1999 Ford Contour complaints

1. DASH WARP CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, DEFROSTER MALFUNCTION, LOOSE TRIM 2. WITH THE DASH WARP THE VENT TRIM IS CONTINUALLY POPPING OUT . THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT BUT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT I DON'T WANT THE VENT TRIM POPPING OUT AND PREVENTING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR CAUSING ANY FURTHER HARM TO ME OR MY FAMILY. THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED INCIDENTS OF DEFROSTER CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE VENT TRIM NOT PROPERLY DISPERSING AIR. THE VENT TRIM WAS PLACED LOOSELY ONTO THE DASH SO THE DEFROSTER WOULD STILL BE USABLE, BUT THE WARPED DASH PREVENTS IT FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED. A NEW VENT TRIM WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN OLD RECALL WHICH INCLUDED A 'REPAIR KIT', BUT IT HAS EXPIRED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RECALL RE-INSTATED. *NM

I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. A FEW YEARS AGO THE TOP OF THE DASH WARPED, CAME UP REALLY HIGH. IT WAS AN UNSIGHTLY MESS, NOISY, AND IT ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD WORK CORRECTLY. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY FORD. HOWEVER WITH TIME, THE REPAIR JOB MAKES SOME NOISES AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S HOLDING AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS DONE. FORD HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND BELIEVE FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS DASHBOARD PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN GEAR. A POP NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND IT WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS PROCESSED.*AK UPDATED 12/11/06. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD CONTOUR WENT OUT AFTER JUST 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE IT WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD ENDED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER CONTOURS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD DID NOT RECALL AND I PAID 3000 DOLLARS FOR FORD TO REPLACE IT. ALONG WITH THE STARTER. ALSO THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR IS AN INTERNATIONAL BATTERY WHICH IS FOR BMW'S AND "INTERNATIONAL" VEHICLES. FORD IS AMERICAN YET MADE A CAR THAT NEEDED AN INTERNATIONAL BATTERY. SO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SEARS HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID AND RECOMMENDS I NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY MORE. WHILE THAT HAPPENED THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON IT. THIS CAR IS JUNK AND FORD KNOWS IT!! YET THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT!!! *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER AND AFTER A WHILE IT RESPONDED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND FLYWHEEL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING TWO CONTINENTAL TIRES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND VIBRATED SO BADLY THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BELTS FRAYED AND ONE TIRE HAD A BROKEN BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY ALIGNED AFTER PURCHASING THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTAL, SIZE 205/6015. CONTINENTAL ASKED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE TIRES TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THE CONTACT SEND THE TIRES TO THEM. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM

INSTRUMENT PANEL PADDING PULLING LOOSE AND CURLING AT WINDSHIELD. ALSO DEFROSTER GRILLE POPPED OFF. INTERFERES WITH DEFROST AIR FLOW. PADDING GLUED AND STAPLED AND OLD DEFROSTER GRILL ATTACHED WITH SCREWS. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED TO HAVE WORKING ROOM. REPAIR WAS MADE BY AN AUTO TRIM SHOP WITH A COST OF $400.00 *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE INTERFERING WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO EXPRESSED THAT THE INCIDENT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE VEHICLE.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH BLUE SMOKE ISSUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLING SOUND EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MOTOR THEN BOGGED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE DEALER'S MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. ON 7/13/06, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME EVENTS AND STALLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD DRIED OUT, ALLOWING THE DASHBOARD TO CURL UP BY FIVE INCHES. THE CURL IN THE DASHBOARD PARTIALLY OBSCURED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.*AK

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD IN AUGUST 2001 THAT STATED THE FOLLOWING "THE COVER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS WARPED....AT NO COST TO YOU, YOUR DEALERSHIP WILL EVALUATE THIS CONDITION AND REPAIR AS REQUIRED. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2002, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE." THE DEALERSHIP EVALUATED MY CAR IN LATE 2001 AND STATED THAT A REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY. HOWEVER, BY THE SUMMER OF 2004, THE WARPING HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT THE DEFROSTER GRILL BEZEL CAN NO LONGER BE RETAINED BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ENGINEERS AT MY COMPANY (WHICH MAKE INSTRUMENT PANELS) STATED THAT THE WARPING CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. FORD NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR COST. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE AS MY VEHICLE WAS STORED IN THE GARAGE AND THEREFORE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE CUMULATIVE THERMAL ENERGY REQUIRED TO WARP THE PART PRIOR TO FORD'S REPLACEMENT PROGRAM EXPIRING. *NM

STARTER ENGAGED WITH NO KEYS IN IGNITION WIRE HARNESS MELT DOWN FROM BATTERY. STARTER STARTED TO SMOKE. MECHANIC ME INFORMED THAT CONTOUR HAS A RECALL BUT DEALER(FORD) HAS NOT THIS CAR. *JB

THERE IS NO INCIDENTS TO REPORT. HOWEVER THE DASH ON THIS VEHICLE IS WARPED. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM ON FORD CONTOURS AND MERCURY MSYTIQUE'S THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1999. THE WARPAGE REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND PREVENTS THE DEFOGGER FROM OPERATING PROPERLY. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. *TS TO DATE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES. *NM

MY CAR SPORADIC STALLED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE WAS FAULTY WIRING THAT SHORTED OUT AND IN TURN DESTROYED THE CARS COMPUTER. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE SO DEALER WAS USING PARTS FROM DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL PARTS FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *JB

DASH WARPAGE ON 1999 FORD CONTOUR: DASH HAS WARPED AT LEAST 3 INCHES. DEFROSTER VENT CAN NO LONGER FIT INTO DASH CAUSING DEFROSTING ISSUES FOR DRIVER. WARPAGE IS VERY NEAR FRONT PASSENGER DASH AIRBAG. FORD AND THE DEALER RESPOND THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR DASH WARPAGE. I HAVE FOUND A NOTATION FOR A RECALL 01B78 DASH WARPAGE ON A SERVICE INVOICE FROM SEPT. 2001. DEALER RAN CHECKED RECALL AND FOUND NO WARPAGE AT THIS TIME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARDCURLED UP INTERFERING WITH THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEE BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED ON 06/20/2006. *AK

THE FRONT DASH WILL WARP, PREVENTING PROPER AIR FLOW FOR THE DEFROSTER TO WORK ON THE FRONT WINDOWS, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. ALSO, AS THE DASH WARPS UPWARDS, THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER GREATLY DIMINISHES, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH THE CONTOUR, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT, WHICH SEEMS STRANGE BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY VALID SAFETY CONCERN PRESENT. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED A ONE TIME REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH, WHICH DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IF DASH KEEPS WARPING. *NM

DASH BOARD ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR'S IS CURLING UP SO BAD, DEFROST AIR ACROSS THE WIND SHIELD IS BLOCKED NOT CLEARING FOG/FROST ON WIND SHIELD CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO THE BLOWER FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH SPEED. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER VOLLMAN FORD OF PORTLAND, MI. WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SPENT OVER A $ 1000.00 EXTRA DOLLARS FOR A THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN ESP, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY AND FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE ITEMS. THAT IS STRANGE BECAUSE I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS SITES FROM CONTOUR OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

1999 VEHICLE, IN A 6 YEAR PERIOD, THE DASH WARPED AND CAME UNGLUED. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY UNATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE, A NON WORKING DEFROSTER, AND A DASH THAT DOESN'T FIT PROPERLY. I HAD TO BUY A $80.00 KIT AND PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASH FROM THE CAR TO INSTALL A REPAIR KIT THAT FORD NO LONGER WARRANTS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. FORD CHARGES 2 HOURS LABOR AT $85.00/HOUR, PLUS THE $100.00 KIT. IT TOOK ME OVER 4 HOURS TO DO THE INSTALL, AND IT STILL DOES NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE DASH. *NM

1-GRADUAL WARPING OF THE DASH STARTING FROM THE EDGE CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD 2-IT IS STARTING TO SEVERELY INHIBIT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFROSTER AND WILL INHIBIT THE LINE OF SIGHT OUT THE WINDSHIELD IF IT CONTINUES TO WARP 3-THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED. *JB

ALTERNATOR DIED AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *NM

I HAVE OBSERVED AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR WHERE THE ABS COMES ON WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 15 MPH). I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FAILED TO CAUSE THIS CONDITION AND OFFERED TO BRING THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DECLINED TO HAVE ME DO SO. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES LAGGED ON REACTION TIME IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.*AK

RECALL 00V350000: FUEL GROMMET LEAKAGE IS FOR BI-FUEL CARS (CONTOURS) AND MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT A BI-FUEL VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS HAVE MY VEHICLE WORKED ON I ASKED TO CHECK THE FUEL BECAUSE AS I STORE MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WINTER I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL AND I CONTACTED 2 FORD DEALERS AND FORD ITSELF AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL. THE IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS IT IS THE SAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. *JB

1999 FORD CONTOUR LEFT HUB BEARING WAS LOOSE. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

THE DASHBOARD VINYL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE DASH AND CURLED UP WHICH AFFECTS VISIBILITY AS WELL AS REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFROSTER. *JB

DASHBOARD CURLS UP AND IMPAIRS VISION OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. CAN'T USE DEFROSTER UP FRONT OR ELSE THE DASH CURLS UP EVEN MORE. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR CONTOUR OWNERS AND SHOULD BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *NM

THE DASH BOARD STARTED WARPING A FEW YEARS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. A DASHBOARD TEMPORARY FIX TO STOP THE WARPING HAS CAUSED THE REST OF THE DASH TO PULL AWAY FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER. *JB

DASH BOARD WARPING ON 1999 FORD CONTOUR. REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. DASH HAS CONTINUED TO WARP AND HAS CRACKED IN ONE PLACE AS WELL. *JB

1999 FORD CONTOUR SVT, DASHBOARD WARPING. JUST STARTED THIS PAST SUMMER (2005). FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2002. DASHBOARD HAS PEELED UP SO IT HAS LIMITED SITE TO ABOUT 4" ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

DASH WARP / CURL / DELAMINATION DISLODGES DEFROSTER VENT PANEL. UNDER HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS AND DURING RAIN EVENTS, THE DEFROSTER / DEFOGGING SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED AND VISIBILITY IS POOR. *NM

NHTSA WEBSITE CONFIRMS 79 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF FORD'S KNOWN MANUFACTURE DEFECTS IN DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COMPROMISES THE OCCUPANT/PEDESTRIAN SAFTEY: WARPED DASH PANEL AND SPRUNG OUT FRONT DEFROST GRILL OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S VIEW; LOOSE GRILL STRIKES WINDSHIELD WHILE CAR IN MOTION AND COULD BREAK IT; DEFLECTS PROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT; PROPER AIRFLOW OF DEFROST IS DEFLECTED; FORD KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURES AND SELLS DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. THEN IMMEDIATELY ISSUES A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" NOTICE (IN THIS CASE CPS # 01B78) THAT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE DESIGNED TO PREEMPT MANIFESTATION OF THE DEFECTS BY THE CUSTOMER. ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE, THE DEFROSTER GRILL HAS SPRUNG OUT AND JUTS OUT OF ALIGNMENT SO THAT THE AIRFLOW FROM DEFROST MECHANISM IS OBSTRUCTED. DASHBOARD WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH THE FISSURE SPREADING TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DECLINED TO DO REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE, STATING FORD IS NO LONGER LIABLE BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM EXPIRED AUGUST 2002. INSTEAD, THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OFFERED ME THE LOYAL CUSTOMER SERVICE DEAL OF MAKING THE REPAIR FOR COST OF ONLY $1638.12. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN FEBRUARY 1999 FOR $18077.16 (FINANCED PRICE OF $24318.40)!!! MY CAR LOAN HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL FEBRUARY 2004 WITH NO LATE PAYMENTS. MY VEHICLE'S ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE BY THE FORD DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I AM A SECOND TIME FORD OWNER; MY PREVIOUS VEHICL

AUGUST 2001 FORD NOTIFIED US OF A DEFECT IN THE COVER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THAT THE PANEL MAY WARP AND COME UNDONE FIRST AROUND THE DEFROSTER GRILL OPENING. FORD IDENTIFIED PROGRAM #01B78 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WE BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AS INSTRUCTED BY LETTER AND SERVICE WAS DENIED AS THE GAP IN THE WARPAGE WAS ONLY 1.75 AND NEEDED TO BE 2 IN ORDER TO BE REPLACED. NOW, IN 2005 THE DASHBOARD PANEL HAS COMPLETELY WARPED UP AND OFF. IT OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. FORD REFUSES TO COVER KNOWN DEFECT NOW. *JB

HELLO, I AM THE CUSTOMS ADVISOR FOR MY BASE AND HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S TIRES DO NOT HAVE THE LETTERS "DOT" IMPRINTED ON THE SIDEWALL. THEY ARE ON THE DATABASE OF COMPLIANT TIRES AND HAVE RATINGS WITHIN STANDARDS. CAN THESE TIRES BE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S.? *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WARPED. IT TOUCHED THE WINDSHIELD, AND WAS PULLING THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG PIECE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN ON SINCE. HE STATED NOW THAT HE WAS USING THE DEFROSTER, IT WAS COMING UP MORE. OFTEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOOR HANDLES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY, AND NOW RESULTED IN A COMPLETE FAILURE ON TWO OF THE DOOR LATCHES. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE MUST HAVE BOTH THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH PULLED TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS REPLACING THE DOOR LATCHES AT THIS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER DASH BOARD PANEL POPPED UP. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SINCE HE DIDN'T REPLY TO THE RECALL BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

THE DASHBOARD OF MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR IS WARPED BEYOND REPAIR. THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING BACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAS CAUSED MY DEFROST TO WORK IMPROPERLY, MAKING VISIBILITY POOR WHENEVER THE DEFROST WOULD BE NEEDED. FORD HAS REFUSED TO HELP FIX IT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" THAT EXPIRED AROUND THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL CONTOUR OWNERS AS WELL AS ALL ON THE ROAD. *JB

1999 FORD CONTOUR DASHBOARD BUCKLED AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, IF AT ALL. *TS *JB

DT: CONSUMER OWNED 1999 FORD CONTOUR. DASHBOARD WARPED BLOCKING THE DEFOGGER/DEFROSTER VENT. THE CONSUMER KNEW OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE SIX MONTHS AGO. *AK *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR THAT HAD CRACKS IN THE FLYWHEEL ALONG THE REAR AREA OF THE MOTOR. THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FLYWHEEL. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. APPARENTLY, IT WAS CRACKING IT IS NEAR THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FLYWHEEL ONTO THE MOTOR. THIS HAPPENED FROM HOLE TO HOLE AS IF IT WAS AT A FATIGUED POINT. WAS REPLACED AT 40,000 KILOMETERS, AND THE SECOND FLYWHEEL NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 126,000 KILOMETERS. THERE WERE NO OTHER APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OTHER THEN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING ON BOTH THE ORIGINAL FLYWHEELS AND THE REPLACEMENT. *AK

I INADVERTENTLY FOUND THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY IN MY CAR TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT HAVING THE GEAR IN PARK AND JUST HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AS I RELEASED THE BRAKE, MY CAR ROLLED A FEW FEET INTO MY GARAGE AND I REALIZED THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. I CONTACTED MY REPAIR SHOP ABOUT THE IGNITION ISSUE. THEY INFORMED THERE WAS AN OLD RECALL ON MY VEHICLES' MAKE/MODEL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND LOCATED NHTSA'S INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO CAMPAIGN 99V060000. I CONTACTED FOR. THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL, THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION WHETHER MY CAR'S MAKE/MODEL HAD EVER BEEN IN A RECALL AND THAT NO ON IN THE ENTIRE FORD MOTOR COMPANY COULD TELL ME, NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY REFERRAL SITES FOR ME TO FIND THIS INFORMATION. I STILL NEED TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE RADIATOR COMING ON/OVER AND OVER AGAIN. PREVIOUSLY IT OVERHEATED IN JUNE 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, ADDED MORE WATER TO THE RADIATOR, AND SOMETHING ELSE IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THEY TOLD HER THAT IT WAS DUE TO A BRACKET THAT BROKE.. DEALER REPLACED THE RADIO. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY SINCE THEY REPLACED THE RADIO. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD WAS LOOSENING AND THERE WERE WIRES SHOWING. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KNOB CAME OFF. THESE WERE THE ONLY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENTS CONCERNING THESE ISSUES. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDING OVER, MAKING IT DIMMER AT NIGHT AND HARDER TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. I HAVE TRIED TO CLEAN THE PLASTIC LENS BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I THINK THIS IS A POOR ENGINEERING SOLUTION WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS WARPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO USE THE DEFROSTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING THE WINTER BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER CAN NOT PROPERLY WORK. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT THE CONSUMER STATES THE DASHBOARD WAS DOING THIS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *JB

DT: CONTACT OWNS 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE GAS TANK STRAP WHICH HOLDS THE GAS TANK BROKE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE IT COULD BREAK OFF AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 6, 2005. *AK LOUDON MOTORCRAFT REPLACED THE GAS TANK STRAP ASSEMBLY. *TT

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DASH BOARD PROBLEM. THE DASHBOARD WARPED, CAUSING A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION. THIS WAS THE SECOND DASHBOARD INSTALLED, WHICH WAS DONE DURING A CUSTOMER'S COURTESY RECALL. THIS DASHBOARD WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 1 YEAR ONLY. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE NEEDED ANOTHER DASHBOARD. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE DASHBOARD AFTER THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

I ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY DASH BOARD PEELING BACK. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT THEY JUST REGLUED IT. A YEAR LATER IT CAME APART AGAIN AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT AGIN. I CALLED FORD THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED BUT SINCE I DID HAVE IT FIXED ONCE I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY AND FEEL AS IF THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE. THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS CURLED TO THE POINT TO WHERE THE AIR BAG IS BEGINNING TO BE EXPOSED. CONSUMER'S CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. FORD DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY REPAIR PARTS WOULD COST $771.00, LABOR $561.00 PLUS TAX. *AK *NM UPDATED 06/05/06 *JB UPDATED 06/05/2006 - *NM