2002 Ford Taurus: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Mar 4, 2018 · Suspension · 62,000 miles · OH

Front passenger coil spring broke causing a blowout on the tire in motion on a city street

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Suspension · 90,000 miles · NE

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the rear driver's side coil springs fractured causing the rear driver's side tire to blow out. The contact pulled to the shoulder of the road and the tire was replaced with a spare tire. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the coil spring was replaced. The failure recurred on two occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Jul 16, 2014 · Suspension · 91,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the front driver side leaf spring became fractured. The front driver side tire blew and no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnose that the front left spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 91,000. Updated 8/27/14

Filed Jun 19, 2014 · Suspension, Wheels · 153,940 miles · WI

While driving my front passenger side dropped & my tire exploded. It was discovered that the coil spring failed which torn the inside of my tire almost completely off. I know this has happened to other ford taurus however was told by ford my VIN number was not included in the recall so they would not be checking into the issue. This happened without warning & had I been going faster, been in heavy traffic or on bad road conditions this would have been worse. I'm not asking for them to pay for it. Just include more vehicles in the recall to prevent fatalities.

Filed Jul 29, 2013 · Suspension · 95,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, an extremely loud noise emitted as the vehicle began to swerve. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the contact noticed that the front driver's side coil spring had fractured due to corrosion. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence and was not repaired or diagnosed for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. A section of the broken spring punctured the tire causing it to blow out. The two front tires were replaced at a cost of $300. Two new front strut/spring assemblies were installed. Parts $220 labor $175, broken stabilizer link $19.68. The right front strut was replaced as a precaution as the spring was rusty.

Filed Feb 6, 2013 · Suspension · 159,000 miles · IN

The vehicle was parked in garage when this incident happens. I heard a loud noise and noticed front driver side tire blew. After I removed the tire I realize the front driver side coil spring fractured and punctured the tire. As I think it is a safety concern I called ford informing this incident. The vehicle was towed to a local garage and my mechanic advised to change both sides of front coil springs and struts. The vehicle will be repaired in two days.

Filed Jan 28, 2013 · Suspension · 90,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 5 MPH, the front driver's side tire blew. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the tire was shredded. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the coil springs fractured and punctured the tire. The mechanic advised that the coil springs, struts and sway bars needed replacing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 90,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2012 · Suspension · 183,000 miles · OH

Backing out of parking space heard noise and then the right front tire blew out. After removing the tire found that the coil spring had fractured and punctured the tire.

Filed Jan 4, 2012 · Suspension · 75,810 miles · NY

New years eve with my husband myself ,son and his fiances daughter in the car ,driving on interstate at 70mph ,heading to restaurant, rt front coil broke. Thank god it didn't slice tire and cause a blow out and kill us or someone else. Why has there been no recall on coils installed on ford taurus newer than 2001?? This is the second incident of coil failure on my car, a back one went a few years ago.

Filed Aug 15, 2011 · Suspension · 148,000 miles · MI

I was pulling my wife's car out of the garage when the left front tire blew. I thought it was just a flat till I noticed that the front strut (spring) had broken. I could tell that this happened because of a manufacturing defect (the steel was not heat treated properly). I know this because I spent 40 years in the auto industry as a quality control manager. I took the car into my mechanic and had all four struts replaced at a cost of almost $800.00 this is a true safety defect because my wife travels to work on I-75 at 70 MPH and drives 60 miles one way to work. If this happened on the highway, she surely would have flipped over!

Filed Jul 20, 2011 · 76,405 miles · NY

On may 15, 2011 I was using my 2002 ford taurus to run errands . After driving for a short period of time I became aware of a strange odor, all of the gauges appeared normal, and there were no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. However, I was concerned enough to get a second opinion. Fortunately, the facility that normally services my vehicle is located less than 2 miles from my home. After visually inspecting the vehicle and checking all fluids the mechanic proceeded to test drive the vehicle, attempting to duplicate the smell. The car only traveled a short distance before the left rear tire blew out. Further investigation, on a lift, revealed a broken left rear coil spring. The jagged end of the spring was protruding into the inner sidewall of the tire, having caused it to rapidly deflate. The mechanic then informed me that the smell I experienced was most likely the broken spring rubbing on the sidewall of the tire. To my astonishment I was also told that it was a fairly common event and there is the potential for failure of the remaining 3 coil springs. I am very concerned about the continued use of this vehicle, I am well aware of the hazards associated with the sudden deflation of a tire at road speed. I have attempted to contact ford motor company, because I was also told by my mechanic that at one time ford had a recall and a campaign to remedy such a problem. To date, I have not been satisfied with the results.

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.