NHTSA ID Number: 10213691
Incident Date: 2007-12-17
Manufacturer's Name: Ford
Motor Company
Vehicle/Equipment Make: MERCURY
Vehicle/Equipment Model: SABLE
Model Year: 2003
9999 If Unknown Or N/A
Vehicle Identification Number: 1MEFM55S13A
Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 50577
Vehicle Speed: 2
Number Of Occurrences: 1
Was Vehicle Towed: No
Consumer Location: AMHERST, MA
Summary of Complaint
MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE AND THEN A BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE.I WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE MV AT THE TIME. THE COIL SPRING BROKE/SHATTERED AND A PIECE OF IT WENT THRU THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE PUTTING A 6-8" GASH IN THE TIRE. WE HAVE THE PIECES OF THE SPRING. FORD REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WAS MADE AT A FORD DEALER(NORTHAMPTON FORD ). THE VEHICLE HAD 50577 MILES. IN RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT SINCE 1999 THEY HAVE HAD RECALLS AND REPAIR PROGRAMS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON VARIOUS MODELS BUT APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT IN THE 2003 SABLE. FORTUNATLEY SHE WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I FOUND TWO SITES ON THE INTERNET THAT HAD MANY REPORTS/COMPLAINTS OF THIS IN VARIOUS FORD VEHICLES. THE FOLLOWING WEEK MY 82 YOA MOTHER WHO DRIVES A 2003 FORD FOCUS THOUGHT SHE HAD A SOFT TIRE, WENT TO HER LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THESE REPAIRS WERE COVERED AND REIMBURSED BY FORD. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD VEHICLES.I WAS ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURERS DO NOT MAKE REPLACEMENT STRUTS FOR THE 2003 SABLE. ALL OF THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN AND OR MANUFACTURE OF THEIR COIL SPRINGS WHICH COVERS SEVERAL YEARS OF VEHICLES. HAD MY WIFE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY SHE PROBABLY WOULD LIKELY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FINDING A BROKEN COIL SPRING AFTER AN ACCIDENT LIKE THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT IT (THE BROKEN SPRING WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWOUT) WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS IN JEOPARDY. OUR VEHICLE IS USED EXCLUSIVELY BY MY WIFE A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR- NO TEEN AGERS DRIVING IT WHO WOULD BE EMULATING THE DUKES OF HAZHARD. *CN
Complaint 10213691 Documents
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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH
FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED
DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Was Medical Attention Required: No
Was Incident Reported To Police: No
Date Of Incident: 2007-12-17
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Added To File: 2008-01-04
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2008-01-04
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Was Original Owner: Yes
Product Type: Vehicle
V = Vehicle T = Tires E = Equipment C = Child Restraint
Specific Component's Description: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Anti-Lock Brakes: Yes
Cruise Control: Yes
Number Of Cylinders:
Drive Train Type: FWD
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]
Fuel System: Fuel Injection
FI = Fuel Injection TB = Turbo
Fuel Type: Gas
BF = BiFuel CN = CNG/LPG DS = Diesel GS = Gas HR = HybridElectric
Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]: AUTO
(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:
Tire Size:
Location Of Tire:
FSW = Driver Side Front DSR = Driver Side Rear FTR = Passenger Side Front PSR = Passenger Side Rear SPR = Spare
Type Of Tire Failure:
BST = Blister BLW = Blowout TTL = Crack OFR = Out Of Round TSW = Puncture TTR = Road Hazard TSP = Tread Separation
Was Defective Tire Repaired:
Was Part Original Equipment:
Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)
Type Of Child Seat:
B = Booster C = Convertible I = Infant IN = Integrated TD = Toddler
Installation System:
A = Vehicle Safety Belt B = Latch System
Dealer's Name: NORTHAMPTON FORD
Dealer's Telephone Number:
Dealer's City: NORTHAMPTON
Dealer's State: MA
Dealer's Zipcode: 01060
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:
CAG = Consumer Action Group CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition EVOQ = Hotline VOQ EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING INS = Insurance Company IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site LETR = Consumer Letter MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF) VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire
Incident State Code:
Vehicle Operator's Name:
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