1998 Ford Taurus

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 11,2006, I PARKED MY CAR IN MY CARPORT AT 7 PM, HAVING DRIVEN 30 MILES THAT DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. IT REMAINED THERE UNTIL MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 13, 2006, WHEN I DISCOVERED A FLAT FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE AAA TOWER NOTICED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY A COIL WHICH HAD BROKEN OFF FROM THE SPRING, PREVENTING HIM FROM RELEASING THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL. THE FORD DEALER SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, MY CAR CLEARLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SPRING BREAK WAS CLEAN, THERE WAS NO RUST, AND THERE HAD BEEN NO PROVOCATION TO CAUSE A BREAK. HAD I BEEN DRIVING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $875.00 TO REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS AND TIRE. THE TOWER, FORD DEALER AND BOTH REPAIR MECHANICS EXAMINED THE COIL THAT BROKE OFF. I DO NOT HAVE THE PART. *JB

MY 1998 FORD TAURUS HAS 134,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN A GOOD CAR. WE HAVE HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS. IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT KICKS ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS--I QUIT DRIVING IT BUT I CAME VERY, VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK WHEN IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY LUCKY!! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS DONE TO IT BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS. I AM VERY ANGRY AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE!!! *NM

VEHICLE IS A SE WAGON, BUILD DATE 8/4/1998. PURCHASED NEW 8/26/1998. MILEAGE AT FAILURE IS 29,608 MILES. WHILE REVERSING AT UNDER 5 MPH, LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AT LOWER RETAINER. THE SPRING SLICED THROUGH THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT 1998 VEHICLES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL, ONLY 1993 AND 1999 THROUGH 2001. FORD WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT RECORD THE FAILURE. TOTAL BILL WAS $1,075 FOR REPLACING BOTH FRONT STRUTS, TWO FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS, 1 TIRE, ALIGNMENT, AND TOWING. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED IN DRIVEWAY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE BECAME FLAT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V332000, REGARDING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. UPDATED *JB

ON APRIL 24, 2006, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW-OUT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN KEENE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING. THE TOW DRIVER HAD INFORMED ME OF A RECALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FOR 1999 TAURUS. MY CAR IS A 1998. I HAD TO REPLACE 2 FRONT TIRES BECAUSE OF THIS AND A SPRING. THE BILL TOTALED $537.78. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO. *JB

SMOKE WAS RISING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND FOUND OIL WAS RUNNING DOWN AND HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE SMOKE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS BULGED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 3/4" THUS ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT OF THE OIL PAN. OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 15 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS SPONGY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AND MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR HAS NOT DISCLOSED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.