Ford Contour Complaints

3,154 consumer complaints on file.

#10174857December 1, 2006
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD ADHESIVE IS DEFECTIVE ON MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR SVT. THE DASH AROUND THE DEFROSTER VENT AND UP TO THE WINDSHIELD HAS WARPED SO BADLY THAT THE DEFROSTER VENT ACTUALLY POPPED OUT OF THE DASH AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DASH EVENTUALLY CURLED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO TOUCH THE DASH, MAKING THE DEFROSTER INEFFECTIVE TO CLEAR FOGGING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALSO SEPARATING FROM THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE WARPING. FORD HAD ORIGINALLY HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY LEFT IT OPEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN FLAW, SO I AM INDICATING THE VEHICLE'S BUILD DATE AS THE INCIDENT DATE, EVEN THOUGH THE DASH CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174886December 1, 2006
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. A FEW YEARS AGO THE TOP OF THE DASH WARPED, CAME UP REALLY HIGH. IT WAS AN UNSIGHTLY MESS, NOISY, AND IT ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD WORK CORRECTLY. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY FORD. HOWEVER WITH TIME, THE REPAIR JOB MAKES SOME NOISES AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S HOLDING AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS DONE. FORD HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND BELIEVE FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS DASHBOARD PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174712November 29, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH WARPED ON 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN FEB. OF 2001 AND HAD THE DASH REPLACED ONCE ALREADY WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER FORD'S WARRANTY. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED FORD REFUSED TO HELP AS MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE DASH IS SEVERELY WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. CONSIDERING MY HEIGHT, IT HAS CERTAINLY HAD AN EFFECT ON MY VISION OF THE ROAD. IT ALSO HAS AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE DEFROSTER FUNCTION. THE FRONT OF THE DASH IS NOW BEGINNING TO WARP AS WELL JUST ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO HELP. PLEASE HELP!!!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174716November 29, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, VISIBILITY
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW CRANK SHAFT (MANUAL WINDOW) SNAPPED OFF CLEAN INSIDE REGULATOR LEAVING WINDOW UTTERLY INOPERABLE. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF WINDOW DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND WARM WEATHER. DEALER CLAIMED "IT HAPPENS A LOT". VERY DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE WAS IN A FIRE, ACCIDENT, SUBMERGED IN WATER ETC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173598November 15, 2006
STRUCTURE
SUDDEN WARPAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER ATTACHING TO THE DEFROSTER VENT UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD (ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, NHTSA 624125), CAUSING BLOCKING OF VIEW AND HEAT VENTILATION. FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES STATED ON OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01B78-S2, INSTEAD WANTED THE OWNER TO REPLACE ENTIRE PANEL COVER, WHICH WOULD COST 8-10 TIMES MORE THAN THE 01B78-S2 PROTOCOL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172771November 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THERE'S A RECALL ON 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR ( #99M03 AT WWW.CONTOUR.ORG/FAQ/RECALL/99M0). THE RECALL IS FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE HARNESS FAILURE , DUE TO CRACKING AND BRITTLE WIRES. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 06/97, AND I HAVE A COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE. THEY WANT OVER $3000.00 TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I SPOKE TO FORD AND THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THEY ARE ONLY COVERING SOME VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD COVER ALL CONTOUR'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A MATTER THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD TO GET AWAY WITH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172794November 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN GEAR. A POP NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND IT WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS PROCESSED.*AK UPDATED 12/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172247October 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED A SENSOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171844October 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD CONTOUR WENT OUT AFTER JUST 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE IT WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD ENDED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER CONTOURS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD DID NOT RECALL AND I PAID 3000 DOLLARS FOR FORD TO REPLACE IT. ALONG WITH THE STARTER. ALSO THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR IS AN INTERNATIONAL BATTERY WHICH IS FOR BMW'S AND "INTERNATIONAL" VEHICLES. FORD IS AMERICAN YET MADE A CAR THAT NEEDED AN INTERNATIONAL BATTERY. SO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SEARS HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID AND RECOMMENDS I NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY MORE. WHILE THAT HAPPENED THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON IT. THIS CAR IS JUNK AND FORD KNOWS IT!! YET THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170989October 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER AND AFTER A WHILE IT RESPONDED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND FLYWHEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170327October 10, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD HAS BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS MORE AND MORE NOTICEABLY. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND I HAVE TO WIPE DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH AND DAWN DISH SOAP (TO HELP KEEP THE FOGGING DOWN). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169842October 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE HARNESS, COOLING FAN HARNESS, AND POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169703October 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING ON 95 FORD CONTOUR, WE DID A VALVE JOB TO THIS CAR AND AT THIS TIME WE NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A MESS THE COATING WAS COMING OFF THE WIRES, WHAT COATING THAT IS THERE IS DRY AND BRITTLE EXPOSING THE WIRES, THE BARE WIRES TOUCHING AT PLACES, WENT AND GOT ONE FROM THE RECYCLE PARTS YARD AND IT WAS THE SAME WAY NOW WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD ONE TO PUT BACK ON THE CAR A NEW ONE IS SO EXPENSIVE I BELIEVE I WAS QUOTED AROUND $1300.00 . *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169413September 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR A NORMAL TUNE UP; IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO GO TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DETERIORATED ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WERE DISCONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND PROVIDED A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO A PARTS STORE. THE STORE DID NOT CARRY THE PARTS EITHER. THE JUNK YARD WAS ALSO CHECKED FOR AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PARTS AT THE JUNK YARD WERE IN A WORST CONDITION THAN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169381September 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, ALL POWER FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, ALONG WITH STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURES. THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE POWER FAILURE HAD HAPPENED 6 TIMES SINCE 2001. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER EXPRESSED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168957September 22, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING TWO CONTINENTAL TIRES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND VIBRATED SO BADLY THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BELTS FRAYED AND ONE TIRE HAD A BROKEN BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY ALIGNED AFTER PURCHASING THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTAL, SIZE 205/6015. CONTINENTAL ASKED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE TIRES TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THE CONTACT SEND THE TIRES TO THEM. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171177September 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER 1995 CONTOUR DIED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD WIRING PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168233September 14, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168273September 14, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
FOAM COVER ON DASHBOARD HAS WARPED. EDGE NEAREST WINDSHIELD HAS CURLED UP AND IS NOW TOUCHING WINDSHIELD AT LEAST 5 INCHES FROM BASE. WARPED DASHBOARD BLOCKS AIR FROM DEFROSTER RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD AS VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A KNOWN DEFECT (TSB 01B78). FORD HAD AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PLACE BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER DESPITE OWNING THE CAR AND HAVING IT REGISTERED AT THE TIME. A SUPERVISOR AT THE FORD "CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER" TOLD ME THAT "IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE MAIL". I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED. THIS IS NO LONGER AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM AS THE BLOCKAGE OF THE DEFROSTER SEVERELY COMPROMISES SAFETY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168158September 13, 2006
STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD RAISED UP CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. UPDATED 10/2/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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