2003 Ford Taurus: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Dec 29, 2018 · Suspension · 143,060 miles · KS

A strange grinding noise was coming from the passenger front tire area which was very noticable trying to back out of driveway, so pulled back in and looked to see what might be wrong. I noticed a burning rubber smell and that the wheel clearance was significantly less on passenger verse driver front tire. Drove up onto ramps to look from beneath and could clearly see the end of the coil poking into the inside edge of the tire with a worn mark all the way around where it was pushing into the rubber. After carefully backing off ramps, it was jacked up and placed on jack stands, at which time it was clearly visible the coil spring was snapped in two. It is a miracle this was found before my sister drove 70mph on the highway she was about to. This would've certainly caused a blowout and potentially a fire, and at those speeds could've certainly been deadly.

Filed Feb 12, 2018 · Suspension · 73,600 miles · MN

I regret to report that my daughter-in-law experienced a catastrophic failure of 3 coil spring assemblies and a subsequent front driver side tire failure due to a puncture a few months ago while was driving at a low rate of speed in her parents' neighborhood in winona. Fortunately no one was injured and she was able to pull the car into the driveway. We are thankful she wasn't driving at highway speeds on the interstate. The corrosion of the coil springs has been a known design problem for years. I have done some research and found that the 2003 model year is not on a recall at this time. However earlier model years of taurus have been recalled for this same issue in the past, so corrosion of the coils is a known problem. The car is a 2003 ford taurus, 73,663 actual miles, well-maintained, no visible external rust, garaged nightly. This car was purchased from the ford dealership in rochester, minnesota.

Filed Mar 15, 2016 · Suspension · 74,000 miles · NY

When backing up from being parked, the front drivers side tire exploded and the front left corner of the car dropped. The cause was a broken coil spring which punctured my new tire. 74k miles. I am upset that the federal safety agency has investigated this problem that has been occurring for 15 years with ford taurus' vintage 2000 through 2005 and concluded its not a safety issue because there have been "no serious injuries or deaths". Previously I had three spring failures on another (2001) taurus. I had a front spring break and had both front springs replaced. One of the replacement springs broke two years later. Both failures caused tire failures. Shortly before getting rid of the 2001taurus, I noticed a rear spring had failed, but did not damage the tire. I do expect a few "serious injuries or deaths" to occur in the future because of this serious safety issue. It's too bad some of us will have to sacrifice our lives or limbs for the good of the rest of us. If such a dreadful thing happens, I feel the federal safety agency may be equally liable with ford for wrongful death lawsuits for not requiring ford to address this safety issue. In their investigation, the federal safety agency also mentions the relatively small number of complaints on this topic. That is because consumers do not know about filing a complaint with the federal safety agency. I advise the federal safety agency to request the number of replacement parts from ford along with parts suppliers such as advance and autozone. I would estimate millions of springs have been replaced for just the 2002 and 2003 model years. I'd bet my craft beer money on it. Btw, the true cause of failure is that road dirt and salt causes the ball bearings in the mount to bind which in turn restricts the springs free movement. The spring does not rust, the binding of the ball bearings against the spring surface causes the failure. Poor design causing a very dangerous situation if driving at highway speed.

Filed Jan 31, 2015 · Tires · 102,300 miles · IN

On tuesday, january 27th about 1:00pm, while driving on the interstate, the rear passenger tire exploded and was completely flat. I drove to a nearby by gas station to await my motor service to replace the tire. I photographed the damaged tire. On tuesday, january 27h, goodyear replaced the tire and stated aging was a factor in the tire failure. The tires were serviced by the same goodyear store on friday january 23rd and no mention of aging or replacing the tires was stated by goodyear. I still have to replace three (3) of the tires on my vehicle.

Filed Jan 5, 2015 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · PA

While driving my 2003 ford taurus around a sharp turn the passenger front tire exploded . While trying to change tire to spare it was noticed that the cause of the explosion was a broken spring sticking in the sidewall . I had it replaced . A few months later I saw a piece of a spring in my driveway , when I looked at my car I found the piece of spring came from the drivers side of the taurus . Then later that year at state inspection the mechanic found a rear spring broke . I had both rear springs replaced . All four springs replaced at my own cost.

Filed Apr 25, 2013 · Suspension · 88,823 miles · IL

While driving the car noticed a clunking feeling in front end. After approx one mile saw smoke and smelled burning rubber. Turned around to get car home, and while sitting at stop light, front driver side tire exploded like a gun shot. Car was towed to ford dealership and found "front left coil spring broke causing it to rub on tire causing burning rubber smell, smoke and tire to blow out". Repair bill is approx $925. Owner is 83 year old woman, and this is a very costly expense. Recall 04v332000 does not extend to this VIN although it is clearly the same issue.

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Suspension · 68,250 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. The contact was driving 5 MPH, when the front driver side tire blew. The vehicle was stopped and the contact noticed that the front driver side coil spring was fractured and had pierced the tire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the coil spring was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 68,250.

Filed May 2, 2011 · Suspension · 45,708 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. The contact started the vehicle and when shifting into reverse, a loud noise emitted from the outside of the vehicle. The contact noticed the front driver's side tire exploded due to a severe puncture. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the front drivers side shock and strut module assembly were replaced. The tire and front sway bars were also replaced. The failure mileage was 45,708. Updated 06/01/11*lj updated 07/01/11

Filed Apr 26, 2011 · Suspension · 117,000 miles · MA

Put my 2003 ford taurus in reverse, backed up about a foot , tire blew out and the front drivers side suspension spring was broken.

Filed Feb 22, 2011 · Suspension · 125,000 miles · MA

The car is my daughters. I maintain and service the car. The car is a 2003 ford taurus. A week ago both front springs failed at once, and subsequently cut the insides of both front tires causing them to blow out. Fortunately the tires failed in the driveway and not while she was on the highway commuting to or from work. I called the ford dealer and asked if there was a recall on this failure. The person said that the 'oasis' system did not show any recalls on the specific VIN. I then arranged for the car to be towed to my local mechanic (who previously worked at the local ford dealer for over 15 years), since the ford dealer is excessively expensive. He said that the broken springs (both) twisted in such a way as to cut both the front tires on the inside side wall. He also had to replace a sway bar link (broken in the spring failure), and both front struts blown out when the broken springs allowed all the cars weight to bottom out on the struts. The car is currently at the tire shop getting two replacement tires (the blown out ones had 70% tread remaining) and a front end alignment. This failure could have been catastrophic had it happened at higher speed or on the highway. This is an extreme safety hazard and should be investigated by the federal safety agency. I'm aware that the failure of springs on ford's taurus/sable, escort/tracer, and other ford models is not uncommon and has been a problem over the years. This specific type of failure, where the tires are cut and blowout is extremely dangerous and should be investigated asap. I have notified fomoco as well.

Filed Jan 27, 2011 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · MN

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, he heard a loud noise and the vehicle suddenly lost control. He coasted to the side of the road and noticed that the front passenger side had exploded. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who informed the contact that the coil springs had punctured the tire causing it to blow out. The vehicle has been repaired for the front passenger coil springs and tire. The manufacturer was also contacted and informed him that there were no recalls for the coil springs and they could not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Updated 03/17/11*lj updated 12/20/11

Filed Dec 17, 2010 · Suspension, Wheels · 133,038 miles · OH

Drivers side front coil spring in the strut broke and slashed the adjacent tire. This was noticed when the car was beginning to be backed out of a parking spot. We had to replace both strut assemblies for safety sake, replace the damaged tire as well. We opted to replace the other three tires due to wear. Also, the garage recommended we replace the ball joints and lh side tie rod end. The front end was aligned as well. Total cost $1871. I am outraged that there is a recall for 1999 thru 2001 taurus cars but nothing covering up to and including 2003's. I also think it is ridiculous that the cutoff to repair this problem occurs when a car exceeds 100000 miles. This is a known design defect and all ford taurus cars should have been recalled and repaired. My daughter was lucky this failure occurred in a parking lot and not when going 65mph! Severe injury and death could have been the result and other people may have been involved! I implore the federal safety agency to force ford to engage in a retroactive recall for all affected taurus cars. It is inexcusable to have a design defect of this magnitude on the public highways. I can understand a broken spring can occur, but the complaints clearly show that the spring then slashes the tire, causing an immediate blowout and potential loss of control of the vehicle.