 9, 2016 · Suspension · 150,500 miles · 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.

Filed Feb 26, 2013 · Suspension · 90,866 miles · WI

Left front coil spring snapped in two places - approx 3/4 of a coil at the top and approx 1/2 coil at the bottom. Sliced tire all the way through the inside sidewall - almost all the way around. Also damaged the top mount of the sway bar link. This is my daughter's car. Had this occurred at speed on a two-lane highway I shudder to think of the result - the drag would have sent the car immediately into oncoming traffic! As possible background, we had a cold snap recently where the temp got down to single digits. My daughter's taurus was parked beside our garage. There was a sudden loud, metallic bang in the area of her car - sounded almost as if a rock had been thrown at it - but even louder. I went outside to investigate but I couldn't see anything obvious. Next time my daughter attempted to drive the car she only got a few feet down the drive when she stopped to alert my wife of a 'horrible grinding noise'. My wife thought it was just rusty brakes due to non-use of the car while she was away at college. When my daughter put it back in gear and pulled out into the street the left front corner collapsed to the ground. I had the car repaired today but now I'm seeing evidence on the internet that these coil springs have been failing and continue to fail even beyond the 1999-2001 models previously recalled. I also have a 2004 sable and a 2007 taurus. How can I not be concerned about a possible spring defect on them as well?? Regardless, how can ford be allowed to trivialize our lives with such a glaring risk which can only be mitigated by proactive recall? (it sure would help to know the resolution of prior recall - was it better metal or thicker coil spring?) anyway, please help!

Filed May 3, 2012 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving approximately 5 MPH the contact heard a grinding noise followed by a loud bang. The contact stopped the vehicle and noticed the front driver's side tire was flat. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated the front drivers side coil spring fractured and had to be replaced. The rear drivers side coil spring had also fractured and was previously replaced during routine maintenance. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 06/05/12*lj the consumer stated that the left front coil spring broke and punctured the sidewall of the front tire. Updated 06/06/2012

Filed Jun 30, 2011 · Suspension · 70,000 miles · OH

Noticed grinding/rubbing noise while driving; noise varied with speed, turning and braking. Observed rubber residue in left rear wheel, on wheel well. Removed wheel, discovered coil spring rusted and dislodged from lower support and was shaving the tire. Loss of tread observed. Coil spring was subsequently cut to remove impacting area and will be replaced. No injuries. Ford has issued a recall on similar models in similar years for the front coil spring; internet reports indicate that the problem may not be limited to the parts already recalled by ford. The recall may need to be expanded to cover the rear springs as well. Upon replacement, will keep broken part and request servicer to submit information to the federal safety agency as well.

Filed Jun 5, 2011 · Suspension · 68,502 miles · WA

This morning as I was backing out of my driveway, I heard a grinding sound coming from the front passenger tire. I stopped the car and looked under the car to check for obstructions. I then turned the car around and backed it back into the driveway. I began to pull forward slowly, attempting to determine if the noise was from the brake. At that point the tire blew, and the was a loud pop. Upon removing the tire, I was able to see the coil around the strut had embedded itself into the sidewall of the tire, and tore a ring all the way around. It looks as if I tried to open the tire with a can opener. After removing the strut and the coil, I was able to see that a piece of the coil had snapped off up near the top. After looking at the point of the break, I was able to see that there was no erosion, or rusting. The mechanic who is repairing the strut is quite stunned, as is everyone else who has seen the pictures of the tire, and the coil. Apparently something like this happening is quite rare. In fact, they all have said that they have never heard of something like this happening. I am grateful that it did not happen as we were driving on the road. Yesterday evening the car was fine, and not making any of the grinding noise at all.

Filed Mar 28, 2011 · Suspension · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that there was an abnormal squeaking and low growl from the front end of the vehicle. The contact believed that the failure was caused by a faulty coil spring that would eventually fail. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The current and failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 6, 2011 · Suspension · 39,328 miles · MI

I initially noticed a metal-on-metal grinding sound when I drove over bumps in the road (like my shocks were bad). I had the 2002 taurus examined at my ford dealer, and the mechanic said one of the front coil springs was bad. He also said he was surprised the front tire hadn't blown out. He advised that I have both front springs replaced at the same time, which I did.

Filed Feb 17, 2011 · Suspension · 47,743 miles · KS

Driving at approximately 10 MPH, slowed to turn left and heard a pop from the passenger rear side, followed by a grinding noise. Proceeded another block to the home driveway, checked vehicle and found that the passenger side rear spring had broken and was eating the inside sidewall of the tire. Checked online and found numerous complaints. Checked this site and found numerous complaints and a the federal safety agency investigation, for both front and rear springs breaking on the same model year taurus. Contacted the ford dealership and ford corporate and was told there was no recall and said they would not assist in paying for the repair and accepted no responsibility for the problem. Had the vehicle repaired, and tire replaced at our expense. During the repair, also found the driver side rear spring was bad, but had not completely fractured. Also replaced the spring on the driver's side. This car has only 47700 miles, has been well cared for and has never pulled a trailer or carried any type of load. Had just left the interstate moments before the spring broke. Had the spring broken at 70 MPH, destroying the tire, the resulting damage could have been catastrophic and injuries may have occurred.

Filed Feb 1, 2011 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While attempting to place the vehicle in reverse, the contact heard a loud grinding noise. When she exited the vehicle she noticed that the left front tire was deflated. While attempting to change the tire, the contact noticed that a piece of the spring fell onto the ground. The dealer was notified, who informed the contact that there was no extended warranty and offered no further assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency to file a complaint. The vehicle had was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 120,000.

Filed Jan 4, 2011 · Suspension · 100,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving approximately 5 MPH in reverse, the front passenger tire blew out. The tire was replaced by a spare tire and was driven to the dealer. The technicians stated the front passenger side coil was broken and the failure had caused the tire to blow out. The coil and tire were replaced. The failure occurred a second time. The vehicle was making a grinding noise and was taken to the dealer. The technician stated the rear driver side coil had broken and the tire was destroyed. The vehicles coil and tire were replaced. The failure occurred a third time. The contact heard a loud bang from the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the technicians stated the front driver side coil had broken but the tire was not damaged. The coil was replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2010 · Suspension · 94,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormal grinding noise near the rear driver side tire. The contact moved off the roadway and went to inspect the vehicle. The contact was unable to determine where the noise was coming from. The contacts personal mechanic inspected the vehicle but was also unable to locate the origin of the abnormal noise. The contact stated the failure would occur intermittently and only when attempting a turn. The dealer found that the coil spring was rusted and fractured. The noise was caused by the soil spring rubbing against the interior of the tire. The coil spring was replaced as well as the rear stabilizer links. The failure mileage was 94,000 and the current mileage was 94,225.

Filed May 24, 2010 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving at 45 MPH, the contact noticed a grinding noise. After examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear driver side coil spring had broken. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where the coil spring was replaced. One year after the repair, the contact was driving 45 MPH when the front passenger side tire became flat because the coil spring had broken. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The current mileage was approximately 87,000.