2002 Ford Taurus: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Apr 22, 2012 · Steering · MO · crash · 1 injury

While attempting to make a sharp left turn onto a side street, the vehicle went into a deep embankment rather than turning. The front driver side tire was turned left and the front passenger side tire was straight when the vehicle came to a halt. The conclusion was a broken tie rod. The vehicle remained upright as it careened down the hill. The crash resulted in minor injuries to the driver. The vehicle was totaled.

Filed May 11, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 60,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that she was driving at low speeds and thought she hit something. After inspecting the vehicle she noticed that there was a flat tire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they advised her that the front passenger side coil spring would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the front passenger side coil springs. In addition, after taking the vehicle through inspection they advised her that front end links would also need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the front end links. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The inner tie rods were also replaced. Updated 01/30/12

Filed Feb 27, 2011 · Suspension · 80,000 miles · MD

On 23 february 2011 I put my 2002 ford taurus in reverse on my carport, and I heard a loud bang noise.the car lurched to the left a made a loud thud sound hitting hard on the carport floor. I turned the engine off and got out to see what had happened. The left front coil spring had broke and was thrust into the left tire. Also, the spring hit the top of the nylon stabilizer breaking part of the top and throwing the cover of the ball joint on the floor.

Filed Jan 25, 2011 · Suspension, Wheels · 140,811 miles · OH

Just as with the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v332000 for the 1999-2001 taurus, three of the four coil springs broke in this 2002 taurus shredding the right front tire while driving on the interstate. The car had to be towed and four new quick struts, new front stabilizer links, a new rear sway bar link, new front right inner and outer tie rod ends, and a new tire needed to be installed. Owner repaired vehicle. Manufacturer unwilling to repair or recall at this time. Failure mileage was 140,811.

Filed Jul 1, 2010 · Suspension · 79,687 miles · MN

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While the vehicle was parked the front coil spring broke. The vehicle was towed to a tire repair shop. The local repair shop replaced the front coil spring, struts, the sway bar links and the lower ball joints. The approximate failure mileage was 79,687 and the current mileage was 80,500.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Engine, Seats · 68,000 miles · CO · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While the contact was drving 30 MPH .the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. While the contact was attempting to pull to the side of the road the driver side seat broke off from the bottom of it's base causing the contact to crash into a nearby wall.the contact was injured during the crash. A police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact had the brakes, struts, ball joints and instrument panel replaced. The failure and current mileages were 68000.

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Suspension · 75,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. When the consumers son was attempting to enter the vehicle, he noticed that the front driver side tire was punctured by the coil spring. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where the contact had the coil spring replaced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 75000. Updated 04/01/10. *lj the front springs. Left front link. Lower ball joint and tire were replaced. Updated 06/04/10

Filed Feb 8, 2010 · Suspension · 153,323 miles · OH

I didnt get into and accident. Went to change my tires, the rear springs were broke. I replaced both sides and spent 800. Took my car into my dealer in january to get my heat fixed and they told me the right front spring was broke. So I had the fix plus the tie rod

Filed Jul 24, 2009 · Suspension · 131,936 miles · IL

I woke up in the morning to go to my car and found that the tire on the front driver side had a flat tire. My son went to help me put on the spare tire, but after he took the flat tire off he saw that it had been punctured oddly, and saw that the cause of the puncture was a broken coil spring which is part of the struts. The coil spring was broken so badly that it had a sharp point where it was broken, and a center portion- about 4 to 5 inches of the spring actually had been broken off completely. The whole front end of the car fell and almost broke his hand while he was examining this, luckily he was quick enough to move his hand away. He was able to put the spare tire on, but the coil spring was actually touching and rubbing on top of the spare tire. I drove the car, very cautiously and slowly to a repair shop. They found that all my struts were bad, and the coil spring on the back passengers' side was also broken and actually rusting away. The total estimate for everything,including 4 new coil springs and struts, new tire, new tie rods was $1,239 plus tax. I had to have it fixed, there wasn't any way I could take the chance of driving this car out of the repair shop. I was laid off of my job this past january, so this is a big set back financially for me. I am lucky this didn't happen when I was driving at a high speed, it could have caused a bad accident.

Filed Jun 13, 2009 · Suspension · 69,000 miles · IN

The front end of my 2002 ford taurus had been making some creaking and groaning noises. We thought possibly that it could be the transmission, but as I found out, it wasn't. On june 7, I had just gotten off the highway to stop for something on my way to work, and as I pulled into the parking space, I heard a loud crack. I looked to see if I had run over something, and I started back to work. A few blocks later, the front left started smoking, and my tire went flat. I went to jack the car up to see what happened, and the front left coil spring had snapped. The smoke had been coming from the spring rubbing against and also puncturing my tire. I consider myself very lucky that this didn't happen a few minutes before as I was coming down the highway at 60 MPH, as my steering was greatly affected. We checked with the ford dealership, but they did not have any safety recalls for this particular type of situation, which I realize now is definitely a safety hazard. We bought new shocks/struts for both the left and right front of the car, and also are replacing both ball joints on each side; I also have to buy new tires.

Filed Feb 10, 2009 · Suspension · 51,816 miles · PA

I purchased a new 2002 ford taurus in nov. 01'. I have had three coil spring break. The first one was on 2/16/07. I was backing out of my driveway and my front left tire blew. Had to have it towed to a garage. They had to replace the broken coil spring and front left tire and both front ball joints. On 5/15/08 during my state vehicle inspection, the inspection garage notice that one of my back coil springs was broke. I had to have it replaced. On 1/13/09, once again I was backing out of my drive and my front right tire blew. Once again I had to have my car towed to the garage. The front right coil spring was broke. I have to have it replaced along with a new tire. I called ford motor co. Customer service and they said there was no recall on 2002 ford taurus coil springs and could do nothing about it. I have since learned there was a recall on ford taurus coil springs for model years 1999-2001 & again for ford taurus coil springs for model year 2003. I have researched this online and have learned there are 100's if not more complaints about 2002 ford taurus coil spring breaking. This situation is very upsetting. I worry every day wondering if a coil spring is going to break and blow my tire while I'm driving. I think it is an outrage that a company as big as ford cannot do something to correct such a defective piece of equipment.

Filed Jan 29, 2009 · Suspension · 107,000 miles · VT

My wife was driving our 2002 taurus, and noticed a rumbling from the front end. She got out and looked, and the tire had blown out (purchased one month prior). When I arrived (and the tow truck right after), we noticed that the coil spring had broken, and had punctured and pretty well shredded the tire. A web search online of this problem (I was trying to find a damage estimate) has shown numerous other hits, as well as this agency's own investigation into the problem. I am currently unsure of any further damage. I do know the coil is broken, and that the tire has been punctured by the coil. We are waiting to hear back from the mechanic about other problems that may have occurred (tie rod, rim, etc). We will ensure that the original damaged coil spring is kept.