Coil Spring failure 2002 Taurus SEL

I own a 2002 Taurus SEL with 125 KMS.
I recently experienced a left front coil spring failure, resulting in
replacement of both front coil springs. There is a recall affecting 1999-2001
Taurus for exactly the same problem. FORD has not extended the recall to
2002 or later model years. This certainly seems to be a manufacturing defect,
that has not been receified.I am trying to get a handle on how many other Taurus owners have experienced the same problem, if you reported it to FORD, and if any resolution was provided by FORD.

In my case FORD would not cover the replacements costs, citing the recall was not applicable to my vehicle.

Thanks

Hi, newbie here.
My sister has a 2002 Ford Taurus SE. Last month @82K her left front coil spring broke. It broke as she pulled out of the driveway and was accelerating. The coil sliced the tire all the way around and broke the sway bar link. We called Ford. Ford had nothing to offer us either. They advised us to save our service receipts in case a recall comes out. If a recall comes out Ford will pay for the coil springs only. We had both front sides replaced. It set her back $722 and some odd cents. I'm not sure where you live but we live in Western New York, where salt is used on the roads. Worth mentioning is my mom's '99 has the original "faulty" coil springs in them at 105K! The '99 has seen 8 winters. The '02 only saw 4 winters. The mechanic said he has at least one ford come into his shop each week for a broken coil spring. Kinda glad it happened to my sisters and not my moms because my moms has brand new tires on it. The recall on the older ones isn't that great. A guard is installed on the spring to stop it from slicing a tire when it breakes. I'm urging her to get something done about hers. There's no excuse for this! FORD's lucky it happened at such a low rate of speed and not on the highway. I've heard horror stories of losing control of the car on the highway. FORD would have had a lawsuit from us if it happened to put her in harms way. I'm not sure if you mentioned it, but did yours slice your tire? Do you live in the "rust belt"? I think once more '02's acquire more miles, more complaints will be filled.

It reallys hurts me when I see incidents that reminds me that Ford has built suchs crappy cars over the past 25 years.

I have no clue how much a factory set of springs cost for your but an Eibach set would run about 240.00 for all for wheels, they are better and carry a pretty good warranty.

I have an '01 Taurus that I baby (see post 3293). My right rear spring went at 75, 100. Dealership said that they had NEVER seen a rear spring go at ONLY 75K. Had both springs replaced and a 4 wheel alignment done.

You say there is a recall for the front springs. Do you have the recall number, or the TSB?

THANKS!!!!!

Transport Canada recall 2004252, campaign 04S17.
Information is available at the following link:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/recalls/recall_e.asp?recno=12298&;

For the U.S:
Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V332000 Mfg's Report Date : JUL 06, 2004Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSPotential Number Of Units Affected : 899060
information is available at the following link:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/results.cfm

Hope this helps.

I did slice my tire, the jagged end of the broken spring chafed through
the sidewall. I live in southwest Ontario ( = snowbelt )

I'd stay away from factory springs. chances are it i'll happen again. Aftermarket should be better.

log on to nhtsa.gov to file a complaint if you haven't done so. Their up to 27 complants on the '02 Taurus and 9 on the '02 sables. I wonder how long it will take for Ford to have a recall. I searched for 99's and found like a 109 or 115 recalls. I hope take ford that long or someone will get hurt. I suprised no one has yet.

I think they are somewhere around 1000 on the SHO Cam complaints and are facings lawsuits. They haven't caved in yet.

I got a saftey recall on a 93 Ford Mustang I no longer owned last May about a "potential saftey hazard" on the seat adjustment bar.

Ford just hates Tauri.

FYI
I was driving my buddies 2001 merc sable wagon when the front right spring let go and destroyed the tire. Ford picked up the tab for the tow, tire, and both front coils.

I just found this forum when I was searching for info about faulty coil springs on Fords. I had a coil spring break recently on my 2002 Taurus while on the highway. Locked the steering, scared me to death. Luckily, there was some road construction so traffic was not as fast, but it could have been disasterous. I sent a letter and my $1200.00 bill to Ford. We'll see if I hear anything. I can't believe there is no recall.

I just found this forum when I was searching for info about faulty coil springs on Fords. I had a coil spring break recently on my 2002 Taurus while on the highway. Locked the steering, scared me to death. Luckily, there was some road construction so traffic was not as fast, but it could have been disasterous. I sent a letter and my $1200.00 bill to Ford. We'll see if I hear anything. I can't believe there is no recall.

Their is indeed a recall.
http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/owners/recalls/default.htm
They aren't very forthcoming with the details. The short story is that in rust belt states they will install a safety sheild to prevent blowouts. They picked up the whole tab for my friends wagon. Did not pay a dime just had it towed to the nearest dealer after calling them with the vin number.

07/15/2004

Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence:
IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Same thing happend to me. I have an SEL with 71000km and Ford is doing NOTHING !

Here's why......

Ford is saying to Transport Canada that the failure is not posing a direct danger to the general public and therfore no recall extention is nessessary. I talked (yes talked) to a TC road safety rep and he said that there is not one single case out of thousands of complaints to date were this failure caused loss of life or significant property damage. Yes I found that hard to believe too !

Obviously Ford will not extend the recall because Ford feels that it was an overreaction (recall of 1999 to 2001 models) to a problem that directly caused no fatalities. Since Ford is financially in big trouble I do not expect them to dedicate money to solve a problem that is not costing them heavily in court costs and lawsuit settlements.

Other than large repair bills and inconveninced people, Ford feels there is no damage done. The only way Ford will exercise corporate responsibility is if the courts impose it on them.

I will be buying an import for my next car.

I had the front spring shields installed on my Taurus. Although I'm more worried about a rear spring breaking.