2004 Ford Taurus suspension problems

SUSPENSION

I OWN A 2004 FORD TAURUS SEL STATION WAGON. THE PASSENGER FLOOR HAS RUSTED THROUGH. IT APPEARS THAT THE OVER TIME WATER HAS LEAKED IN THROUGH A FITTING WHERE CLIMATE CONTROL PIPES ENTER THROUGH THE FIREWALL. THE SUSPENSION MOUNT ON THE PASSENGER ALSO HAS A LOT OF RUST AND WILL PROBABLY FAIL IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. THIS SUSPENSION MOUNT IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THE WATER HAD BEEN SITTING DUE TO THE FIREWALL LEAKAGE. I LOOKED FOR ANY RECALLS FOR 2004 AND COULD NOT FIND ANY. I DID SEE A SIMILAR RECALL FOR OLDER TAURUS' FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT IN A GARGAGE, SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. NOT ABUSED IN ANY WAY. SINCE THIS IS AND WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE, I WANTED TO GET YOUR OPINION. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT, ESPECIALLY SINCE OLD TAURUS' ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME BODY/CHASSIS. WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, THE FIRST OWNERS WERE MY PARENTS SO WE KNOW THE VEHICLE HISTORY. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED BY FORD? I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10640713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I OWN A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. WHILE CHANGING THE LEFT REAR TIRE, I NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BOTTOM PLATE HAD FRACTURED AND LET THE SPRING HIT THE TIRE. THE SHARP POINT OF THE SPRING END PUNCTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO GO FLAT. I SAW THAT AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT WAS ENTERED INTO THIS WEB SITE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THIS VEHICLE MODEL MAY HAVE A TIME-BASED STRESS FAILURE IN THIS COMPONENT, SINCE THE MILEAGE IN THE OTHER COMPLAINT WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER.

NHTSA complaint #10508743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CHANGED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS FLAT AND HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BECOME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10489276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

SLOWLY GOING OVER A SMALL SPEED BUMP AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPRING HAD BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #10465127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A BROKEN COIL SPRING ON THE RIGHT SIDE . THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT JUST RECENTLY THE LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,338.

NHTSA complaint #10445833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE SWAY BAR TO DETACH AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000. UPDATED 11/03/11*LJ UPDATED 11/04/11.

NHTSA complaint #10414703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING ON MY 2004 TAURUS FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, WITHOUT WARNING, IMMEDIATELY AS THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE JUST AFTER BEING STARTED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS DESTROYED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, WHICH SUDDENLY EXPLODED WHEN THE BROKEN SPRING END PUNCTURED THE SIDEWALL, CREATING AN 8-INCH RUPTURE. THE CAR HAD NOT MOVED AN INCH, AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED EXACTLY AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR HAD 117,617 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10347513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE: ONE OWNER 2004 FORD TAURUS WAGON, 73,500 MILES, NO ACCIDENTS. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC PUNCTURE OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS CLEAN AND SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR DAMAGE OTHER THAN SLIGHT SURFACE CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10320821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, PUNCTURING/RUINING LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BREAKING SWAY BAR LINKAGE. LUCKILY, CAR WAS MOVING AT LOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10280325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.