Page 14 of 17 · complaints 651–700 of 846

1998 Ford Contour complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Oct 28, 1999IL

WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDALVEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL AT THE SAME SPEED FOR 5, 10, OR MAYBE 15 SECONDS BEFORE SLOWNG DOWN. THIS INCREASES THE STOPPING TIME FOR BRAKING. THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 28, 1999NJ

HEADLIGHT'S ARE NOT WORKING, AND THE DOOR LIGHT ABOVE FLOOR LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DON'T WORK. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 27, 1999AL

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V194000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON APPOINTED DATE. MECHANIC REPAIRED HEADLIGHT SWITCH. FAILED TO REPAIR THE THROTTLE CABLE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS & TOO MANY CUSTOMERS. WOULD NEED TO REORDER MORE PARTS & WOULD NOTIFY OWNER, WHO IS STILL WAITING. (99S14 REPAIRED) (99S19 WAITING FOR PARTS). *AK

Equipment › Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 1999TX

RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO DEALER SCHEDULING PROBLEM. (99V-103) MJS

Equipment › Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 1999TX

CONSUMER IS HAVING SCHEDULING PROBLEMS IN RECEIVING RECALL REPAIRS (99V-103) (99V-194). MJS

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Oct 24, 1999IL

THUMP IN FRONT END AFTER COASTING AND THEN RESUMEING SPEED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 24, 1999FL

BUBBLING OF PAINT UNDER CLEARCOAT (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER, PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR)

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Oct 22, 1999CA

THE SWAY BAR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING OVER CERTAIN OBJECTS IN THE ROAD. *YC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 21, 1999FL

WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, IT WOULD MAKE POPPING NOISE. WOULD HAVE LOUD RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE. THE LIGHT FOR ABS BRAKES COMES ON & STAYS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN USE. THE RUBBER TRIMMING AROUND THE WINDOWS HAD CAME OFF. THE DIMMER & THE DOME LIGHT WOULD CUT OFF & THEN ON. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Oct 20, 1999CA

TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE RED AREA. WHEN CAR OVERHEATS IT LOSES POWER. SINCE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE CAR SHE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND RECALL NOTICES. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Oct 20, 1999NC

DROVE THROUGH PUDDLE, LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 15, 1999KY

ON 7/25/99, THE CAR ACCELERATED MYSTERIOSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. LATER, NOTIFICATION OF THROTTLE CABLE RECALL WAS RECIEVED. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED PROBLEM WITH OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE OVER $5,000 TO THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO LOCK.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Oct 14, 1999TX

ENGINE BELT THAT DEALER PUT ON MADE THE CAR HAVE A WHISTLING SOUND. THEN BELT POPPED AND SHREDDED LIKE RIBBON.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Oct 14, 1999TX

ENGINE BELT THAT DEALER PUT ON MADE A WHISTLUNG SOUND. THEN, BELT POPPED AND SHREDDED LIKE RIBBON. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Oct 14, 1999TX

ENGINE BELT THAT DEALER PUT ON MADE A WHISTLING SOUND. THEN BELT POPPED/SHREDDED LIKE RIBBON. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Oct 14, 1999NM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 1999NC

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CAR JERKS AND VIBRATES.*AK

Tires
Filed Oct 7, 1999NC

TWO FRONT TIRES WHERE PUT ON AT 27000 MILES AND THEY WORE OUT. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 7, 1999KY

REPORTING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMSSION; WHENEVER SHIFT INDICATOR IS ENGAGED IN ANY OTHER GEAR, CONSUMER CAN HEAR A CRUNCHING /CLICKING SOUND. DEALER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER ON NORMAL WEAR AT THIS MILAGES AT 51,000 .*AK

Air Bags
Filed Oct 7, 1999CD

HAD STARTED UP VEHICLE & THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. IT WOULD CONTINUE TO FLASH ON/OFF UNTIL VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. PROBLEM & NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Oct 7, 1999KS

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF AIRBAG FAILURE BUT IT'S TAKING THE DEALERSHIP ALOT OF TIME TO FIND AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 5, 1999NY

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, IT WAS HARD AS IF SOMETHING WAS KEEPING IT FROM BEING PUSHED. BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. CONSUMER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HEAD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Sep 30, 1999CA

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, HAD TO UNTWIST BELT TO USE IT. ALSO, REAR WINDOW FELL OUT, NOTHING HAD HIT IT/IGNITION KEY SWITCH WOULD RATTLE WHEN INSERTING KEY & TAKING IT OUT, AND SUN ROOF LOCK WAS NOT WORKING. SUNROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED . TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK PROBLEMS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 30, 1999NY

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH WITHOU PRIOR WARNING TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT AND THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 30, 1999DC

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING AND CLUCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 30, 1999UN

TRANSMISSION FAILED, ROLLED WHEN IN PARK POSITION. MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 30, 1999MO

ENIGINE MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL ON THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING DIFFICULTIES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OWNER REPLACED THE MOUNT RESTING ON THE STEERING SHAFT AT THEIR EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR AT THEIR COST. *AK *YC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 29, 1999MO

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT STAYS ON. ALSO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER SAYS SOMETHING IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery1 injured
Filed Sep 29, 1999FL

FUEL FILLER OPENING DOES NOT PROVIDE VENT WHEN ADDING GASOLINE. NOZZLE SHUTS OFF REPEATEDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADD GAS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INVESTIGATE, FINGER BECAME LODGED IN FUEL FILLER OPENING FLAP (IT HAS A SMALL OPENING NEAR THE BASE, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PIPE), FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL NEEDED TO CUT OUT FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE TO EXTRACT MY FINGER.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Sep 28, 1999OH

DUE TO THE "FLAP IN THE FUEL NOZZLE WHICH GETS STUCK AND CAUSES THE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK FORD STATED THAT IT IS A SERVICE BULLETIN NOT A RECALL, ONLY TO BE REPLACED UNDETR WARRANTY. JN

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Sep 28, 1999VA

CONSUMER HAVING TROUBLE WITH DEALERSHIP OBTAINING RECALL REPAIR (99V-103). MJS

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Sep 26, 1999MO

LEFT OUTER TIE ROD FAILED. MJS

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 24, 1999TX

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH ,ON THE FRONT END. DEALER HAS SEEN FOUR TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. MJS

Electrical System
Filed Sep 23, 1999AZ

THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE HORN, BRINKER'S AND BRAKE LIGHT'S NOT TO WORK. ALSO, ALL THE RUBBER HAS FALLEN OFF THE DOOR PANEL, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T RETRACT. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 23, 1999TN

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH SOMETIMES DO NOT FUNCTION. DEALER HAS SEE VEHICLE. *AK.

Vehicle Speed Control1 injured
Filed Sep 23, 1999TN

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IT WAS IN PARK, HITTING A BURGER KING RESULTING IN INJURY. *YC

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Sep 22, 1999IN

WHILE SEATING IN DRIVER SEAT THE BACK SUPPORT CALLAPSED, CONSUMER FELL BACKWARDS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Sep 21, 1999NV

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GRIND, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Sep 21, 1999GA

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH IN WET CONDITIONS CONSUMER HIT A DITCH AND CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS BURNING AROUND THE SUBFRAME.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 21, 1999LA

PROBLEMS WITH RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE SHIFT IGNITION (99S19) 99V-194. MJS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Sep 20, 1999CA

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 1999CA

THE CAR HESITATES AND JUMPS IN AND OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. WHEN THE OVERDRIVE IS OFF THE CAR DOESN'T DO IT. I'VE HAD IT TO AUTONATION THREE TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THANK YOU PETER STOA

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Sep 17, 1999IL

ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM DASH AREA. WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN ABANDONED CAR. CAR WAS SERVICED AT DEALER IN GEORGIA. TWO DAYS AFTER FIRST REPAIR SAME ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE. WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN ABONDONED CAR FOR A SECOND TIME. WIFE IS CONCERNED OVER CHILDRENS SAFETY. TAKEN TO SECOND DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER OBSERVED PROBLEM WHILE HE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASH. DEALER QUICKLY OPENED GLOVE BOX. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE THE SECOND TIME. PROBLEM WAS WITH WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR FORD HAS INFORMED ME OF ROOT CAUSE. AM CONCERNED PROBLEM CAN AGAIN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA. DESIRE TO KNOW ROOT CAUSE, AND FIX TO ASSURE SAFETY OF FAMILY.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 16, 1999MS

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL NOT CUT OFF WHICH IN THE EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT WOULD CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Sep 15, 1999IL

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VIBRATION. *YC

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 14, 1999PA

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX 30MPH SMELLED A BURNING ODOR.PULLED VEHICLE OVER. THE WIRE TO THE SPEED CONTROL BURNED OFF, CAUSING SMOKE TO FILL IN THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 14, 1999IL

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. ALSO, FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages
Filed Sep 9, 1999NJ

CONSUMER WAS SENT NHTSA RECALL 99V194000/MFR RECALL99S19, THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER, BUT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILALBE. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 8, 1999IL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. AT APPROX. 50 OR MORE MPH WHEN VEHICLE GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL BEFORE STOPPING; ALSO CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THAT TIME. DEALER NOTIFED. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 8, 1999CA

FUEL SYSTEM. AIR CONDITION VALVE.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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