Ford Contour Complaints

3,154 consumer complaints on file.

#10241376September 8, 2008
TIRES
NEW GOODYEAR GS H TIRES PURCHASED FROM SAM'S CLUB IN JUNE '08 HAVE LITTLE OR NO STOPPING OR TURNING TRACTION IN WET WEATHER. NEAR COLLISIONS AND SLIDING ON TURNS. NO ACCIDENT YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239521August 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE ONE EVENING AS IT WAS GETTING DARK I NOTICED THAT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DARK. I ASKED MY BOYFRIEND TO GET OUT AND CHECK IF I HAD TAIL LIGHTS (REMEMBERING MY SISTER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN I WAS LITTLE) INDEED I DIDN'T HAVE TAIL LIGHTS OR DASH LIGHTS AND WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO JUST HAVE PARKING LIGHTS ON THEY DIDN'T WORK EITHER. HOWEVER I STILL HAD TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. WE TESTED FUSES AND CONSULTED A PARTS STORE WITH THE PROBLEM, FINALLY MY BOYFRIEND TOOK APART THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHERE HE FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PARTIALLY MELTED.....HE TRIED TO BEND THE LITTLE PRONGS BACK SO THEY WOULD MAKE CONNECTION WITH THE SWITCH AGAIN AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AND NOW MY LIGHTS WORK. I AM HOWEVER ORDERING NEW PARTS FOR MY CAR AND THE SALES MAN SAID THAT IT WAS ODD TO HAVE A PROBLEM THERE SINCE IT WAS A LOW HEAT AREA AND SUGGESTED LOOKING ON NHTSA FOR RECALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238331August 14, 2008
SEAT BELTS
IN THE BACK SEAT I HAVE ONLY 2 SEATBELTS IT'S SHOULD HAVE 3. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236719August 2, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE GAS PEDAL/ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO "STICK" OR RACE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO IDLE TO BACK DOWN UNTIL I PUT IT IN GEAR. JULY 3, WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR/GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CORNER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A CAR REPAIR PLACE WHERE THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL FORD ABOUT A RECALL. THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE HAD JUST SNAPPED RIGHT OFF! I CALLED FROM THE REPAIR PLACE AND FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VIN VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AS I WAS LEAVING TOWN THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE RETURNED NOW AND AFTER SEARCHING YOUR SITE HAVE FOUND WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE RECALL FOR THE VERY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL PROBLEM. WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP, PLEASE? LUCY HOCKING [email protected] 414-541-2326 414-520-8323 MAKE : FORD MODEL : CONTOUR YEAR : 1996 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : DEC 03, 1997 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 97V225000 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 38000 SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION. THE THROTTLE CABLES WERE DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY LEADING TO FRAYING OR SEPARATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235998July 28, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEARS ON THE FLOOR SHIFT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLES AFTER TEN YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235577July 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FAN AND WIRING HARNESS BURNED UP. HOWEVER THEY REPLACED ONLY THAT PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH ENGINE COOLING FANS, THE REST OF THE UNDERHOOD WIRING IS FAILING DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING THE INSULATION TO BREAK DOWN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR TO THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR BECAUSE IT HAS TURNED INTO A SOFT GELATIN LIKE SUBSTANCE CAUSING SHORTS. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE FANS CAUGHT ON FIRE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A SHORTER MAYBE AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE ENGINE WIRING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON AT TIMES BUT IT SETS NO TROUBLE CODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234642July 17, 2008
VISIBILITY
I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE CLOUDING OF HEADLIGHT LENS - IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD AND VERY DANGEROUS...THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ANY INCIDENTS BEFORE THIS IS LOOKED INTO..... LETS DO IT BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234322July 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. AS HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE, THE TAIL LIGHTS OR THE DASHBOARD DID NOT LIGHT UP. HIS MECHANIC GAVE HIM A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 01V230000. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE RELATED NHTSA ACTION# IS EA01001. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233494July 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. ALL ENGINE WIRE HARNESS INSULATION IS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF. BARE WIRE AT MOST OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONNECTORS. UNKNOWN DAMAGE UNDER WIRE WRAPPING. EXISTING FORD RECALL COVER 95-97 YEAR MODELS. SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 98 MODEL YEAR. 2. STILL WAITING FOR THE FIRST MAJOR MELTDOWN. CONNECTOR WIRES ARE PHYSICALLY PULLED APART TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. 3. NO REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232395June 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FUEL INJECTION FAILURE, RESULTING FROM INSTALLATION PARTICLES BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND REALIZED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). FORD STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231416June 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
REAR PASSENGER DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THE WINDOWS ONLY OPEN HALF WAY AS A CHILD SAFETY FEATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229703June 3, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED BRAKESAFE FRONT DISC PADS FOR THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES LATER, A GRINDING AND RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD AND AN OUTER LINING ON THE PADDING FELL OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. HE PURCHASED NEW PADS, WHICH HE FELT WORKED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. HE ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE AUTO PARTS STORE FROM WHERE HE PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE PADS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. HE ALSO CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE SERIAL NUMBER AND PART NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,970. UPDATED 06/25/08. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER WAS WARPED AND THE ROTOR WAS DAMAGED. UPDATED 06/25/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228270May 20, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAD BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR FAIL (LEFT SPRING BROKE INTO TWO PIECES, THE RIGHT INTO THREE). RESULTED IN CAR DRIFTING BACK AND FORTH. NO RESPONSE FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225174April 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FORD'S CONTOUR AND ITS SISTER CAR THE MERCURY MYSTIQUE HAVE DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESSES. THE WIRE SHIELDS CRACK CAUSING SHORTS, WHICH LEAD TO MECHANICAL BREAK DOWNS AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES. FORD ISSUED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM #99M03, WHICH ADMITS TO THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDS COVERAGE TO NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALS BUT LIMITS THE TERM OF COVERAGE. WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT A NORMAL WEAR COMPONENT AND SHOULD NOT FALL APART FOR NO REASON. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. FORD HAS EXPRESSED NO INTEREST IN HELPING NOTIFY CONSUMERS. FURTHER, FORD'S DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE REPLACEMENT HARNESSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224388April 14, 2008
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
DASHBOARD BEGAN SLOWLY WARPING OVER A YEAR. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY AHEAD WAS COMPROMISED, AND THE DEFROSTER VENTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT, SO I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP AT MY FULL COST. SO FAR, THE REPLACEMENT DASH IS OK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224197April 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE GEAR SHIFTING SYSTEM REPAIRED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221313March 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER IN 2002 IN RESPONSE TO FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 01B78 TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPING. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE WARPING AT THE TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND NO SERVICE WAS REQUIRED. THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, THE WARPING STARTED TO BECOME VISIBLE. EARLIER IN THE MONTH, THE WARPING APPLIED SO MUCH STRESS ON THE VENT COVER THAT THE COVER SNAPPED OUT AND LANDED IN THE FRONT SEATS. THE WARPING INCREASED GREATLY AND VISIBILITY IS REDUCED ON OBJECTS CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221153March 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ORIGINAL START DATE 1-12-07. TIMING BELT SHREDDED. HAD SHOP FIX THE PROBLEM. 4-2-07 BELT BROKE AGAIN REPLACED AGAIN. 10-18-07 TIMING BELT BROKE AGAIN. SHOP DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE AGAIN SAID IT IS DEALER PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS SHOP PROBLEM. SHOP SAYS IT WILL FIX ON 11-2-07. SHOP FINALLY FIXES ON 11-4-05. CAR NOT RUNNING RIGHT TAKE BACK TO DEALER ON 11-5-07. DEALER SAYS WASN'T FIXED PROPERLY. 11-8-07 PICK UP FROM DEALER AND THEY STATE WE SHOULD HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS. IF SO BRING BACK UNDER WARRANTY. 3-13-08 DEALER NOW STATES BELT BROKE AND NOT COVERED AND OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS. ALMOST 1600 TO FIX. STILL CAN'T GIVE ME SPECIFIC REASON TO WHY BELT KEEPS SHREDDING. NOW WHAT IS ONE TO DO? I HAVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO THIS AND CAN'T GET A REAL ANSWER. ALSO IN THE PAST SHOP PRINTED OUT OTHER REPORTS FROM NHTSA SIGHT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME CAR IN DIFFERENT STATES. BUT YET DEALER SAYS DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH THIS KIND OF CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220272March 6, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE WAS PURCHASED ON 9-03-07 AT WALMART IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH. TODAY IS MARCH 6,2008. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND GET THE FLAT TIRE SHUDDER. JACK UP CAR, PULL OFF TIRE, SLIT MY HAND ON THREADS ON THE INTERIOR. THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE CAR IS COMPLETELY BALD, AND THREADED. MILEAGE AT TIME OF PURCHASE 144,296. MILEAGE TODAY, WHEN TIRE BLEW 150,177. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10218509February 19, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SPIT-BACK WHILE REFUELING. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,800 MILES AND I DO NOT HAVE $300 TO REPAIR. I CALLED FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I TOOK CAR TO FORD IN MISSISSIPPI IN 2002 AND NO MENTION OF RECALL WAS MADE. FORD, IN MY OPINION, SEEMS TO BE OF THE MIND "DO NOT FIX IT IF IT IS NOT BROKE". WELL IT IS BROKE NOW AND IF COVERAGE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THAT IS NOT A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE AS THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN I GET GAS THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND CAUSING HARM TO MY FAMILY, PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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