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Suspension, steering, brakes and wheels

Problems with the suspension springs: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 43 faults with the suspension springs in 43 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: rear suspension springs incorrectly fitted: they can come out of their seat (Fiat Scudo III), front suspension springs incorrectly seated in part of the late-2021 production (Opel Mokka B) and rear suspension springs incorrectly fitted or with a badly welded locating cup (Opel Vivaro C). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €400 to €750 depending on the engine or car.[1]

Documented faults
43
13 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
43
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
43
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€400–€750
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

3 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Suspension springs

Springs carry the weight of the car. Corrosion and fatigue can make them snap, especially the last coil, and some batches have had manufacturing or fitting defects that led to recalls.

What to do

A sharp bang over a bump, the car sitting lower on one side or a metallic noise from the suspension can indicate a broken spring: a loose piece can puncture the tyre. They are replaced in pairs on the same axle.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the suspension springs. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the suspension springs by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Scudo IIIRear suspension springs incorrectly fitted: they can come out of their seatFiat recalled 203 Scudos built between 16 February and 28 June 2024: the rear suspension springs may have been fitted incorrectly, risking loss of control of the vehicle and the spring coming out of its seat and falling onto the road.
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Mokka BFront suspension springs incorrectly seated in part of the late-2021 productionfiches-auto.fr documents a 2022 campaign on certain Mokka Bs built in November 2021 in which the front suspension spring could be incorrectly positioned, with a risk of corrosion and, eventually, the spring breaking with loss of steering ability.
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Vivaro CRear suspension springs incorrectly fitted or with a badly welded locating cupYes: in 2024 Opel recalled (KN6) Vivaros built between 10 January and 28 June 2024 for having incorrectly fitted rear springs, which can come out of their seat, and in 2021 there was another campaign over a badly welded rear spring locating cup in 53 units in the United Kingdom.
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Expert IIIRear suspension spring: badly welded centring pin (2021) and incorrectly fitted springs (2024)Peugeot has recalled Expert and Traveller vehicles over a badly welded rear spring centring pin (April 2021, 371 vehicles) and incorrectly fitted rear axle springs (February-June 2024, 1,662 vehicles): the spring can come loose and fall onto the road.
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota ProAce IIRear suspension spring: badly welded bracket (2021) and incorrectly fitted springs (2024)Toyota has recalled the Proace over the rear spring bracket (weld out of specification, April 2021) and over incorrectly fitted rear springs (2024, 497 vehicles): in the latter case the spring can come out of its seat and fall onto the road.
  6. 6High severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 IFront suspension spring breakageSeveral owners of first-generation Citroën C3s document the front suspension spring breaking, in some cases more than once on the same car; fiches-auto.fr records 45 suspension and damping cases among the model's most-cited issues.
  7. 7High severityFrequency: OccasionalDacia Duster IIIRear springs with incorrect dimensions on the Duster IIIAccording to the fiches-auto.fr entry, campaign SR/01939/26 covers Duster IIIs built between 9 January and 25 February 2026 with rear springs of incorrect dimensions that could break and fall onto the road.
  8. 8High severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat StiloBreakage of the front suspension wishbones and springsThe Stilo's front suspension wishbones are described as a fragile part that breaks fairly often, and broken front springs are also reported.
  9. 9High severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira LifeRear suspension spring with a poorly welded centraliser (April 2021)Only in a very small batch: Opel recalled 371 vehicles (Zafira Life and Vivaro) built between 15 and 21 April 2021, because the centring pivot of the rear spring may be poorly welded and the spring could come loose.
  10. 10High severityFrequency: OccasionalRover 75Front suspension coil springs breaking due to corrosionThe Rover 75 had two British recalls for broken front springs: in 2002 for corrosion, and in 2004 in case a broken spring damaged the tyre. Auto Express confirms that the front springs are prone to breaking, and the Dutch APK inspection records them.
  11. 11High severityFrequency: OccasionalSaab 9-3Broken suspension springsThe Dutch APK inspection (the annual roadworthiness test) records broken or cracked springs on the Saab 9-3 saloon, accounting for between 3% and 7% of the defects Autozine lists for cars from 2004 to 2010. The page does not say whether the front or rear axle is affected.
  12. 12Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 1 E87Broken suspension springs and worn front-end bushesThe German TÜV Report, cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, notes that suspension springs on the E87 break fairly often; fiches-auto.fr adds front-end vibrations and worn bushes among owners' reports.Repair (garage): €400–€750
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW X3 E83Front and rear suspension springs breakingThe rear suspension springs on the X3 E83 are frequently criticised in German TÜV inspections because of the vehicle's weight, and fiches-auto.fr also lists broken front springs among its owner testimonies.
  14. 14Medium severityFrequency: CommonFord Fiesta VWear of wheel bearings, shock absorbers, springs and ball joints in the running gearThe Fiesta V's wheel bearings, shock absorbers, springs and ball joints wear with use across the range, with noise that grows with speed and knocking from the ball joints, according to both sources consulted.
  15. 15Medium severityFrequency: CommonHyundai i30 IIISpring and shock absorber wear detected at the periodic inspectionGerman periodic inspection reports show a high failure rate on springs and shock absorbers for this generation from the second inspection onwards, a pattern that matches owner reports of suspension and bearing wear.
  16. 16Medium severityFrequency: CommonSuzuki Jimny IIIDefects in axle mounts, springs and shock absorbersThe TÜV reports flag the Jimny's suspension: axle mounts with a high defect rate from the first inspection, and loose springs and shock absorbers up to the third.
  17. 17Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A1 ISuspension noises and wear: bushes, control arms, ball joints and springsfiches-auto.fr lists 11 cases of suspension noise on the A1: bushes, shock absorbers, ball joints and even a broken front spring at 89,000 km; one case needed a control arm kit at around 93,000 km.
  18. 18Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X3 G01Springs and shock absorbers with more issues than averageThe German TÜV-Report flags the X3 G01's springs and shock absorbers as an area with more issues than usual, and fiches-auto.fr collects reports of worn bushes, links and ball joints, with noises and uneven tyre wear.
  19. 19Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat CromaBroken or cracked suspension springs on the Fiat CromaIn the Dutch MOT scheme, a broken or cracked suspension spring is among the most common defects found on Croma models that fail, accounting for between 5% and 9% of defects in each model year from 2005 to 2010. These figures come from cars that failed, not from all Croma models.
  20. 20Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Panda IIIWear of springs and shock absorbers on the Fiat Panda IIIThe 2025 TÜV report cited by Autoblog.it places springs and shock absorbers among the most frequent problems of the Panda 312, alongside the exhaust.
  21. 21Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat SediciFaulty springs, shock absorbers and axle mountingsInspections of the SX4, the Sedici's twin, show more spring and shock absorber defects than normal, and on older cars the axle mountings are the most cited fault.
  22. 22Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord FusionShock absorber wear and broken rear springsAccording to reports on fiches-auto.fr, 19 Fusion owners (out of 206) cite worn shock absorbers, broken rear springs and suspension noises, with cases at 70,000 and 90,000 km and one car that had its rear mounts replaced five times.
  23. 23Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Kuga IWorn shock absorbers and springsSprings and shock absorbers on the first-generation Kuga wear out often, and the TÜV criticises them more than other cars in their class; the wear can prevent a car passing the inspection.
  24. 24Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Sportage IIIRear shock absorbers and springs with premature wear or saggingSeveral owners document rear shock absorbers weakened from 45,000 km and damaged shock absorber top mounts, according to fiches-auto.fr; gebrauchtwagenberater.de adds that some cars have an abnormally low rear axle, which dazzles oncoming traffic, a problem Kia corrected on specific cars with modified springs.
  25. 25Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Delta IIIBroken or cracked suspension springs on the Lancia Delta IIIIn the Dutch technical inspection, a broken or cracked suspension spring is among the most common defects of Delta IIIs built from 2008 to 2011 (7% in 2008 and 2009, 5% in 2010 and 3% in 2011). These figures come from cars that fail the inspection, not from all Deltas.
  26. 26Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 2 IFront and rear suspension spring failuresAccording to the Gebrauchtwagenberater, ADAC's breakdown statistics place the front and rear suspension springs among the Mazda 2 DY's weak points, along with the spark plugs. The source does not detail the type of failure or the mileage.
  27. 27Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase A W168Broken suspension springs, worn shock absorbers and rear axle bushes with playDEKRA cites broken suspension springs and rear axle bushes with play as typical defects of older A-Class W168s: 5.8% of cars under 50,000 km had running gear or steering defects, compared with a class average of 2.0%.
  28. 28Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase B W245Wear of front suspension springs and bearingsGerman technical inspection (TÜV) reports frequently cite the front suspension springs and wheel bearings of the B-Class W245 among the failure points, with growing rumbling noise and, occasionally, a broken spring.
  29. 29Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase B W247Wear on springs, shock absorbers, tie rod ends and the handbrake found at inspectionsAccording to the TÜV report cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, inspectors fairly often note the springs, shock absorbers and tie rod ends on the W247 B-Class, as well as the handbrake; the rest of the car does not stand out.
  30. 30Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase C W203Broken front springs and suspension wearAccording to a long-term test, the front springs are 'a recurring issue' on the W203, to the point of having to be replaced more than once; added to this are the bushes, suspension arms and steering ball joints, which wear with age and develop play.
  31. 31Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Corsa ESprings, shock absorbers and steering joints flagged by the TÜVAccording to the TÜV report cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, the Corsa E frequently shows defects in the springs and shock absorbers, and also in the steering joints and the braking system.
  32. 32Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 207Ball joint play and spring fatigue flagged by TÜVAccording to Gebrauchtwagenberater.de's summary of the German TÜV report, the 207 is frequently flagged for steering ball joints and suspension springs and, in addition, for the service brake and discs.
  33. 33Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IBroken front suspension springsOn the Twingo I the front suspension springs frequently broke up to the summer 1998 facelift, according to German Wikipedia; fiches-auto.fr also records broken front springs and shock absorber top mounts failing at around 42,000 km.
  34. 34Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IIWorn strut mounts, springs and ball jointsIn TÜV inspections the Twingo II fails above average for its suspension: worn strut mounts (upper bearing), broken springs and steering track rod ends with play.
  35. 35Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IISprings and shock absorbers with more defects than average in the TÜV inspectionsAUTO BILD, drawing on TÜV-Report data, notes that on the León, from the first inspection, springs and shock absorbers show more defects than average; it recommends checking them whenever buying a used one.
  36. 36Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat León IVLeaking shock absorbers and broken springs at the TÜV inspectionAUTO BILD reports that at the German technical inspection the León, including the IV, repeatedly needs extra visits for leaking shock absorbers and broken springs; the rest of the suspension and steering comes through well.
  37. 37Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki SX4Springs and shock absorbers with above-average defects in TÜV inspectionsIn the German TÜV, the SX4 stands out for more defects than usual in springs and shock absorbers, even though it covers fewer kilometres than its rivals of the same age; on the oldest years the axle suspension is also criticised, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de and AutoScout24.
  38. 38Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Tiguan ISuspension spring breakage on cars over 10 years oldWith age (from around 10 years according to Auto Bild) the Tiguan I's suspension springs can break; Autogazette also cites broken springs as a recurring problem.
  39. 39High severityFrequency: RareDS DS 3 CrossbackWrongly fitted suspension springs, with a risk of corrosion and breakage (built November 2021)DS recalled DS3 Crossbacks built in November 2021 because the suspension springs may be wrongly fitted, which damages their coating, encourages corrosion and can end up breaking the spring.
  40. 40High severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen Caddy IIIBreakage of the rear suspension spring clampVolkswagen recalled a very specific band of Caddy III units built between 24 July and 31 August 2006 because defective heat treatment in the clamp that holds the rear spring could cause it to break, according to gebrauchtwagenberater.de.Repair: €0
  41. 41Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault Mégane IIIFront suspension campaign (trimming the wheel arches or changing the springs)In May 2010 Renault recalled Megane III built up to 4 June 2009 to trim the wheel arches or, if necessary, replace the front suspension springs.Repair: €0
  42. 42Medium severityFrequency: RareSeat Toledo IIIBroken or cracked suspension springsIn Dutch MOT inspection data (APK), a broken or cracked suspension spring appears in 5% of Toledo III cars from model years 2005 and 2007. It only appears in a few years and the figures are for the Netherlands; there is no recall and no Spanish data.
  43. 43Low severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel CrosslandSprings, shock absorbers, headlights and brake discs flagged by the TÜVAccording to the TÜV as reported by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, the Crossland X fails more often than usual on springs, shock absorbers, headlights and brake discs.

Problems with the suspension springs by make

How much it costs to repair a fault with the suspension springs

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with the suspension springs?

Among those we have analysed: Fiat Scudo III (rear suspension springs incorrectly fitted: they can come out of their seat), Opel Mokka B (front suspension springs incorrectly seated in part of the late-2021 production), Opel Vivaro C (rear suspension springs incorrectly fitted or with a badly welded locating cup), Peugeot Expert III (rear suspension spring: badly welded centring pin (2021) and incorrectly fitted springs (2024)), Toyota ProAce II (rear suspension spring: badly welded bracket (2021) and incorrectly fitted springs (2024)), Citroën C3 I (front suspension spring breakage), Dacia Duster III (rear springs with incorrect dimensions on the Duster III) and Fiat Stilo (breakage of the front suspension wishbones and springs). In total, 43 cars with documented faults with the suspension springs.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the suspension springs?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €400 to €750; at a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 3 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is broken suspension springs and worn front-end bushes (BMW Serie 1 E87).

What symptoms does a fault with the suspension springs cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumps, abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axle, uneven tyre wear and wheel bearing hum.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. BMW 1er E81, E87, E88: Schwachstellen und ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  2. VW Caddy III (2K) | Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 21 April 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French