Ford Contour Complaints

3,154 consumer complaints on file.

#10018359May 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
IN OCTOBER 2001 (AT 67000 MILES), COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP ON MY 1997 2.5-LITER V6 FORD CONTOUR. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. ON JUNE 2002 (AT 73000 MILES), THE WATER PUMP STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ON DECEMBER 2002 (AT 80000 MILES), THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, I.E. THE PUMP WAS LEAKING. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. ON APRIL 2003 (AT 85000 MILES), THE WATER PUMP AGAIN BEGAN TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE SAME SPOT (PER THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN). WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. WITH THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE THE FORD DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN (@ CENTURY FORD IN ROCKVILLE, MD) CALLED FORD HOTLINE WITH THE HISTORY OF THE PROBLEMS. THE HOT LINE CALLED BACK LATER AND INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE FIBER MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS SHREDDING, WITH THE END RESULT BEING THAT THE PARTICLES WOULD FLOW INTO THE WATER PUMP AND RUIN THE SEALS, THUS NECESSITATING CHANGING THE WATER PUMP. NO FORD TECHNICAL BULLETIN EXISTS ON DEFECTIVE RADIATOR HOSE. AT NO TIME DID DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND THAT RADIATOR HOSE BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE OR BECAUSE IT LOOKED WORN OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018189May 5, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE T-BONE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016965May 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE NORMALLY DRIVING AT 35 MILE'S PER HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. 10 MINUTES LATER STARTED NORMALLY. JUST IN CASE I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC BECAUSE 20 MINUTES LATER I STARTED TO NOTICED AN ODOR, LIKE BURNED PLASTIC. THIS MORNING THE MECHANIC CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO STOP BY THE SHOP, HE SHOWED ME THE FUSE BOX AND THE ELECTRICAL CABLES (HARNESS) THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE BOX, 75% OR MORE ARE WITHOUT INSULATION (CRACKED OR THE INSULATION IS GONE). ACCORDING TO HIM I WAS JUST LUCKY, FORD DO NOT OFFER A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AS A PART, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SEARCH FOR ONE IN A JUNK YARD, BESIDES IS A COSTLY ELECTRICAL JOB REPLACING THE WIRES. I AM GOING TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE AS A CONSUMER I THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE MENTIONED VEHICLE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018030May 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016906May 2, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RE: YOUR #00V350000 I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH ME FORD CONTOUR FOR 2 YEARS FORD REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THEY ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM UP TO 100,000 MILES. IT TAKES ME UP TO 25 MINUTES TO FILL MY GAS TANK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ONE GAS STATION ATTENDANT ASK ME NOT TO FUEL AT HIS STATION UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX. $300.00 PLUS. IT IS A FAULTY PART WHY IS IT NOT FIXED? *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017888April 30, 2003
STRUCTURE
THE DESIGN OF THE DASHBOARD MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016788April 30, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOWN A/C DOES NOT WORK, BACK WINDOW SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, KILLED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016619April 28, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JERKS WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIME VERY VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. VIBRATES OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS (30 MPH), AS THOUGH IT'S IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR FOR THE TERRAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN GOES OFF FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE COMING BACK ON AGAIN. I'VE GOTTEN TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR, BOTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2,500 FOR A REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION OR INSTALLATION OF A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE COOLANT SENSOR AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED AS A RESULT OF REGULARLY OCCURRING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017682April 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND LOST POWER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016462April 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1999 FORD CONTOUR W/ 2 LIT. ENGINE AND FACTORY INSTALLED/AUTHORIZED 8" BRAKE SYSTEM. SAFETY HAZARD: POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO IMPROPERLY DESIGNED AND/OR FACTORY INSTALLED BRAKES. TRYING TO STEER THE CAR THROUGH EVASIVE MANEUVERS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUDDER EXCESSIVELY. ON APX APRIL 7 I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-71 APX 1 MILE NORTH OF I-270. ACCIDENT APX 1/4 OF A MILE AHEAD FORCED EVERYONE TO SLAM ON BRAKES. CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER EXCESSIVELY. HAD ANOTHER CAR CLOSE ON MY TAIL AND BEGAN TO POSITION MYSELF TO THE LEFT TO BAIL OUT INTO MEDIAN IF NECESSARY AND ANY STEERING ACTION OTHER THAN PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AHEAD CAUSED THE SHUDDERING TO BECOME EVEN MORE EXTREME. HAVEN'T EXPERIMENTED WITH RADICAL MANEUVERS WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY. STARTING IN MARCH, 2003 I HAD NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION DRIVING. TOOK CAR IN TO FIRESTONE FOR ROUTINE BALANCE, ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. AFTER WORK DONE THE CAR SHUDDERED NOTICEABLY WHENEVER BRAKES APPLIED, PARTICULARLY SLOWING DOWN THROUGH 45 MPH TO 30 MPH. RETURNED CAR TO SHOP AND THEY WORKED ON ROTORS AND DRUMS. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT. TOOK CAR TO 2ND FIRESTONE AND HAD SENIOR MECHANIC INSPECT. REPLACED REAR DRUMS WITH NEW BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED, SO HE PUT OLD DRUMS BACK ON AND SUGGESTED TAKING TO FORD DEALER. TOOK CAR TO KRIEGER FORD. THEY REPEATED EXPERIMENT WITH NEW DRUMS WITH SAME RESULT. THEY CALLED FORD HOTLINE AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 8" BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO INSTALL FACTORY AUTHORIZED 9" BRAKE SYSTEM PER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 0009007. IN OTHER WORDS FORD KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 8" BRAKES AS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED BY FORD BUT WANTS ME TO PAY TO ELIMINATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED ALL OF MY RIMS TO BECOME SOMEWHAT WARPED, WITH ONE EXCESSIVELY WARPED. TOTAL COST IS $523 FOR PARTS, $323 FOR LABOR, $100 FOR NEW RIM. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015886April 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE, SEATS, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE VEHICLE HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW JAMMED. THE RUBBER PIECE AROUND THE FRAME OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT CONSTANTLY CAME OFF. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND IN THE REAR SEATS TWISTED AND JAMMED. THE DASHBOARD COVER CAME LOOSE. THE RADIO OPERATED POORLY. THE TRUNK LATCH OFTEN REQUIRED MULTIPLE PULLS TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A WHINING/GRINDING NOISE. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016329April 22, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I JUST BOUGHT A FORD CONTOUR AND THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UP AND IT COULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAG, SO WHAT IF ANYTHING IS SOMEONE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS, AS YOU CAN SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A PROGRAM FOR THE DASHBOARD. IF IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THEN IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016247April 21, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW REPAIRED TODAY, AS WELL AS PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED IN JULY 2002. BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR BOTH. THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SHOW A MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE PURSUE A RECALL REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE SO CUSTOMERS CAN BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016232April 20, 2003
STRUCTURE
WET/LEAKING TRUNK. ALSO LEAKING FROM TRUNK TO BACK SEAT. CAN'T LOCATE WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016220April 19, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. MECHANIC FOUND ALL FOUR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC STATED ALL FOUR SPRINGS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. THE CAR IS ONLY USED ON PAVED ROADS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015692April 18, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPED AND WAS REPAIRED. MR SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014494April 17, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STARTING EVERY SPRING, LASTING THROUGH THE SUMMER, THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN. EVERY FORD DEALER CLAIMS NOT TO SMELL IT, AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. IT USUALLY OCCURS IN OVER DRIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10016135April 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 01-V-230-0000. RECALL DEESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015782April 14, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE DEFROSTER DID NOT CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015783April 14, 2003
STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD LIFTED UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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