1998 Ford Contour complaints

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS SUPPOSEDLY 4 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON THE 1998 CONTOUR. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR ONE MONTH AND MECHANIC CAN NOT TELL CONSUMER WHY IT CONTINUES TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, MECHANIC SAID THAT WHOLE FUEL LINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER/ODMETER AND FUEL GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING. VEHICLE GAVE NO PRIOR WARNINGS, AND SHUTDOWN WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP'S REMEDY FOR FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER ARE FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT MAY HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER INTO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK SOMETIMES, ALL OF THEM DO WORK, BUT MAY FAIL WHILE TRAVELING. *YH

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUING TO WARP. NEEDED REPLACEMENT EVERY 5000-10000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES VEHICLE TO VIRBRATE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT AN IMPACT OF 45-50 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND URGED CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HOW MANY RECALLS MUST THERE BE BEFORE LEMON LAW APPLIES? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED .

FUEL WILL SPILL BACK OUT ONTO THE CONSUMER WHILE PUMPING FUEL, EVEN WITH LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL LEFT, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS REPLACED A VALVE IN FILLER, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. DEALER HAS NOW ORDERED A GAS TANK.

VALVE STICKS SHUT, CAUSING FUEL TO BACKUP AND SPILL WHEN FILLING TANK. WAS REPLACED, NOW REPLACEMENT PART ALSO STICKING.*AK

THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT & COVER FELL DOWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NEVER FITTED PROPERLY. *YH

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERS 5 TIMES, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE CAR FOGS UP UNDER NORMAL FALL, WINTER, SPRING DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEFROSTER AIR CONDITIONER WILL CLEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, BUT NOT SIDE WINDOWS AND THE BACK WINDOW CLEARED BY USING THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER,THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AND REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.*ET

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AT 38000 AND 53000 MILES AND IS SUPPOSED TO LAST AT LEAST 80000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER, WEB SITE ALERTED THE CONSUMER TO OBTAIN REPAIRS. *MJS

VEHICLE CAN NOT RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR (98V-233), PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN THE CONSUMER RELEASES FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS TIME, POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION OF RECALL COMPONENT BEING EXPERIENCED AT THIS TIME. *MJS

THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TRIP ODOMETER AND GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. GENERALLY THEY RESUME WORKING ON THEIR OWN, AT WHICH TIME THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GOES OUT. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 10 APRIL 00. THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HIT THE TOP OF THE DASH SMARTLY, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS, BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPEED AND FUEL IS MOST ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS AS WELL.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED ON FEB 2, 2000 TO SEE IF PARTS WERE IN, AND THEY WERE NOT IN. *AK

60 AMP MEGA FUSE BLEW, THIS CAUSED ANTI LOCK FAILURE, LIGHT AND VENTILATION/HEATER/DEFROSTER FAILURE. NLM

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY; TIRE WAS PUNCTURED.*AK

THE DASHBOARD VENTS THAT SHOULD CLEAR FOG AND FROST FROM THE SIDE WINDOWS DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE HEAT SELECTOR IS SET TO HOT. THUS, IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAR FOG AND FROST FROM THE SIDE WINDOWS IN COOL WEATHER. THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE THEN USELESS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT AFFECTS ALL FORD CONTOURS, AND PROBABLY MERCURY MYSTIQUES.

COIL SPRING ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BROKE. REPLACEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NECESSARY: SHOCK ABSORBER, CB SPRING, D BOOT, BEARING ASSEMNBLY, AA SEAT, MOUNTING ASSY, HALFSHAFT ASSEMBLY, CV JOINT ASSEMBLY, BRAKE SHOES, DISC BRAKE ROTOR, TIRES.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PLACE WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED HAS A SPLIT IN IT. DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT SO THAT IT WILL NOT DEPLOY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

BRAKES FAILED AND MADE NOISE WHILE IN USE. YH

TIMING BELT SLIPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FIVE TIMES ALREADY. WHEN TIMING BELTS SLIPPED VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX AIRBAG MONITOR. *AK

THE BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL REDUCING VALVES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-075. NLM

CONSUMER IS VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE NUMBER (7) OF RECALLS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD INCLUDING A RECENT BRAKE RECALL. NLM

DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACK UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO BROKEN PIVOTS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER FIXED DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER IS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE NUMBER OF RECALLS (6) THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE AND FEELS THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON. NLM

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM, MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. DEALER ADJUSTED LIGHTS 3 TIMES , BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS JUST A DESIGN FLAW AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *AK

ODOR OF ANTI-FREEZE IS VERY STRONG INSIDE CAR AT TIMES; DEALER CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND SAID THERE WERE NONE.........NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. *AK

TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS IN VERY HIGH NORMAL RANGE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; CAR COMES VERY CLOSE TO OVERHEATING. HAVE I MISSED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM? *AK

RECIEVED SEVEN RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, BRAKE RECALL

DEALER HAS NO REPAIR PARTS FOR RECALL #00V075000 CONCERNING REAR BRAKES, THEY MAY LOCKUP. THIS IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK.ET.

ON JANUARY 15, 2000 I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED ON MY 98 FORD CONTOUR AT A TIRE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ON MY CAR WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEY ADVISED THAT I TALK TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THIS CAR. ON JANUARY 19,2000 I TOOK MY CAR INTO SUNSET FORD TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE. AT THAT TIME I INFORMED THEM OF THE CRACKED WHEEL. THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEELS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE AN INVOICE FROM THE DEALER TO VERIFY THEIR POSITION. I LEFT THIS SAME CAR AT A REPAIR SHOP ON 5-1-00. THEY CALLED ME THE FOLLOWING DAY TO INFORM ME THAT 3 OF THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR ARE CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ON 5-3-00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL NOTICES OUT ON THIS CAR FOR DEFECTIVE WHEELS, AND THEREFORE I AM OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THESE WHEELS AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THIS CAR WHICH GOES THROUGH 75,000 MILES AND YET THE DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE REFUSE TO REPLACE THESE WHEELS. I WILL HAVE TO DO SO HOPING TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD MY INSURANCE COMPANY LOOK AT THESE WHEELS, AND THE ADJUSTER CONCLUDED THAT THE CONDITION OF THESE WHEELS MAKE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS, ROB MOLL. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECIEVED YET ANOTHER RECALL AND IS FED UP BECAUSE HE HAD HAD TOO MANY THINGS GO WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. NLM

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAT WENT OFF. THERE WAS RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE SPEED. CONSUMER WAS LOOKING OUT OF REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER APPLIED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND VEERED OVER TO THE SHOULDER LANE, AND SHE WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK ON THE REAR. CAR WAS TOWED. CONSUMER SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES.*AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON WATER PUMP. A WEEK LATER, CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE ON THE WATER PUMP. ALSO, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE. *AK

ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

RECALL # 99V243000 INTERIOR SYSTEMS: PASSIVE RESTRAINT: AIR BAG: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A FRIEND HOUSE, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO BURN FROM THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

FRONT END WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED IT HAS BEEN REALIGNED 3 TIMES 3/28/00 LAST TIME, AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES, IT IS ALREADY SHOWING WEAR, AND ITS ONLY BEEN 1200 SINCE IT WAS REALIGNED. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR 1 FULL YEAR. *AK

DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSES WHILE DRIVING. NLM

WAS AT A SERVICE STATION. THOUGHT THAT THEY HAVEN'T TURNED ON THE PUMP, AND REALIZED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE GAS. FUEL GAUGE WAS READING LIKE IT WAS A FULL TANK. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE *AK

WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT GEAR FROM FIRST TO SECOND, CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SHIFT. HAS TO FOCUS ON THE PAWL, MAKE SURE OF THE RIGHT GEAR, THEN FOCUS ON THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION HANGS UP GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. *AK *ML

WHILE MAKING A STOP VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH. AS A RESULT OF THIS, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK.ET.

WHILE DRIVING DURING RAIN HEAVY WATER GETS UNDER THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING IT TO JERK AND SHIFT HARD. ALSO, LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML

THE DEALERSHIP HAD INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET REAR SPOILER ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS INFORMATION. AFTER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IN THE SPOILER IN LEARNED IT WAS NOT A FACTORY PART. THE DEALERSHIP STATED TO ME THAT IT WAS FACTORY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE PART REPLACED UNTIL I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THREATENED TO SUE THE DEALERSHIP FOR FRAUD. *AK

TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID TIRES WERE OUT OF LINE. THEN, DEALER SAID THE STRUTS WERE BAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH FRONT SPRING COIL BROKE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM CHICAGO ON I55, THE WATER PUMP (WHICH SUPPOSEDLY HAD A RECALL OF WHICH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED) WENT OUT. WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE ONLY INDICATION THAT ANYTHING MIGHT BE WRONG WAS A WHINING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHICH STOPPED AFTER A SHORT INTERVAL. WITHIN AN HOUR, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS DESTROYED. A NEW ENGINE, WATER PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL OF THAT IS STILL BEING DONE, TWO WEEKS LATER. THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK WITHOUT CHARGE, AND HAVE GIVEN ME A RENTAL CAR TO USE IN THE MEANTIME, HOWEVER, WITH A NEW ENGINE, THEY ARE ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME A 9,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE CAR REPAIRED. SINCE THIS WAS NOT MY FAULT, A FAIRLY NEW CAR, AND A LACK OF COMMUNICATION ON THE FORD MANUFACTURER THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT A FULL WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRS IS JUSTIFIED. ADDITIONALY, AT THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE, I HAD FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MY CARE. THE THOUGHT THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIX LAND TRAFFIC PATTERN IN CHICAGO WITHOUT WARNING, WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTROUS ACCIDENT WITH ALL OF US POSSIBLY BEING KILLED. I THINK THAT THE FORD MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. GINGER GRANGER