1995 Ford Taurus Suspension Problems

SUB FRAME.

THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SPRINGS FAILED AFTER NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT TWO WHEELS. BOTH SPRINGS SNAPPED IN HALF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOTICED BEFORE I DROVE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BROKE AT THE CENTER OF THE SPRING CAUSING THE FRACTURED COIL TO SNAP OUT AND CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SIDE WALL. THIS CONDITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP FROM THE LOSS OF SUPPORT OF THE SPRING AND THEN THE VEHICLE FURTHER DROPPED FROM THE SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE END RESULT WAS A TIRE THAT WAS LOCKED UP AND A UN-CONTROLLED SPIN OUT OVER A DITCH THAT WAS OVERFILLED WITH WATER RUNOFF FROM A CURRENT HEAVY STORM . THE DITCH WAS ABOUT 8 FEET DEEP AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED OVER THE WATER. MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND STATED THAT THIS WAS AN EVER INCREASING OR RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE MANY FRONT SPRINGS ON THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, A FORD TAURUS. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT STEERING WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A REALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT BEFORE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 41,658 MILES. *AK

ALL 4 SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON OUR 1995 FORD TAURUS. THE DISCOVERY DATE IS LISTED AS THE INCIDENT DATE, YET THE APPEARANCE OF THE BREAK AREAS IS THAT IT IS NOT RECENT. I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AS RECOMMENDED, AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT VISIBLE FROM BEING THAT HIGH UP ON THE LIFT. THE BRAKES ARE ALSO HIDDEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON THE GROUND AND SPRINGS COMPRESSED. ONLY WHEN REQUESTING PREVENTIVE INSPECTION OF THE STRUTS (OUTCOME FINE, NOT LEAKING) ON A LIFT AT EYE LEVEL WITH THE SPRINGS EXPANDED ARE THE BRAKES EVIDENT. I LOOKED UP ON NHTSA ONLINE DATABASE AND SEE A RECALL FROM AUGUST 2004 ON 1999-2001 FORD TAURUS. I ALSO SEE EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THE INTERNET OF SIMILAR BRAKES GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 1993. ONE REAR SIDE FENDER CLEARANCE IS DIMINISHED, AND THE 1999-2001 RECALL STATES THE MAIN SAFETY HAZARD IS A BROKEN PIECE OF SPRING PUNCTURING A TIRE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

PASSENGER REAR COIL SPRING BROKE PRIOR TO PURCHASE IN 2002 @ APPROX 61,185 MILES, DRIVER REAR COIL SPRING BROKE @ APPROX 88,000 MILES. REPAIR SHOP SENT ME TO FORD AS THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON SPRINGS. FORD DEALER SAID NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS CAR, FAILED TO MENTION THE GOV'T INVESTIGATION. NO CONSEQUENCES YET - TIME WILL TELL. WILL REPAIR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT DIFFICULT W/O JOB. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE - IF FORD WANTS THEM THEY CAN HAVE THEM AS SOON AS THEY REPLACE & REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. SPRINGS SHOULDN'T BREAK PRIOR TO 61,185 - WHY ISN'T FORD TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS?? *NM

HAD BEEN DRIVING AUTO AND WHEN ENTERING PARKING AREA I HEARD A LOAD BANG AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. I STOPPED, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR DAMAGE OTHER THAN PUTTING ON TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. *NM

STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS HIT AND THE FRONT END DROPPED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SAW THAT THE FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND DROPPED THE FRONT END. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AT EXIT. BY THIS TIME, BROKEN SPRING HAD SEVERED THE FRONT TIRE WHICH BLEW OUT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME - MY EXPENSE. AT REPAIR SHOP, DEALER FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN HOWEVER THE RIGHT FRONT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE. HAD TO REPLACE SPRINGS, STRUTS AND SHOCKS, NEW TIRE, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL, BRAKE HOSE AND AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WHICH WERE ALL DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE SPRING BREAKING. LUCKILY WE WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND NOT CRUISING AT 65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2005 THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN NEAR THE BOTTOM ON MY 1995 FORD TAURUS. A PORTION OF THE COIL SLIPPED PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT LEAVING THE SHARP BROKEN EDGE ABOUT 1/4 INCH FROM THE TIRE. IT IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THIS SHARP EDGE WILL PROBABLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE IF THE COIL SPRING SLIPS FURTHER, PAST THE BOTTOM SUPPORT OF THE STRUT. THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE. AS AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SITUATION, THE PORTION OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING NEAR THE TIRE WAS GROUND DOWN GIVING IT ABOUT 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE TIRE. THE COIL SPRINGS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED, BUT REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON ASPHALT AND CONCRETE ROADS IN AVERAGE CONDITION. COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL IF A CAR IS DRIVEN USING NORMAL CARE. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2010 THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. *TR

FORD TAURUS 1995, BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING. *BF THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL RECALL, HOWEVER HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS YEAR VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT LEFT SIDE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND COIL SPRING WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

1995 FORD TAURUS. BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO DEALER POTENTIAL DANGEROUS CONDITION. TIRE DEALER ENCOUNYERED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES. WILL NO LONGER USE FORD REPLACEMENT SPRINGS STILL NO RECALL BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY!

I HAVE A 1995 FORD TAURUS , LAST YEAR THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND MADE THE CAR SEEM LIKE IT HIT SOMETHING . I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL BUT IT DID MAKE THE CCAR SWERVE . THIS WAS EITHER THROUGH MY ACTION OR THE ACTION OF THE COIL SPRING BREAKING. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND THE DRIVERS FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE , THIS MADE THE CAR SUDDENDLY PULL TO THE LEFT . I TELL MYSELF I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT TRAVELLING AT A HIGHER SPEED. I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT IT PULLED THE CAR ENOUGH I WENT INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE. BEING THIS WAS THE SECOND COIL SPRING THAT FAILED I LOOKED AT THE OTHER 2 AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN ALSO . IT WAS BROKEN NEAR THE TOP ON THE LAST SPIRIAL AND DID NOT MAKE THE CAR DROP DOWN MUCH . SO I GUESS THERE COULD BE MANY CARS LIKE THIS WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THE SPRING IS EVEN BROKEN. ALSO IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 I HAD TO HAVE REPAIRS TO THE THE CRADLE BUSHING REPLACED FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME . THIS TIME I JUST WAS TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN IT BROKE AND DID NOT LOSE CONTROL BUT IT MADE THE CAR PULL / STEER TO THE RIGHT . I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS WAS A RECALL ON CERTIN VEHICLES BUT NOT ON MINE .

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE RESULTING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSING.*MR *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FRONT SPRINGS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

A/C: COMPRESSOR CLUTCH CAME APART EXHAUST: DUE TO HEAT AND CORROSION CAT CONVERTER FLANGE BECAME SO THIN IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEAL EXHAUST. ACT CONVERTER REPLACED UNDER 8/80 EMMISSIONS WARRANTY. PAINT: CRACKS IN PAINT DEVELOPED ABOVE REAR WHEEL (SHEET METAL FLEXING?) ALLOWING MOISTURE IN CAUSING CORROSION AND PAINT TO LIFT. FRONT SPRINGS: BOTH FRONT SPRINGS BROKE NEARLY PUNCTURING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. NO HELP FROM FORD. SEEMS THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF BAD SPRING PROBLEMS. 93 TAURUS RECALL #98V-094, WINDSTAR RECALL 01V-199, CONTOUR RECALL 01V-255. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON FRONT SPRINGS FOR THE 2000 FORD FOCUS FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION WHILE IN FOR A/C REPAIR. HAD THE SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPIC. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN TO SAY IF THERE WAS A FUTURE RECALL OR SATISFACTION PROGRAM I WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSMENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS RELATIVLY INEXPENSIVE. IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT THAT BOTHERS ME. SPRINGS ARE NOT A MAINTANCE ITEM. I HAVE SEEN THEM LOSE TENSION AND SAG ON OLDER HIGH MILEAGE CARS, BUT NOT BRAKE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE STRUTS AND TIE ROD'S. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. *SCC *JB

THE COIL SPRINGS WERE CORRODED AND BROKE. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TURNED IN AND WAS LOOSE ON THE AXLE. THE GARAGE FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BOLTS HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE OFF. RIGHT SIDE BOLTS WERE BEGINNING TO RUST AS WELL. *TT

WHILE HAVING THE TIRES BALANCED, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKE AND COULD PUNCTURE THE TIRES IF THEY WEREN'T REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL 04V332000 ON THIS ISSUE BUT WAS FOR LATER MODEL YEARS. *JB