1997 Mercury Tracer

1997 MERCURY TRACER TRIO VIN [XXX] MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM WANTED AUTO SALES IN WORLEY IDAHO. MY WE HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. MY WIFE THOUGHT WE WERE BOTTOMING OUT. I CAME TO DISCOVER THAT BOTH REAR FACTORY STRUTS THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUT HOUSING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE METAL HAS JUST FRACTURED AND FAILED. THE COILS MATERIAL MUST BE DEFECTIVE AND NOT UP TO SPECS FROM FORD THIS IS CLEARLY A FORD DEFECT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR US WITH A ONE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. WE ARE NOT HAPPY IF THIS COULD COST THE DEATH OF A CHILD BECAUSE OF A UNSAFE CONDITION. THE CAR IS NOT NEW BUT THE SPRINGS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR NOT BREAK LIKE THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

1-CAR SEEMED TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE REAR WHEN 4 OCCUPANTS WERE IN CAR, ALSO SCRAPING NOISE. 2-CHECKED CAR AND FOUND CONTACT-COIL SPRINGS RUBBING AGAINST CAR, APPEARED TO BE OUT OF THE HOLDER. CHECKED AND FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. SPRINGS PROVIDE VEHICLE STABILITY, CONTROL AND HANDLING. 3-REPLACED BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS, I HAVE BOTH OLD SPRINGS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION OF NEW SPRINGS HAVE THE SPRINGS INSTALLED 180 DEGREES FROM THE POSITION OF THE OLD SPRINGS. TIGHT COILS UP, OEM WAS TIGHT COILS DOWN. *NM

MY 1997 MERCURY TRACER FAILED THE PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO BOTH REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS BEING BROKEN. A REVIEW OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER LIKE VEHICLES BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO RESULTING OPERATIONAL CONCERN. WHY THEN DID THE STATE INSPECTION FAIL THE VEHICLE? WHAT COURSE OF ACTION CAN I TAKE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR SPRINGS? *LA

THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB FORDS SYMPTOM (14993) STATES SPRINGS POSSIBLE TO BREAK IF THE PAINT WEARS OFF, THE SPRINGS ARE SUBJECT TO BREAK. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN THE REAR AND NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEANED TO THE RIGHT ALONG WITH A CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALERS STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *SCC

HEARD FOR QUITE A WHILE A "CRACKING NOISE" IN THE REAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, BUT ALSO DURING SHARP TURNS. GARAGE LOOKED AT IT AT 60K MILES AND REPORTED BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO GARAGE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCORT/TRACER. RECEIVED ADVICE NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, PARTS WERE ORDERED, WHICH TOOK 2 WEEKS. ACCORDING TO A DEALER "THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN SPRINGS, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"