1998 MERCURY VILLAGER Suspension Problems

I PARKED MY VAN, 1998 MERCURY VILLAGER ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. I HAD FOUR NEW TIRES SINCE JAN 2011. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE FRONT RIGHT AND TRIED TO REMOVE THE FR TIRE, IT WOULD NOT COME OFF. AFTER A WHILE, I NOTICED THE STRUT COIL SPRING GOT BROKE, AND THE SHAPE END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING PIERCED THRU. THE INSIDE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VAN,AND BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS `150,000 MILES ON IT. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN TURNED OUT BE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPG. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. BOTH FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AND THE FLAT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. I TOOK SOME PICTURES AND HAVE THE SHARP END OF BROKEN COIL SPRING. *TR

1998 MERCURY VILLAGER PARKED. WHEN FAMILY RETURNED TO VAN AND GOT INTO IT, THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS) SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED. ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE VEHICLE TO GARAGE TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS. *NM

PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING RUSTED IN HALF AND BROKE. SPRING CAME DOWN ONTO TIRE. I HAD TO BUY NEW SPRING,COIL,AND STRUT.*AK

Mileage: 83,650

THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE RIGHT STRUT SPRING WAS BROKEN. *YH

VEHICLE WAS GOING 40MPH WHEN RIGHT SIDE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN COIL SPRING, WHICH ALSO DUG A TREAD GROOVE IN TIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AREA REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOTIFIED. *AK MANUFACTUER TOOK PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING BROKEN SPRING. *TT

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT WHEEL BEARING NUTS HAVE NO CASTLE WASHER BETWEEN THE NUT AND THE COTTER PIN. THERE IS A 3/16 GAP BETWEEN THE NUT AND THE COTTER PIN. NUT ON MY CAR LOOSENED ENOUGH TO ALLOW MORE THAN 1/4 INCH PLAY AT THE TOP OF THE TIRE. NOT YET CONFIRMED BY DEALER.

VEHICLE VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT SPEEDS OF 70MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CAUSE FOR THE VEHICLE'S VIBRATION WAS FOUND TO BE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SCREEN WAS REPLACED. *YH

IN THE PAST YEAR MY VAN HAS HAD 3 ALIGNMENTS ALL ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ROADS IN OKLA. ARE THE REASON . MY HUSBAND DRIVES 50 MILES EVERY DAY FOR WORK AND HIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. MY THOUGHT IS IF THE ROADS ARE SO BAD HERE WHY AREN'T THERE MORE CARS GETTING ALIGNMENTS CHECKED EVERY DAY? I WONDERED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM?*AK

IN THE PAST YEAR MY VAN HAS HAD 3 ALIGNMENTS ALL ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ROADS IN OKLA. ARE THE REASON . MY HUSBAND DRIVES 50 MILES EVERY DAY FOR WORK AND HIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. MY THOUGHT IS IF THE ROADS ARE SO BAD HERE WHY AREN'T THERE MORE CARS GETTING ALIGNMENTS CHECKED EVERY DAY? I WONDERED IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM?*AK