Ford Contour Complaints

3,154 consumer complaints on file.

#10298277January 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLUG ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE IN THE PLUG. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERY TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED A FAILURE WITHIN THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PLUG AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FOUND RECALL 99V103000 ONLINE AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295308December 11, 2009
STEERING
MY '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING, SMELLING HOT, WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HEATING UP TO THE POINT OF THE CAR KEY, IN THE IGNITION, GETTING TOO HOTTO HANDLE--FOR SOME TIME, NOW. FEARING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. HE SAID MY CAR, PER IT'S VIN NO., HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; SO HE DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. NOW, A WEEK AGO TODAY (12/3/09), AND A WEEK OR SO AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING 20-30 MPH, DOWN A CITY STREET IN MY SMALL TOWN, WHEN, SUDDENLY, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND; AND THE ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT! I TRIED TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHT ON; BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE STEERING WHEEL & STEERING COLUMN WERE VERY HOT. I TURNED THE KEY, IN THE IGNITION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON. INSTEAD, IT MADE ANOTHER POPPING SOUND; AND DIED COMPLETELY! SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE BATTERY WATER WAS BOILING OVER, SIZZLING, AND SMOKING. WHEN I CALLED MY INS. ROADSIDE ASSIST, AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. SO, I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THEY CAME AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY; AND NOTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS SMOKING. THEY PUSHED MY CAR TO A PARKING SPOT, FROM WHERE I HAD IT TOWED IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER MAN SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT; AND I LEFT IT THERE, IN THEIR PARKING LOT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR IT MIGHT START ON FIRE, SINCE I HAVE SEEN, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES!!! BEING CAUGHT IN A BURNING FIRE, WITH MY SEAT BELT ON, IS VERY SCARY TO ME! THE QUESTIONS, AT THE BOTTOM, RIGHT, OF MY SCREEN, ARE CUT OFF, SO I CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH: "WAS THERE...." "PROPERTY DA...." "WAS THERE A..." "REPORTED TO...." I'M SORRY,I HAVE NO WAY OF ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS, HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293348November 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR WHICH HAS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT LED TO VEHICLE PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT A RECALL (99M03) WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY WIRES. MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. WHY WERE NOT ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS DEFECT RECALLED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288677October 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO FAILED, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY, AND THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287331October 14, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SUSPENSION:REAR, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES:VALVE, TIRES:TUBE
I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE REPLACED STARTER AND BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES FEELS LIKE SUSPENSION IS FALLING APART AND NEVER NOTIFIED I HAVE SMALL AND OLDER CHILDREN SHAMEFUL. THESE EVENTS STARTING TAKING PLACE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1999 ARM CONTROL 3 TIMES REPLACED I WAS LIED TO BY FORD AND SAID I MUST OF HIT A BUMP BUMP MY BUMP 3 TIMES ALMOST DEAD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10287143October 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TOOK MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR IN TO MY LOCAL PERRY LINCOLN FORD DEALER, ON HITCHCOCK ST., IN SANTA BARBARA, CA--TODAY (10/12/09. I STATED TO THE REPAIRMAN THAT I NOTICED, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOURS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES. I TOLD HIM THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, EVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OF 3 MILES TO WORK, EVERY DAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS SO HOT, THAT MY KEY IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE!! THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL COMPONENT, THAT INCLUDES THE IGNITION SWITCH, GETS HOT. THE REPAIRMAN, AT FORD, TOOK MY VIN NO.; AND RESEARCHED MY CAR, ON HIS FORD COMPUTER; AND MY VIN NO. DID NOT SHOW A RECALL. I TOLD HIM, I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS FOR ALL 1995 FORD CONTOURS, NOT JUST SOME. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FIRE TO START, IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT? I AM A WORKING REGISTERED NURSE; AND WOULD RATHER PREVENT A FIRE THAN WAIT FOR ONE TO BURN MY FACE AND BODY; AND DESTROY MY ENTIRE CAR. THE FORD REPAIRMAN DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. HE JUST SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR CAR!!! WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM INJURY AND HARM, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY IGNITION SWITCH, CAR KEY--AND ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL DEVICE OVERHEATS? ALL YOUR 4 QUESTIONS, BELOW AND TO THE RIGHT OF THIS BOX ARE CUT OFF EXCEPT FOR THE "APPROX. INCIDENT DATE!!"! YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO CHOOSE "IGNITION SWITCH" FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287509October 9, 2009
STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE WARPING DASH ON VARIOUS FORD PRODUCTS SUCH AS HIS 1999 FORD CONTOUR. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED FORD ISSUED A RECALL IN 2001 TO REPLACE THE DASH BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WARPING. APPARENTLY, FORD NEVER FIXED THE MANUFACTURING FLAW BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT DASH STARTED TO WARP SOON AFTERWARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DASH WARPED UPWARDS, IMPACTING THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER. THE WARPING ALSO IMPACTED THE OPERATION OF THE DEFROSTER, SO THE FRONT WINDOW WAS NOT BEING DEFROSTED WHICH CAUSED VISIBILITY ISSUES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286598October 7, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEAL CAUSED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HOSE TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286053October 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER BEFORE IT DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST AND HE IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281489August 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A FORD CONTOUR (1996 SPORT W/2.5 V6..NEARLY ALL OF THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD EITHER HAS BROKEN OR NO INSULATION ON IT. SOME TIMES THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT COMES ON...TODAY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SMOKED THEN BLEW A FUSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN WIRING LIKE THIS. I EXPECT BETTER FROM FORD THAN THIS..THIS CAR JUST TURNED OVER TO 72000 MILES....THIS CAR IS A TOTAL FIRE HAZARD.....I'VE OWNED FORD CARS AND TRUCKS ALL MY LIFE BUT IF NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS CAR IT WILL BE THE LAST FORD I BUY..THIS WIRING SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. I WONDER IF THE SAFETY TEAM KNOWS ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279197August 3, 2009
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. THE BLOWER CONTROLS THE DEFROSTER AND HEATER. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN FOG, FROST ETC SO VISIBILITY IS GREATLY LIMITED. IF ONE CAN SEE WELL AN ACCIDENT IS POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274718June 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN 2004. FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAN MOTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MELT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,109. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273862June 15, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT OF THE SPRING CATCHER BRACKET WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES. IF A TIRE WERE THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BURST. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST OR ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273662June 12, 2009
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FALLING APART IN HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN THE DEFROST VENT WAS BEGINNING TO PUSH OUTWARD DUE TO THE BENDING OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE GLOVE BOX IS OPENED, IT FALLS TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS SHIFTED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE OUTSIDE OR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,090.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270171May 28, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKE FAILURE ON 99 FORD CONTOUR SE CONTACTED DUTRO FORD ZANESVILE OHIO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268710May 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS WAS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION" OR A FORD RECALL (NOT ORDERED BY THE FED GOV.) NUMBER 99M03, WHEREIN FORD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS ON 1995 FORD CONTOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS EXPIRED AND WISH TO HAVE FORD STAND BY THEIR WARRANTY AND COMPLETE THIS TASK UNDER THE WARRANTY/RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267628May 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE WIRING AROUND THE HEATING UNIT SENSORS HAVE DETERIORATED. THE CODING HAS CRACKED OFF THE OTHER WIRES, CAUSING THEM TO BE EXPOSED. THIS ALLOWS ALL OF THE WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, WHICH COULD CAUSE A SHORT IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL OPERABLE, BUT THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE BECOMES EXTREMELY HIGH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS 15 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263740March 31, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HE DID NOT KNOW THE BOLTS WERE MISSING AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD HAVE THEM ORDERED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261823March 14, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1998 FORD CONTOUR. HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR OVER HEATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION. TERMINAL 15 OF CONNECTOR WAS BURNED. SAFETY RECALL 99S14 ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD DEALER SAYS THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. . I INSTALLED FORD KIT F5RZ14A411BA AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY WAS THIS CAR NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL OR IS THE FORD DEALER MISTAKEN? SHOULD THE RECALL BE EXPANDED? I SAVED THE OLD CONNECTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260956March 6, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, PARKING BRAKE
COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER - NO MECHANIC COULD FIND OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE WILL NOT GO OFF -VERY COSTLY. IT STALLS WHEN RAINING, THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, IT HAS TO WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL MOVE, THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME LOOSE, CAUSING MELTING OF HOUSING, EVERY VALVE IMAGINABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BELT SQUEALS WHEN AIR OR DEFROST TURNED ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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