1998 Ford Contour complaints

ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET BOLT BROKE. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MOVE. *AK

GEARS ARE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, AND THERE IS A DELAY WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT.*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD A RECALL ON ENGINE OVERHEATING, AND DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL.*AK THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, THEN NEW MOTOR DUE TO OVERHEATING, 2 MONTHS LAER THERE WAS AN INTERNAL REPAIR COMPLETE, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED AGAIN, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TOTAL REFUND AND TO TURN IN VEHICLE, ALL PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. *SLC

DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES BROKEN SPRING HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON BOTH SURFACES OF BREAK.*JB

FIRST DAY CAR WAS BOUGHT ENGINE DIED, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY GAVE CONSUMER ANOTHER CONTOUR. CURRENTLY, VEHCILE WILL SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, AND ENGINE WAS ACTING UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IT JERKS AND VIBRATES, CONSUMER DOES NOT THINK THAT DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION LIKE THEY SAID. 1 TIME FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. FRONT SWAY BAR REPLACED, STEERING WOULD SHIMMY AND RATTLE. BLOWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED, DUE TO RATTLING NOISE IN AIR CONDITIONER, ALSO CYCLING SWITCH REPLACED DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER NOT COOLING. LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED, BELT WOULD NOT BUCKLE. STARTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER FOUND LOOSE CONNECTION AT ACT. REAR STRUTS REPLACED, NOISY. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM I SMELLED SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, THE BLOWER MOTOR STOP RUNNING. I PLAYED WITH THE SWITCH AND ONLY HIGH WORKED. I TURNED THE FAN OFF. THIS FORCED ME TO DRIVE WITH THE CHOICE OF A POTENTIAL FIRE OR SEEING OUT OF THE WINSHIELD. THE NEXT DAY I PURCHASED A NEW BLOWER MOTOR RELAY FROM A FORD DEALER. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE IT I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR TO THE RESISTOR WAS MELTED TO THE RESISTOR, THERE WERE BARE WIRES ON THE HARNESS SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER AND PURCHASED A NEW CONNECTOR. WHAT A SURPRISE TO FIND THAT THEY HAD A CONNECTOR IN STOCK. THIS MADE ME THINK THAT THIS MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT WILL KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND STARTING A REAL FIRE .*AK

MY CAR FREQUENTLY SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HARDLY EVER DRIVE IT. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT POSSIBLE FIRES IN CONTOUR MODELS. I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SITUATION.*AK

WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK, NOZZLE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. DEALER FOUND PROBLEM WITH FUEL FILLER PIPE. FLAPPER VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

"MOD PUMP" FOR ABS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. NO REASON GIVEN FOR POSSIBLE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK PRIOR TO BREAKING OF THE PUMP, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *YH

WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS ARE SAME SYMPTOMS AS MENTIONED IN INVESTIGATION # EA01001. HAS REPLACED WIRING HARNESS 8 TIMES. *AK

SINCE JUNE OF 2000 VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS INTERNAL THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. IN FEBRUARY, WHOLE ENGINE WENT OUT.*AK

ENGINE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH HAS CAUSED WIRE HARNESS TO BURN. FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLE. HOWEVER,VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED MILEAGE.*AK

BLOWER STARTED FUNCTIONING SPORADICALLY. TOOK TO A DEALER AND THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A RESISTOR FAILURE IN BLOWER. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT PROMPTLY FELL TO THE FLOOR, THE CONSUMER NOTICED PARTS ON THE FLOORBOARD. NLM

WHEN SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN REVERSE VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR ITSELF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WATER PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED FLAT TIRE. CALLED TOW TRUCK WHO FOUND FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WENT THROUGH THE TIRE. *AK CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. HE PARKED AND VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FIRE.*AK

SPRING FAILED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR PASSENGER. NO OFF ROAD OR GRAVEL ROAD USAGE OF CAR.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A ROARING NOISE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE COMING FROM THE REAR HUBS, THE REAR RIMS WERE ALSO WARPED. NLM

FOG LAMPS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE RECALL. DEALER HAS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON PROMISES. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND WARRANTY. NLM

WAS DRIVING WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO CONTACT VISIBILITY WITH ROAD. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED SOMEONE WILL GET IN TOUCH. *AK

AFTER NOTICING A WHINING SOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN SECOND GEAR AND AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ON 10/10/98, ON 8/3/2000 THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF SUDDEN AND VIOLENT SLIPPING, ON 8/28/00 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE OXYGEN SENSOR HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, SENSOR RECONNECTED/REPLACED. CJ

HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES SUDDENLY/ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND FUSE BETWEEN BLOWER AND HEATER POPPED OUT. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED SUDDENLY. WOULD HAVE NO CODES. WOULD PUT 80 AMPS FUSE IN & SAME THING HAPPENED. HEATER MOTOR WOLD STILL BE RUNNING & ABS LIGHT ON. FRONT END BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. BACK BRAKES DID NOT WORK. *AK

WHEN FILLING GAS TANK WITH FUEL FUEL WOULD SPIT BACK OUT. DOOR CHIME FAILS TO WORK WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION. HEATING SYSTEM WOULD GO OFF, AND THEN ON WHENEVER HEAT IS ON.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHOR SYSTEM IS RUSTING OUT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED .*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP OR TO SLOW DOWN, BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE AS BEFORE AND PULL TO SIDE.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED WHEELS BUT THE VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE ALSO. *YH

CONSUMER STATES A NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEELS WERE REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER, WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VERY BAD. VEHICLE HAS BAD BRAKES. *SLC

IGNITION POWER MODULE SHORTED OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75MPH THE ENGINE WATER PUMP GOES OUT. ONLY THING HEARD OR SEEN WAS A ENGINE KNOCK. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AFTER 9,000 MILES AND AFTER REPLACING LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHEN APPYLING ABS BRAKES SYSTEM FAILED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION WITHIN BLOWER SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS. *AK WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED THE LIGHTS AND THE BLOWER MOTOR WORKED NORMAL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT WATER INTRUSION CAUSED WIRE DAMAGE REQUIRING COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO SKIP THE REPAIR DUE TO A VERY HIGH COST OF REPAIR. *YH

CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, AND 60% BRAKING POWER WAS LEFT ON REAR. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT 26,212 MILES, AND AT ANOTHER 25,00 MILES THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED AGAIN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25-30 MPH IMPACT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

A/C HEATER BLOWER CONSTANTLY BLOWING ON AND OFF. WIRE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF BURNING. WHEN WIRE IS JIGGLED IT MAY OR MAY NOT TURN THE BLOWER BACK ON. EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE OUTAGE BEGINING 12/12/00 AND STILL WILL NOT COME ON RESULTING IN NO HEAT OR A/C IN MY CAR. *AK

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN STOPS DRIVER SEAT SLIDES FORWARD. IT ALSO MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGED CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT FRONT SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN. *AK

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED FRONT TIRE, CAR LEFT ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

ABS DID NOT WORK IN SNOW. DEALER SAID WIRE HARNESS HAD MOISTURE IN IT. HAVE TO REPLACE HARNESS. COST: $3000+*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE HESTITATED. THROTTLE WOULD ROAR UP HIGH. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. BOTH DEALERSHIPS WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULDN'T START. IGNITION SWITCH DAMAGED KEY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL VEHICLE AT ALL, I TOOK VEHICLE TO NOURSE FAMILY FORD OF DELAWARE, OH, FOR REPAIRS, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL NECK TO TANK. *AK

UNABLE TO FILL GAS TANK WITHOUT GAS OVERFLOW, OR GAS FEEDBACK, SHUTTING OFF FUEL NOZZLE. ATTEMPTED TO TURN FUEL NOZZLE, IN EVERY POSITION TO NO AVAIL. CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL, JUST A SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FRUST. *AK

HEATER OPERATES INTERMITTENT, VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWS WIRE CONNECTOR AND RESISTOR PACK MELTED. FORD REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT APPEAR TO WANT TO GET INVOLVED. I NOW FIND SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR, AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, SINCE MY WIFE HAS THE GRANDCHILDREN WITH HER AN INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCURRED. THE AGGREVATION COMES FROM FORD AND THE DEALERS WITH THE "SO WHAT ATTITUDE" ABOUT MY HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THEN SEE THE WARRANTY COMPANY ABOUT GETTING PAID, AND THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM, SAFETY BULLETIN RECALLS 99M07 AND 99M08. I HAVE TO FIND THIS OUT MYSELF? LOOKING THROUGH THE DATA, SEEMS FORD HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND ARE NOT FIXING IT, MORE THAN ONE REPORT OF DASHBOARD FIRES, CARS BLOWING UP WHEN STARTING, ETC. *AK

WHEN THE ABS FAILED, THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. LUCKILY, I WAS GOING SLOWLY ON A LOCAL CITY STREET, AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON NO MORE THAN 15 SECONDS BEFORE I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO PREVENT HITTING A CAR THAT PULLED OUT AHEAD OF ME. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, I SLOWED THE CAR SLOWLY WITH THE STANDARD BRAKES, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE OTHER CAR PULLED OUT. IT TOOK 3 WEEKS FOR THE BRAKES TO BE REPAIRED, AT A COST OF $2399, NOT INCLUDING COST OF RENTAL CARS, ETC. FORD HAS DECLINED ANY REIMBURSMENT, AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36, 000 MILES. *AK

PROBLEMS OCCASIONALLY WITH DIFFICULITY FUELING--SPEWBACK OF GAS AND PREMATURE CUT OFF OF PUMP . ON OCCASION IT HAS TAKEN ME 20 MINUTES TO FILL THE GAS TANK BECAUSE THE CAR WILL ONLY ACCEPT A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS AT A TIME. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER EMITS BAD SMELL WHEN RUNNING. ALSO WHEN HEATER IS RUNNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 8 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. DEALER STATED CONTOURS HAVE THAT PROBLEM. *AK *SLC