1998 Ford Contour complaints

AFTER GOING THROUGH TWO FUEL PUMPS, FIRST PUMP WENT AT 32000 MILES AND THE SECOND AROUND 62000, I HAVE HAD EXTREME PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP. NOW, MY CAR DOESN'T START ON ITS OWN VERY OFTEN. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACKSEAT IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. I HAVE, ON OCCASION, HAD THE ENGINE DIE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. ONCE THE FUEL PUMP WAS WIGGLED, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND I WAS ON MY WAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A WELL TRUSTED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT FORD DOESN'T HAVE ANY PARTS TO FIX THE VERY LOOSE PIPE THAT RUNS INTO THE FUEL PUMP. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FEEL THAT MY CAR MAY STALL AND CAUSE MYSELF AND OTHERS GREAT DANGER. PLEASE HELP.*AK

I OWN A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLAMPS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP HOLD MOISTURE INSIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. NOT ONLY THIS BUT BOTH HEADLAMPS GO OUT OF AIM EVERY SO OFTEN. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM I CAN'T SEE TEN FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON SO I CAN SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS CAUSED FOUR NEAR MISSES. TWO WITH DEERS, ONE WITH A MAIL BOX, AND ON WITH ANOTHER CAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THE MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAS ANYTHING TO DO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES. WHEN I HAD THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED FOR THE THIRD TIME I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE MOISTURE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS.

CAR SPUTTERING AND STALLING. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAVE HAD IT "RESET" TO TURN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT OFF ONLY FOR IT TO COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *AK

FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK BECAUSE THE NECK WARPED. FORD MOTOR CO. SAYS IT WILL NOT COMPENSATE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT AIR BAG PROBLEMS. STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.MANUFACTURER OR DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED.*AK

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING A TIRE THAT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD, WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. A RECALL HAD BEEN DONE ON VEHICLE JUST OVER A YEAR AGO TO PREVENT THIS. APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T WORK. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. ESPECIALLY, HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AS 50% OF MY DRIVING IS. I OFTEN HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME AND IT IS QUITE FRIGHTENING TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *JB

ON 5/3/2002 THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 01I013000 REPAIRS DONE ON FRONT COIL SPRINGS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6/7/2003 BECAUSE THE FRONT COIL PUNCTURED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WHICH CAUSED IT TO FLATTEN. *AK

1998 FORD CONTOUR SE 4CYL VIN [XXX] - 4SPEED TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MADE SUDDEN, ERRATIC, JERKY SHIFTS ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND LOSING CONTROL AND LEAVING THE ROAD AND FINALLY STOPPING IN A FIELD. I HAD TO TOW HER OUT. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD, BUT DOES HAS REVERSE. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE NET HAS REVEALED OTHER FORD/MAZDA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I AM SURPRISED THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SHREDS TIMING CHAIN BELTS EVERY 40-100 MILES, 8 REPLACEMENTS IN 3 MONTHS. PULLEYS, TENSIONER AND BELT ALL REPLACED REPEATEDLY BY FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY IT'S NORMAL. *NLM

NO DASH LIGHTS, BACK-UP, OR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DASH LIGHTS WERE FIXED $200.PLUS. BUT NO CLOCK LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT OR BACK-UP LIGHTS. ALL FUSES WHERE CHECKED AND OK.*AK

HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRING. *TT

TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK 4 TIMES SINCE THEN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT. *NLM

WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE T-BONE THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM

RE: YOUR #00V350000 I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH ME FORD CONTOUR FOR 2 YEARS FORD REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THEY ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM UP TO 100,000 MILES. IT TAKES ME UP TO 25 MINUTES TO FILL MY GAS TANK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ONE GAS STATION ATTENDANT ASK ME NOT TO FUEL AT HIS STATION UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX. $300.00 PLUS. IT IS A FAULTY PART WHY IS IT NOT FIXED? *NLM

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JERKS WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIME VERY VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. VIBRATES OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS (30 MPH), AS THOUGH IT'S IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR FOR THE TERRAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN GOES OFF FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE COMING BACK ON AGAIN. I'VE GOTTEN TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR, BOTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2,500 FOR A REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION OR INSTALLATION OF A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE COOLANT SENSOR AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED AS A RESULT OF REGULARLY OCCURRING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *NLM

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPED AND WAS REPAIRED. MR SCC

CAR IS 5.5 YEARS OLD, AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACING. THE TANK WAS LITERALLY FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS, LEADING TO GAS LEAKING FROM THE GAR AND GASOLINE FUMES THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. IN ADDITION, NO REPLACEMENT PART WAS AVAILABLE DUE TO A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE. *JB

THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 99V-234. THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE THE AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT PER THE RECALL NOTICE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER TO THE CONSUMER. PH *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB

THE HEATER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE COIL SPRINGS. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR 4-DOOR SEDAN RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A DEVASTATING FAILURE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED, A SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DASH FELL DOWN ON HER FEET. THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE WITH TWO BOLTS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ALLOWED TO DISCONNECT, PERMITTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOSS CONTROL, AND BECAUSE THE FRAME FELL ON HER FEET, SHE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE. NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE! I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE DEALER AND FORD APOLOGIZED BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

THE VEHICLE HUB BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB

MY COMPLIANT IS THAT I WAS BACKING MY CAR UP AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP SPECIFICALLY THE RIGHT FRONT. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. YOU COULD SMELL BURNING AND SEE SMOKE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE CAR WE FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER PISTON WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE CALIPER, AFTER THE MECHANIC REASSEMBLED THE CAR, HE FOUND OUT THE RIGHT CALIPER WOULD NOT BLEED OUT, AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING THE CONCLUSION WAS REACHED NO FLUID WOULD COME OUT OF THE PORT ON THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT TO THAT WHEEL. REPLACEMENT OF THE HCU AND MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS NECESSARY. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANICS ON 2-06-2003 AND WAS FINALLY FINISHED ON 2-20-2003. THE DELAY IN GETTING THE CAR FINISHED WAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE CONTOUR SVT MODEL 1998, CHANGES IN THE BRAKE PARTS HAD BEEN MADE AND WERE NOT EASY TO OBTAIN. THE FORD DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE JOB THEY HAD TO BE ORDERED. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE PULLED OFF THE CAR. ALSO LETTER FROM MY MECHANIC. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD.*JB

THE HEATER WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*JB

THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO GET STEERING BACK TO THE CENTER. *JB

THE HEATER WENT OUT IN OUR CAR, SO WE DECIDED TO FIX IT AT HOME. AFTER TAKING OUT THE BAD PART, WE DISCOVERED IT WAS MELTED. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE WEB TO SEE IF YET ANOTHER RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. INDEED IT HAD. WE DON'T REMEMBER BEING NOTIFIED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR. THEY FIXED IT. ONE MONTH LATER, OUR HEATER BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT. WE BELIEVE THIS IS IN DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR THAT WAS MELTED. WE ENDED UP PAYING OUT OF POCKET TO GET A NEW HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, BUT NOT AFTER TRYING TO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICES. WHEN WE CONTACTED THEM, WE COULD NOT TALK TO A MANAGER ( THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL US BACK WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT FOR THEM). THEY CALLED BACK THREE TIMES. ALL THREE TIMES WE WERE OUT, WHEN WE CALLED THEM BACK WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO BE CALLED BACK AT FORDS CONVENIENCE. AFTER THE THIRD TIME THEY CALLED AND WE WEREN'T HOME, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH OUR COMPLAINT ANYMORE. WHILE WE WERE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP OUR CAR, WE INSISTED SOMEONE FROM FORD TALK TO US. THEY LIED AND SAID OUR COMPLAINT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL AND THEY KNOW THIS BECAUSE THEY TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. WE KNOW THEY LIED BECAUSE HE WAS OUT ALL DAY, AND WE ASKED HIM IF HE TALKED TO FORD AND HE SAID NO. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID FINALLY SAY THAT THE PART THAT WAS MELTED DID CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE DEMISE OF THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, BUT THAT FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. HE SAID OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.*JB. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

THE FRONT SPRINGS BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER TIRE TO BLOW OUT.*JB *TS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPEED AND ACCELERATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *NLM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BEING INOPERABLE (CONNECTOR WAS BURNED CAUSING NO FUNCTION TO THE TAIL LIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE OCTOBER 2002. DEALER STATES PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T DO THE RECALL FOR THE HEATER BLOWER PROPERLY, AND AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE HEATER BLOWER WAS INOPERVATIVE. TS

CONSUMER STATES TIMING BELT FAILURE IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATES OR MAY NOT START INTERMITTENLY DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

VEHICLE OPERATOR NOTICED ODOR OF NATURAL GAS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO FRAMINGHAM FORD VIA FLAT BED DETERMINATION FUEL TANK LEAKING. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY, EXPIRES MAY 2003. FORD DENIES COVERAGE. THIS CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD.----- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----------------769739. *AK

CONSUMER STATED FULE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK AREA. MR THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW FILL TUBE AND SEAL AND PLACED A NEW GASKET ON THE EXHAUST.*JB

CONSUMER STATES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORM ON THE VEHICLE. RECALL#01F104000 FUEL PIPE. COTTAM WALKER FORD 505-751-3200 PLEASE PROVIDE THE ADDRESS TS

FORD OPERATION #991308A FORD IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CYCLE VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING (VCT) SOLENOID WHICH ACCORDING TO A PRINT OUT IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY COVERAGE OF 80,000MILES AND 8 YEARS. HOWEVER, WHEN CALLING THE DEALER ONTHE PROBLEM - THEY PLAY STUPID AND QUOTE A PRICING IN THE THOUSANDS. WHAT GIVES??? MY INFORMATION COMES DIRECTLY FROM FORD TO THE MITCHELL INFORMATION COMPANY., LLC. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR - HE SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HE IS SEEING TOO FREQUENTLY ON THE CONTOUR, ESPECIALLY THE 98. IS THIS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FORD DISCONTINUED TO PRODUCE THIS CAR? SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL, SINCE THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IN THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING? DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER NOTIFIED, OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. MR *NLM

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP 4 TIMES ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR. DEC. 28, 2001 - 1ST INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THE RADIATOR HAD ZERO WATER IN IT. MARCH 26, 2002 - 2ND INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. MAY 24, 2002 - 3RD INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. OCTOBER 24, 2002 - 4TH INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO HAVE A BELT ON THE PUMP REPLACED. I CALLED NORMA AT THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER (1-800-392-3673) AND SHE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT FORD CAN DO SINCE THE PARTS WARRANTY (12 MONTH/12,000 MILES) IS OVER THE MILEAGE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A WATER PUMP AND IF THERE ARE FUTURE FAILURES UNDER THE WARRANTY ONCE I'VE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS IT WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I INFORMED NORMA THAT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMP FAILURE/DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS GRACIOUSLY PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR ALL 4 REPLACEMENTS AND HAS GIVEN ME A DISCOUNT ON LABOR FOR THIS 4TH REPLACEMENT. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS ON EVEN AFTER BEING "SERVICED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. DT

BLOWER NOT WORKING ALREADY REPLACED WITH RECALL OUT AGAIN. AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRED AND REPLACED TWICE GOING OUT AGAIN. MAKING SOUNDS LIKE BEFORE LIKE BEARINGS GOING OUT. MR

REPLACED TIMING BELT AND IDLER PULLEY 3 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE GEARS ARE SOUNDING LIKE THEY ARE GOING OUT AGAIN. MR

I ACCELERATED LEAVING A STOP LIGHT AND THE DRIVER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. UPON FURTHER REVIEW A METAL BRACKET SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF. I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET AND IT APEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. HOWEVER, FORD SEEMS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ITAND THE PART IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. MR

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. *MR