1997 Ford Contour complaints

THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED INCLUDE; FAILURE OF TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FAILURE OF CLOCK LIGHT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IGNITING WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V103000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WAS DONE. THE REMEDY HAD FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES AFTERWARDS. EACH TIME THE REMEDY FAILED. MECHANIC IS ORDERING A DIFFERENT LIGHT SWITCH AFTER PUTTING IN RELAY SWITCH. *AK

ROTORS ARE WARPED. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THREE SETS OF ROTORS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING AND THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *YC

DASH PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SHORTLY AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE UNDER DASH WIRE HARNESS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP, HE WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

DRIVER WAS IN AN FRONT END ACCIDENT THAT WAS CAUSED BY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WHICH FAILED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GAURDRAIL HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER OR GOING THROUGH SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER, THE WATER SPLASHES ON THE GENERATOR ,CAUSING COMPLETE POWER LOSS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SMELLS LIKE RAW GAS ALL THE TIME. HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS AGO VEHICLE WENT TO THE SHOP FOR A FUEL PUMP. ON HIGHWAY WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SOMETHING HAD POPPED OUT AND STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HIT THE CONCRETE AND BOTH AIRBAGS CAME OUT. *AK

THE FAN MOTOR SWITCH FAILED TO WORK. WOULD FLICKER BUT NOT ON. BEEN TO DEALER & BROUGHT PARTS FOR FAN MOTOR. DASHBOARD PULLED DOWN & NOTICED THE WIRES TO FAN MOTOR HAD BURNT OUT. HAD REPLACED THEM. *AK

WAS DRIVING 70MPH & STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, VEHICLE WENT INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT SIDE. VEHICLE WINDED UP FACING OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARDS TRAFFIC. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE BATTERY, AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO GET SOMEONE TO GIVE HER A JUMP. ALSO, ALARM SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT BUSTED OPEN, CAUSING THE FUMES AND SMOKE TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TERMINAL AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRES WAS DAMAGED WHICH CAUSED ANTI- FREEZE TO LEAK . *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS VISIBLE DUE TO A HALF IN CRACK WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH AND OVER NOTICED SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE AND VIBRATION WITHIN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DUE TO WHEEL BEARING THAT WORE OUT. *AK

THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR BEGINS TO BACK UP

WHENEVER TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONING ON HIGH, THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE A/C UNIT. *AK

HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT AND ALL THE WINDOW'S AREN'T WORKING BECAUSE OF A FUSE THAT KEEPS BLOWING OUT. *AK

STEERING PROBLEM HAS COST CONSUMER ALOT OF MONEY. ALSO, NEEDS TO REPLACE THE TIRES. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A ROARING SOUND. DEALER CLAIMS THE BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEM AT 61000. ALSO, HAD TO CHANGE TIRES AND BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THEIR IS A LOSS OF POWER. *AK

BATTERY DRAINED SEVERAL TIMES POSSIBLY DUE TO RECALL RELATED COMPONENT FAILURE. NLM

FUEL SMELL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN, MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER THE TANK IS EMPTY OR FULL AND DETECTABLE AT SLOW, FAST, OR NON SPEED

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES FAILED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE, AND HEATER SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. *AK

THIS CONTOUR HAS A MODERATE STEERING/ HYDRAULIC NOISE WHEN TURNING AT ANY TIME. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND FORD TOLD DEALER NOT TO CHANGE THE UNIT. STATED THAT FORD WAS WORKING ON A FIX FOR PROBLEM. MAY TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS. I HAD A LAWYER WRITE A LETTER TO FORD ASKING FOR A BUY BACK. THEY REFUSED AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS "NORMAL." WELL, WHICH IS IT? A NOISE THAT A DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT TO FIX, THAT THE FORD ENGINEERING IS SUPOSEDLY WORKING ON, OR A NORMAL NOISE? MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAYS THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE. I THOUGHT STEERING SYSTEM IS A SAFETY SENSITIVE SYSTEM. *AK

BURNED WIRES AND MELTED CONNECTOR AT BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH RESISTOR, BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH WILL NOT OPERATE AT SECOND HIGHEST SETTING.

UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE FLUX HOSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF FRICTION ABRASION DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF HOSE. THE ABRASION WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT IT THINNED THE HOSE TO THE INNER LINER, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PRESSURE CAUSED IT TO BURST, AND LOSE ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE DEALER CHARGED $328 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO CHARGE, SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. *AK

REAR DOOR INTERMITTENTLY OPENS AT WILL. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND NO CORRECTION HAVE BEEN MADE.SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE SLOWING TO TURN, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND, OTHER VEHICLE WAS MOVING FROM 35-40 MPH. AT IMPACT, DRIVER SEATBELT CAME UNLATCHED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SLIDE FORWARD, HITTING KNEE ON DASHBOARD HARD ENOUGH TO DISLODGE RADIO. AFTER MAIN REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN FORD SALES, UNION GROVE, WI. THEIR INSPECTION FOUND A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC OR CELLOPHANE, NO MORE THAN AN 1/8" THICK AND 1/2" LONG. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH PANIC STOPS, THEY SAID THE DEBRIS 'MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE CONCERN'. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SEATBELT OR LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. WE DO NOT FEEL THAT THE SMALL PIECE OF CELLOPHANE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM, NOR DO WE FEEL THAT PANIC STOPS DUPLICATE A REAR-END COLLISON.

CAR WILL CRANK OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. IT HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES. FOUR TIMES IT REQUIRED TO BE TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT FORD FOR REPAIRS. ONLY ONCE DID THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, HOWEVER WHEN THE CAR GETS TOWED INTO THE DEALERS, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT IS THE DEFECT WITH THE CAR. *AK

SEAT MOVES/ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. SHIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT DURING VEHICLE TURNS AND STOPS. DISCONCERTING DURING DRIVING; WEAKENS PRECISION OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE CONTINUED DEGRADATION OF SEAT TRACK. *AK

WHILE DRIVNG IN SNOWY/WET CONDITIONS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP/VIBRATES/SHAKE. THEN VEHICLE SLID IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS GOING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE REAR LEFT CALIPER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE SYSTEM OPERATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORAMTION. *AK

VEHICLE IN NUMBER OF TIMES FOR POWER ASSIST GOING OUT WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR WATER. 2/99 ACCELERATION LOST WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC, NO POWER. HAD VEHICLE IN PREVIOUS WEEK BEFORE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS GO OUT EXCEPT FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED BEFORE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

WHEN TURNING BLOWER ON ANY TEMPERATURE IT DOES NOT WORK. *AK

RIGHT/REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE.MGM

WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAY MALFUNCTIONING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW, SPRAYS TOP AND BACK OF VEHICLE. *YC

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLYED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES MORE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. STATES THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PROBLEMS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS LESS THAN 500 MILES OLD. THE CUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THAT TIME AND STILL OCCURS AFTER 17,600 MILES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THE ABS AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING DURING A SNOWY WEATHER. LOSS CONTROL OF CAR AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE DRIVER SEAT MOVES FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKING.

DISCOVERED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD, WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE. WENT TO NEAREST FORD DEALER (NOT SELLING DEALER), AND HAD THEM INSPECT IT. THEIR BODY SHOP CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS CRACKED THROUGH BOTH INNER AND OUTER GLASS LAYERS, AND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY

BODY CONTAINS TINY RUST SPOTS ALL OVER IT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WAXED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASED. ONE SPOT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED DOWN TO THE METAL. LOCATED ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE RIGHT REAR DOOR.VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 3YRS/75000 MILES.

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH, THE WHEEL BROKE AWAY FROM THE SUB FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. ALL SUB FRAME BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

INTERMITTENT ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND THIS CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45 TO 50 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *AK *JB

PARKED VEHICLE AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. WHEN THE OWNER CAME BACK OUTSIDE NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT, HE SMELLED GAS FOR 10 DAYS, AND HE HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT SERVICE STATION TO CHECK OUT VEHICLE. BUT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RECALLS LISTED ON THIS VEHICLE CONCERNING FIRES. *AK

STEERING FAILURE.