Ford Contour Complaints

3,154 consumer complaints on file.

#10081977July 14, 2004
STRUCTURE
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AND THE HEAT/AIR DOES NOT CIRCULATE PROPERLY. IT IS BEGINNING TO COVER THE VENTS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE CLEARED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY HAVE SEEN VEHICLES WORST THAN HIS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081090July 14, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND STALLS. AFTER TOWED STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO,HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LAST SUMMER. SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPATURES ARE HOT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080802July 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT 88,000 MILES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT AN AUCTION. THE FED GOV. IS REQUIRED TO MEET MANUFACTURER STANDARDS ON MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH NUMEROUS MECHANICS CAN NOT FIX. THERE IS A VOLTAGE DRAIN, WHICH MAKES FUSES BLOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL, BLINKERS, AND AC DON'T WORK, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT USING A MANUAL OVERRIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080492July 7, 2004
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, EQUIPMENT
THIS IS NOT AN AESTHETIC COMPLAINT AS CLASSIFIED BY FORD MOTOR CORPORATION. DASHBOARD IS PEELING UP FROM BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW, DEFROST PANEL IS NOW DISLODGED FROM DASHBOARD AND CREATING ADDITIONAL OBSTRUCTION OF DRIVER'S VIEW AND RENDERED NON FUNCTIONAL. THE RECESSION OF THE DASHBOARD IS NOW SEPARATING FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SECTION OF THE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN JULY 1999 AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED FIRST THE FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND HAD SINCE EXPIRED AND WAS DIRECTED TO CALL FORD MOTOR CORPORATION DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE THREE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE PAST 24-30 MONTHS EACH CONFIRMED THE RECALL AND NOTED 1) SINCE IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM IT HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE ATTACHED IT AND 2) IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO EXPEDITE ON VEHICLES THAT CAME IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS. AGAIN, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED FROM EITHER THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF MY SERVICE VISITS OR FORD MOTOR CORPORATION WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED. I HAVE REQUESTED SECOND OPINIONS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT ARE FORD CERTIFIED IN BODY REPAIR AND EACH NOTED THE RAMIFICATIONS OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT CORRECTED IS AND NOT LIMITED TO A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND A RESULT OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND NOT EXCLUDING OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD THAT COULD INADVERTENTLY BE INVOLVED. IN MY RESEARCH OF THIS SITUATION I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WITH SIMILAR RESPONSES SINCE 2001.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080519July 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD CONTOUR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON 6/21/04. WHEN I HAD THE REQUIRED STATE OF VERMONT INSPECTION DONE ON 6/30/04 A BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS A HISTORIC PROBLEM, AND SEVERE SAFETY HAZZARD ON THE FORD CONTOUR SERIES, AS SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE IS COMMMON WITH THIS BREAKAGE. YEARS 1995 THROUGH 1998 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM FOR THE 1998 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 2001, AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED THAT SAME YEAR. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT FORD WAS STILL USING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHEN MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 9/98. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM AS FORD IS BACKORDERED ON REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH. IT IS MY FEELING AT THIS TIME THAT THE 1999 MODEL SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081353July 6, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED IT, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080318July 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079087June 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT ENGAGE DRIVE WHEN SHIFTED TO D POSITION; WILL ONLY ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED TO 2 POSITION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080129June 29, 2004
STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD BECAME UNGLUED AND POPPED UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079006June 29, 2004
VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT
THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WARPAGE AND IS NOW RESTING UPWARD ABOUT 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE DEFROSTER GRILL POPPED OUT EARLIER AND IN THE WINTER THE DEFROST FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE WARPED DASHBOARD IS OBSTRUCTING OUR VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A HAZARDOUS. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#01B78) WHICH WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST 2001 AND EFFECTIVE UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2002 ADMITTING TO PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD (INSTRUMENT PANEL) WARPAGE ON THE 1999 & 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. THE FORD DEALER (HERITAGE FORD IN SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THEY WERE TO NOTIFY A FORD REGIONAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN OVER A MONTH AGO BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE. THE LOCAL DEALER ESTIMATES THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1400 TO $1800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I'VE OUTLINED ABOVE, I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED AT FORD'S COST. I FEEL THAT THIS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WHICH IS GETTING WORSE WITH THE IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE HOOD FROM MY SITTING POSITION IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ALSO, IF I WERE TO TRY AND SELL THE CAR, IT WOULD BE BASICALLY NON SALEABLE BECAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED WITH YOUR AGENCY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM THAT I RESEARCHED UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF OTHER, VISIBILITY AND VISIBILITY...DEFROSTER AMONG OTHERS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE YOU FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION? FORD HAS ALREADY ADMITTED A FLAW IN THE DASHBOARD WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078763June 24, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
VEHICLE HESITATES AND JERKS VIOLENTLY ON ACCELERATION, FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL.DASHBOARD CURLED UP IN FRONT BY WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCTING VIEW AND POPPED OUT VENT TRIM. DEALER WOULN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE RECALL ON IT HAD EXPIRED. HAD TO TRY TO GLUE IT DOWN OURSELF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078694June 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I OWN A 1999'CONTOUR THE DASHBOARD HAS CURLED UP AT THE VENT AREA NEAR WINDOW. HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNERS AND THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY FORD. FORD TELLS ME IT WAS A TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TYPE OF THING . BUT I SEE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY TRIED TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY PRODUCT. I WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER NEVER PURCHASING ANOTHER FORD . THIS HAS BEEN MY 4TH FORD THAT I HAVE OWNED AND IT SADDENS ME TO SEE THE POOR RESPONSE FROM FORD ABOUT A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078641June 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1998 FORD CONTOUR 4 DOOR SEDAN BOUGHT 10/15/99; SINCE THEN MANY INCIDENTS OF CAR CUTTING OFF SUDDENLY - SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE IN MONTHS, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY; MANY CLOSE CALLS; NEARLY REAR-ENDED, ETC. FRIGHTENING TO BE POWERLESS IN TRAFFIC. MANY REPAIRS TRIED, COMPUTER ANALYSIS, ELECTRICAL CHECK UPS ONLY HELP IS TO REPLACE IDLE AIR CONTROL - COMPUTER CHIP WITH WHICH CAN GO NEARLY A YEAR WITHOUT RANDOM SHUT OFF. MANY CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY FATAL. HAVE HAD 4 SHUT DOWNS IN TRAFFIC IN LAST 2 WEEKS AND HAVE ANOTHER IAC - BUT FORD NEEDS TO FIND PERMANENT SOLUTION TO DEADLY ERROR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079545June 21, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER THE ROAD. FIRESTONE, FR 440, SIZE P185/70R14 , DOT:HYRV4FA3100. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078570June 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Y FUEL PUMP FAILED ON MAY 21, 2003. CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (MILEAGE 41,711). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, TOTAL COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $463.80. DEALERSHIP THAT COMPLETED REPAIRS ADVISED THAT FUEL FILTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED OR WARRANTY ON NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE VOIDED. THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP FAILED ON JUNE 6, 2001 (MILEAGE:8,884). MANUFACTURER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL NEW FUEL FILTER. MARCH 28, 2003 ALTERNATOR FAILED (MILEAGE: 38,307). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $377.36. (ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 31, 2003 (MILEAGE 35,290) CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED DUE TO BATTERY LIGHT HAVING COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. FORD TSB 15830 ADVISES THAT THE LIGHTING OF THE BATTERY LAMP MAY INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN FACT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN MAY HAVE LEAD THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A MORE COSTLY PROBLEM (I.E. ALTERNATOR FAILURE).)*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079446June 17, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
INTERMITTENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078310June 16, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) DETAILS: AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT INDICATE CORRECT GEAR (P, D, R) LEVER HANGS UP WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN P, D, R. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPX THREE YEARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079905June 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
QUESTION REGARDING HOW A SIMILAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRING TO RECALL #98V233000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065239June 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075308June 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
I NOTICED I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TOOK IT OFF WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED,THEY TOLD ME IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE SIDE WALL HAD BEEN PUNTURED.I THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE ONLY TO FIND OUT THE NEW TIRE WOULD NOT WORK, THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND WHEN YOU TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. I THEN PUT THE SPARE (PONY) ON AND TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR THE TIRE GOT HOT AND SMOKED.SO WE TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE COMPANY WE BOUGHT THE TIRE FROM,IN THE PROCESS WE HAD A BLOW OUT AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN ,PUNCTURED THE TIRE ON TH INSIDE SIDEWALL AND WRAPPED AROUND THE STRUTT AND BENT IT..BECAUSE OF YOUR DEFECTIVE SPRINGS.. WE ARE FORCED TO BUY NOT ONLY A NEW TIRE BUT A SET OF SPRINGS AND NEW STRUTTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD PRODUCTS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS. THAT IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS AT THE VERY LEAST.....WHY HAS THE'RE BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE SPRINGS????? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DISASTROUS SITUATION HAD IT HAPPEN AS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I FEEL THAT SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION IS IN ORDER....MY CAR IS A FORD CONTOUR A 1998 WITH ONLY ROUGHLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE WORK IS BEING DONE BY SEARS AUTO CENTER BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THE NEW TIRE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE AND SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD ENCOURAGE MY CONTINUED FAITH IN FORD PRODUCTS, WHICH HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT SHAKEN. RESPECTFULLY YOUR, RACHEL G MILLER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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