Starting on trip in driveway, heard scraping sound as pulling out of driveway and then front passenger tire blew. Slowly backed car few feet back into driveway. Jacked car up and pulled tire off to replace with mini spare and noticed broken, sharp end of coil spring sticking straight out at where tire was. Apparently, coil spring broke and impaled tire. Tire had circular scrape completely around inner surface of tire where the tire had rotated against spring edge. Spring had then completely gone through tire causing blowout. Luckily this happened in driveway and not at highway speeds. I understand this is a very common failure on ford tauruses and there is a recall for cars from model years 1999 - 2001. This recall should be extended to at least cover 2002 model year cars.
2002 Ford Taurus suspension complaints
Page 7 of 33: complaints 161 to 190 of 962, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving in reverse the front drivers side coil spring broke causing damage to the front drivers side tire. The contact was concerned about the complaints regarding the front coil spring on her year, make and model vehicle. The coil spring was repaired by a local mechanic. The contact did not call the manufacturer regarding the failure. The contact stated that if the vehicle was driving on a highway and the coil spring broke it could have caused a crash. The failure mileage was 164,000. Updated 03/07/11*lj updated 12/14/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus sl. While the vehicle was parked in the garage she noticed that the front drivers side tire was flat. She also saw sharp objects from the coil spring all over the garage floor. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who stated that the front coil spring was broken and had punctured the tire causing it to go flat. The mechanic was replacing the coil spring assembly, the stabilizer bar, mounting bar and struts when the complaint was filed. The contact also had to replace the tire. The failure mileage was 145,157.
2002 ford taurus ses with aprox 125k miles front left coil spring broke about six inches from the bottom end, the spring extended to the next coil, the broken end cut through the front left tire. The front left tire looked as if it was cut with a razor, the spring completely severed the tire at the junction of the top of the side wall and the tread. Both sides of the tire remained seated on the rim. The spring broke when backing out of a drive that is level with the street. The operator heard a clunk and thought that ice had broken free from the fender, as experienced in winter operations. The car was operated 100 feet then the operator felt the flat tire. The front left corner of the car was low to the ground without the full support of the spring the left front sway bar link broke under the extra weight. The broken piece from the link was about 60 degrees of the outer ball retention cup (upper end of the link). It is plastic. This car is the model year after an established recall for the same issue, a report was filled with ford. The fl strut and spring where replaced. The right spring was bought with the left and will be installed with a new strut shortly. Also the left front sway bar link will be replaced. All failed components are retained by the owner, (we where able to get the stuff out of the drive)with the exception of the tire. The owner has photos of the tire and the spring ( still installed ) the morning this happened. Inspection of the spring at the break shows signs of intergranlure corrosion through the spring emanating from filiform corrosion on the surface. Owner bought the car used, it is unknown if the spring was original or a replacement.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving approximately 3 MPH, the contact heard an unusual spinning noise from the front end of the vehicle; suddenly, the front end collapsed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they informed that the front passenger side coil spring had completely broken. The technician was in the process of replacing both front coil springs. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000. The VIN was unavailable.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact was attempting to exit a residential driveway when the front passenger side tire exploded. The contact discovered that the coil spring was fractured and punctured the tire. The front coil springs and struts were repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact to take the repair invoice to the dealer for a possible reimbursement. The dealer was contacted who offered neither assistance nor a reimbursement to the contact. The current and failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
Tl* the contact owns 2002 ford taurus. The contact was exiting a residential carport driving 2 MPH when she heard a loud noise and the front passenger side tire burst. The contact was able to install the spare tire and discovered that the front coil spring had fractured and pierced the tire. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. While at the repair facility, the driver side tire also burst due to the spring piercing the tire. The vehicle was repaired and the tires were replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000 and the current mileage was 108,019. Updated 06/24/11
Drivers side front coil snapped, puncturing tire.
Front coil spring broke while backing and ruined new front tire and who knows what else on our 2002 ford taurus. Based on the huge number of complaints..why hasn't there been a recall. Our car has 55,000 miles. We live in minnesota. This is crazy.
The front left coil spring broke and punctured and shredded the tire on my 2002 ford taurus wagon. I also had this happen on a 2000 taurus, this was covered by a recall. Why isn't there a recall on later models. This should be considered a serious safety defect.
2002 ford taurus ses. Front driver side coil spring snapped while sitting in driveway. The spring subsequently punctured the tire upon its failure. There was no warning or cause for concern. The car has 80,000 miles. Had this happened while driving, a crash would have been almost certain.
I purchased a used 2002 ford taurus two years ago. About 4 weeks ago, I was driving down of a driveway at work and heard a loud popping noise. I ended up having the car towed to a mechanic and he found both front springs broken and two shredded tires. Both of the springs were broken in exactly the same place. He had never seen anything like this. The cost of the repairs was $600.00: $400.00 for the two springs and $200.00 for the two tires. Luckily I was driving at a very slow speed when this happened and not doing 70 MPH on an interstate highway. I have read dozens of consumer complaints online about the same thing happening to other owners of 2002 taurus's but ford has not done a recall yet. I am requesting that a recall be made and the cost of repairs be reimbursed to the owners of the cars. The recall should include the rear springs, too, as many owners have had the rear springs break also.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that after entering his vehicle, he noticed that the driver side of the vehicle was sitting lower than normal. He went to inspect the vehicle and saw that the coil springs punctured the driver side tire causing it to deflate. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer who informed the contact that he needed to replace the coil springs. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Christmas morning I was backing out of my driveway when a loud popping noise occurred. It was found that the front drivers side spring has fractured. I was lucky to be at home driving at a low speed. However, this is the second time in 6 months that I have had a spring fracture on me. Back in june 2010 I had the same experience with the right rear spring. The car is currently un-drivable and must be towed to a shop for assessment and repair. Parts will likely need to be replaced and I hope there isn't more damage than needing the spring and potentially the tire replaced. I am writing to make you aware because many other 2002 ford taurus owners have experienced the same problem yet the real recall ends with model year 2001 and there is still a defect investigation open on my particular car for this problem.
Rear passenger side coil spring broken
Broken front spring on 2002 ford taurus. Only 40,000 miles on it & it ruined a brand new tire. $700. Repair cost that I couldn't afford but had to have a car, therefore had no choice but have it fixed. Why isn't something done about this problem, repair man said it's common on the taurus. Has something been done to fix this problem, no one was hurt or killed but it sure could have happened.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. When the contact parked the vehicle, the front passenger side coil spring broke and punctured the tire. The contact stated that there was no prior warning. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 58000.
2002 ford taurus coil spring fracture. Same problem as 2001 ford taurus recall.
We were leaving our home on saturday, december 18, 2010 and after putting the car in reverse heard a noise and found the drivers side front tire had suddenly gone flat. After removing the tire we found that the coil suspension spring had broken and punctured the tire. Ford has recalls on the taurus for this same problem but does not include the 2002 yet they are having the same problems as they did through 2001.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. All four coil springs were broken on his vehicle. The right rear and left front tires were damaged by the coil springs. He repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was called and stated that there were no recalls and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 56,500. Updated 02/02/11
2002 ford taurus ses front left coil spring snapped while backing up in driveway. Sharp end of broken spring gouged tire, causing an immediate flat. Ruined tire has been replaced. New coil/strut assemblies will be installed at all four wheels for fear of catastrophe should another spring break while driving at highway speeds! Punctured tire and broken spring have been discarded and are unfortunately no longer available.
Driver was backing out of a parking space leaving work. Upon pushing the gas pedal to back out of the parking space (traveling approximately two feet) there was a loud bang and the front left front of the car fell. The car was towed to a local garage, where the mechanic said that the front left spring had broken, puncturing the front left tire and causing it to blow. In addition to the broken spring and punctured tire, the front stabilizer link was also broken.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus se (na). The contact stated that the front coil springs broke while the vehicle was being reversed at 5 MPH and punctured the tires. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the coil springs and tire were replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000 and the current mileage was approximately 130,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that front suspension coil snapped. The vehicle was sitting in the garage when the contact heard a loud bang. The spring had punctured the front passenger side tire. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the spring with replaced with a used one. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileages were 143,282.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving in reverse at a very low speed she heard a loud popping noise. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the drivers side front tire was flat. A spare tire was installed and the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where she was told that the front drivers side coil spring fractured. The vehicle was in the process of having both front coil springs replaced. The failure and current mileages were 126,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving approximately 8 MPH the front passenger side tire exploded. The contact stated that a coil spring punctured the tire and caused the failure. She changed the tire and was able to drive to her residence. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the front suspension assembly. She referenced recall 04v332000, suspension:front:springs:coil springs and stated that the recall was for the 2001 ford taurus. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 101,900 and the current mileage was 101,903.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving 5 MPH in reverse the front coil spring broke and punctured the driver's side tire. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic replaced both front suspension assemblies. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced recall 04v332000, suspension:front:springs:coil springs and wanted to know why the 2002 was not included in the recall. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage were 120,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving approximately 10 MPH he heard a loud bang and the front end of the vehicle fell down. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where he was told that both front coil springs had fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 101,000 and the current mileage was 112,000. The VIN was unavailable.
2002 ford taurus coil spring broke and sway link cutting a hole in the sidewall of the tire something needs to be done such as recall.
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