Recall 04V332000: 1999–2001 Mercury Sable and 1 other model

Report received

Jul 15, 2004

Manufacturer

Ford motor company

Potentially affected

899,060vehicles

Model years

1999–2001

Check your own vehicle. A recall applies only to vehicles within the affected build range. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

What NHTSA recorded

On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, the front coil springs could fracture due to corrosion associated with salt used on the roadways during the winter. A fractured spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire.

Possible consequence

If this occurs, the tire may rupture resulting in a rapid air loss, which could result in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. If the vehicle has already accumulated more than 150,000 miles, this coverage will last until july 31, 2005. If either front coil spring fractures, dealers will replace both front springs at no charge to the owner. An interim notice was sent to owners on august 2, 2004. Parts are now available for the 2000-2001 my vehicles and owners were sent a letter on january 10, 2005, advising them to bring in their vehicles for repair parts are expected to be available for the 1999 my vehicles by the end of february 2005 and owners of these vehicles will be notified then. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Affected model years

Pages for each model year show complaints, parts, mileage and other recalls.

• 1999 Ford Taurus874 complaints
• 2000 Ford Taurus1,195 complaints
• 2001 Ford Taurus1,037 complaints
• 1999 Mercury Sable258 complaints
• 2000 Mercury Sable464 complaints
• 2001 Mercury Sable430 complaints