Problems · by component

1997 Ford Taurus suspension problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Taurus cite suspension, 4% of all 816 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 4V332000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: COIL SPRINGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE 1999 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2012SuspensionODI 10454824
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND RIPPED THE TIRE APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR PRIOR INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 176,000. UPDATED 12/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2010SuspensionODI 10353255
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD SHO TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL FOR THE 1998 TO 2001 FORD TAURUS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139000. UPDATED 02/02/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/10.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2010SuspensionODI 10299626
“DRIVING AT 30MPH WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD RATTLE/CLANKING NOISE. A FEW SECONDS LATER A PIECE OF LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND FELL OFF MY CAR. I WAS <1 MILE FROM HOME SO I PICKED UP THE PIECE AND RETURNED SAFELY. I DID NOTICE THE BRAKES WERE GOING OUT. ONCE I RETURNED I FOUND MY BRAKE FLUID LINE WAS SEVERED BY THE COIL SPRING. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE CAR YET. IT IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY UNUSABLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2008SuspensionODI 10215868
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE TIME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT SO I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR WAS ALMOST SITTING ON THE FRONT TIRE I WAS GLAD THAT I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE TIME. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OF MY OTHER CARS .I WOULD THINK THE SPRINGS ARE STRONGER THAN THAT. THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING FAST.......*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2007SuspensionODI 10181295
“I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 FORD TAURUS. I WAS IN CLARENDON HILLS, IL FROM JULY 22ND UNTIL JULY 31ST. ON JULY 26TH I SPENT THE DAY DRIVING MY CAR. AFTER I PARKED MY CAR AT THE HOTEL IT WAS AN HOUR LATER WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN A HISSING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT DOWN TO MY CAR. IT WAS AT THAT TIME I NOTICED MY CAR WAS SUNK DOWN. I WENT TO CHANGE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS STUCK INTO THE SIDE OF IT. THE COIL SPRING SURROUNDING THE STRUT BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE MAKING IT GO FLAT INSTANTLY. I SPOKE TO TWO PEOPLE THAT MORNING THAT WERE STANDING OUTSIDE AND WITNESSED IT THE NIGHT BEFORE. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. MY CONCERN IN THIS MATTER IS THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. WHAT IF I HAD DRIVEN ANOTHER HOUR? I FEAR IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY AND IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. I SPENT THE WHOLE MORNING CALLING REPAIR SHOPS. I FIRST BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WHEN I CALLED THE FIRST REPAIRMAN AND HE KNEW EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I HAD. HE SAID HE FIXES THIS PROBLEM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2006SuspensionODI 10154321

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.