2004 Ford Taurus SES with 122,300 'well cared for' miles on it. The Diver Side Rear Coil spring broke, and came into contact with the tire, thus blowing it out too. Luckily for me, I had just gotten off of the expressway! I wasn't even 3 miles from the expressway exit, when this had happened! So needless to say, it could have been a very much worse situation for me!
My vehicle was totally disabled, and I had to have it towed home. (I'm capable of doing most of my own repairs)
To make matters worse, I had difficult time finding local auto parts stores having the replacement parts I needed in stock. I was informed that this is a very, very common problem with Ford Taurus vehicles!
#1 - I can't believe how something like this, can fall 'Under the Radar', and not have a TSB about it?!? My vehicle has been to the dealer many times for other non-related issues, and never once did they ever say anything about it! Yet, local parts stores are well aware of the fact! Why is that?
2 - I'm sure that has had to cause some serious accidents, maybe even deaths? I don't know? But like I said, I was lucky that I had just literally, just gotten off of the Expressway/Freeway, when my rear suspension had a 'Catastrophic Event' happen!
3 - You would think that the springs would have some kind of plastic guard on them? To at least minimize the chance of the spring coming into contact with the tire itself?
4 - The O.E.M. replacement Shock & Spring companies make it very easy to purchase the entire assembly, ready for a 'quick' replacement. If you can find them in stock anyways. Most parts store places are quick to have them available the next day though. *Side Note: Never replace just one strut assembly! Always replace both rears, or both fronts in pairs!
2004 Ford Taurus SES with 122,300 'well cared for' miles on it. The Diver Side Rear Coil spring broke, and came into contact with the tire, thus blowing it out too. Luckily for me, I had just gotten off of the expressway! I wasn't even 3 miles from the expressway exit, when this had happened! So needless to say, it could have been a very much worse situation for me! My vehicle was totally disabled, and I had to have it towed home. (I'm capable of doing most of my own repairs)
To make matters worse, I had difficult time finding local auto parts stores having the replacement parts I needed in stock. I was informed that this is a very, very common problem with Ford Taurus vehicles!
#1 - I can't believe how something like this, can fall 'Under the Radar', and not have a TSB about it?!? My vehicle has been to the dealer many times for other non-related issues, and never once did they ever say anything about it! Yet, local parts stores are well aware of the fact! Why is that?
2 - I'm sure that has had to cause some serious accidents, maybe even deaths? I don't know? But like I said, I was lucky that I had just literally, just gotten off of the Expressway/Freeway, when my rear suspension had a 'Catastrophic Event' happen!
3 - You would think that the springs would have some kind of plastic guard on them? To at least minimize the chance of the spring coming into contact with the tire itself?
4 - The O.E.M. replacement Shock & Spring companies make it very easy to purchase the entire assembly, ready for a 'quick' replacement. If you can find them in stock anyways. Most parts store places are quick to have them available the next day though. *Side Note: Never replace just one strut assembly! Always replace both rears, or both fronts in pairs!
- Doug J., Dearborn Heights, MI, US