TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. HE REPLACED THE BLOWN TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO GARAGE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL PENETRATED AND SHEARED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE 2002 MODELS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING THE COIL SPRING AND THE TIRE AT THE COST OF $530.85. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,554 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,100. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATES (6/17/08): MR. ESFORD INDICATED THAT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE HAD OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE ROAD WAS A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, PAVED AND DRY. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION. SUDDENLY, MR. ESFORD HEARD A LIGHT "POP" AND THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED; THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED OUT OF HIS HAND MOMENTARY. INSTINCTIVELY, HE GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AND HIT THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED AND NO POLICE WAS CALLED. THE BROKEN SPRING AND PUNCTURED TIRE REPLACEMENT COSTED MR. ESFORD CLOSE TO $500. THE FENDER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; MR. ESFORD ESTIMATE THAT WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $800 T