1999 Ford Contour complaints

I OWN A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. AROUND THANKSGIVING 2003 I NOTICED THAT THE DEFROST VENT ON MY DASH CAME LOSE. NEXT THE DASH STARTED TO CURL UP. THEN THE DASH STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I CAN SEE THE GLUE USED TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME. THE DASH IS NOW CURLED SO HIGH I CAN'T SEE THE WIPERS & PART OF THE HOOD. I AM FEARFUL PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD COMPANY IN NV & WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL BUT IT EXPIRED. I HAD SEVERAL ESTIMATES DONE & HAVE BEEN TOLD PARTS ALONE ARE APPROX $800 & LABOR AT LEAST $1000. AUGUST 9TH 2004 I CALLED THE WORLDWIDE SERVICE LINE AT FORD & WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM #01B78 THAT RAN FROM AUGUST 2001 THRU AUGUST 31 2002. I NEVER GOT ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM I DIDNT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN THEY KNOW FAULTY EQUIPMENT IS IN THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. WHEN I TOLD THEM IN THEIR EYES NO ONE HAS DIED YET SO IT IS NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ISSUE AN ACTUAL RECALL . THE REP ACKNOWLEDGED THIS STATEMENT SAYING I WAS CORRECT, THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THEY ARE WRONG, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE AIRBAG IS UNDER THAT DASH AND COULD DEPLOY. FORDS ONLY ANSWER TO ME WAS TO TAKE IT TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALER IN MY AREA & HAVE THEM INSPECT IT. A TECH WILL TELL ME THE COST TO FIX. THEN IT WAS REPEATED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS EXPIRED. FORD IS NOT GOING TO DO A RECALL FOR EQUIPMENT THEY KNOW IS FAULTY & THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM LEFT WITH AN UN

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME APART. THIS COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO GO OFF INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. BUT AT THIS TIME IT EXPIRED DUE TO FACT THAT CONSUMER WAS THE SECOND OWNER. TIME ELAPSED FOR THIS RECALL AT THIS TIME. *AK

1999 FORD CONTOUR SE - HEATER BLOWER WORKING ONLY ON HIGH MODE. BURNED OUT RESISTOR. THIS WAS A RECALLED PART FOR 96-98 CONTOURS. I SUSPECT SAME PROBLEM IN 1999 MODEL. ONLY 22,000 MILES. PART REPLACED BY MECHANIC 8/4/04.*AK

I HAVE NORMAL USE ON MY CAR AND ON JULY 26, 2004 MY AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I READ MY OWNER'S GUIDE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND IT STATED THAT IF THESES PROBLEMS WAS TO OCCUR THAT I NEED IT TO BE SERVICE BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN ON JULY 27, 2004 TO GET IT SERVICED. I INFORMED FORD THAT I SMELLED A WIRE BURNING, AND THAT I SAW A LITTLE PUFF OF SMOKE ON JULY 26, 2004 THAT CAME FROM UNDER MY DASH BOARD. I WAS INFORMED MY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THEY DID 3 DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT AND THEY STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE ENDED UP DEADLY IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE CAR. AS FAR AS WHAT IS BEING DONE IS BEYOND ME BECAUSE THEY STILL CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND WHAT PARTS ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS ON MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEM NOR EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM WORKING. *AK

WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH STRUTS BROKE. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON A RECALL FOR A CRACKING DASHBOARD ONE YEAR AGO, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE REPAIRED. CURRENTLY, THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AGAIN AND LIFTED UP, BLOCKING HEAT AND AIR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE DATE FOR THE RECALL EXPIRED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR IT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR IT. *AK

THIS IS NOT AN AESTHETIC COMPLAINT AS CLASSIFIED BY FORD MOTOR CORPORATION. DASHBOARD IS PEELING UP FROM BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW, DEFROST PANEL IS NOW DISLODGED FROM DASHBOARD AND CREATING ADDITIONAL OBSTRUCTION OF DRIVER'S VIEW AND RENDERED NON FUNCTIONAL. THE RECESSION OF THE DASHBOARD IS NOW SEPARATING FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SECTION OF THE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN JULY 1999 AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED FIRST THE FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND HAD SINCE EXPIRED AND WAS DIRECTED TO CALL FORD MOTOR CORPORATION DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE THREE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE PAST 24-30 MONTHS EACH CONFIRMED THE RECALL AND NOTED 1) SINCE IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM IT HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE ATTACHED IT AND 2) IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO EXPEDITE ON VEHICLES THAT CAME IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS. AGAIN, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED FROM EITHER THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF MY SERVICE VISITS OR FORD MOTOR CORPORATION WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED. I HAVE REQUESTED SECOND OPINIONS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT ARE FORD CERTIFIED IN BODY REPAIR AND EACH NOTED THE RAMIFICATIONS OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT CORRECTED IS AND NOT LIMITED TO A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND A RESU

I PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD CONTOUR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON 6/21/04. WHEN I HAD THE REQUIRED STATE OF VERMONT INSPECTION DONE ON 6/30/04 A BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS A HISTORIC PROBLEM, AND SEVERE SAFETY HAZZARD ON THE FORD CONTOUR SERIES, AS SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE IS COMMMON WITH THIS BREAKAGE. YEARS 1995 THROUGH 1998 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM FOR THE 1998 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 2001, AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED THAT SAME YEAR. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT FORD WAS STILL USING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHEN MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 9/98. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM AS FORD IS BACKORDERED ON REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH. IT IS MY FEELING AT THIS TIME THAT THE 1999 MODEL SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD BECAME UNGLUED AND POPPED UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WARPAGE AND IS NOW RESTING UPWARD ABOUT 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE DEFROSTER GRILL POPPED OUT EARLIER AND IN THE WINTER THE DEFROST FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE WARPED DASHBOARD IS OBSTRUCTING OUR VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A HAZARDOUS. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#01B78) WHICH WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST 2001 AND EFFECTIVE UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2002 ADMITTING TO PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD (INSTRUMENT PANEL) WARPAGE ON THE 1999 & 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. THE FORD DEALER (HERITAGE FORD IN SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THEY WERE TO NOTIFY A FORD REGIONAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN OVER A MONTH AGO BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE. THE LOCAL DEALER ESTIMATES THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1400 TO $1800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I'VE OUTLINED ABOVE, I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED AT FORD'S COST. I FEEL THAT THIS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WHICH IS GETTING WORSE WITH THE IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE HOOD FROM MY SITTING POSITION IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ALSO, IF I WERE TO TRY AND SELL THE CAR, IT WOULD BE BASICALLY NON SALEABLE B

VEHICLE HESITATES AND JERKS VIOLENTLY ON ACCELERATION, FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL.DASHBOARD CURLED UP IN FRONT BY WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCTING VIEW AND POPPED OUT VENT TRIM. DEALER WOULN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE RECALL ON IT HAD EXPIRED. HAD TO TRY TO GLUE IT DOWN OURSELF.*AK

I OWN A 1999'CONTOUR THE DASHBOARD HAS CURLED UP AT THE VENT AREA NEAR WINDOW. HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNERS AND THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY FORD. FORD TELLS ME IT WAS A TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TYPE OF THING . BUT I SEE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY TRIED TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY PRODUCT. I WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER NEVER PURCHASING ANOTHER FORD . THIS HAS BEEN MY 4TH FORD THAT I HAVE OWNED AND IT SADDENS ME TO SEE THE POOR RESPONSE FROM FORD ABOUT A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *AK

A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE DASHBOARD BUCKLING. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS SORRY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

THE DASH ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR GL BEGAN PEELING AWAY MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. DESPITE RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE IT REPLACED/REPAIRED. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO CUTTING OUT. I COULD PUSH IN A CASSETTE THEN REMOVE IT TO GET THE RADIO TO COME BACK ON, BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK. JUST YESTERDAY I DROVE MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEM...UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO THE FIRST STOP, THE ACCESSORY POSITION, THE RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC., ALL WORK FINE. WHEN I TURN THE KEY FURTHER, TO START THE CAR OR TO THE SECOND STOP TO POWER OTHER DEVICES (AC, POWER WINDOWS, ETC), IT BEHAVES AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THE BUZZER (DOOR OPEN, KEYS IN IGNITION) IS VERY FAINT, RADIO DOESN'T WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVE ONE VERY SLOW PASS (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE TURNED OFF), CAN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF "PARK". I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP, BUT AM NOT HOPEFUL OF GETTING THE CAR FIXED. *AK

THE CAR IS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BUCKLED IN THE REAR SEAT. WE WERE DRIVING WHEN SHE REACHED OVER AND THOUGHT SHE WAS PULLING FOR THE WINDOW. SHE GRABBED FOR THE DOOR HANDLE INSTEAD, AND TO MY SURPRISE OPENED IT. THE DOOR FLEW OPEN,,SHE WAS BUCKLED IN AND NOT ONE WAS HURT..JUST UPSET. I CHECK THE CHIKD DOOR LOCKS....AND TO MY SURPRISE THE LABEL IS BACKWARDS. IT POINTS IN THE LOCK DIRECTION, BUT THIS IS THE OPEN DIRECTION. I LOOKED AT A FRIENDS CONTOUR, ALL THE LABELS ARE INCORRECT!!!!!*AK

MY FORD CONTOUR ONLY HAS 69000 MILES. ALREADY, BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, DASHBOARD CURLING UP ABOUT 6 INCHES AND DEFROST COVER HAS COME LOOSE BLOCKING VIEW, NOW THE TIMING BELT IS GOING BAD, HAD TO REPLACE TO MOTOR MOUNT. FUEL PUMP ALSO WENT OUT.*AK

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT. 99; NO DASHBOARD WARPAGE' RECEIVED A PRINTOUT OF TSB# 01B78 FOR WARPAGE ON 8/24/01; NO WARPAGE YET. 01/07/04 RECEIVED A PRINTOUT FROM DEALER OF NO ACTIVE TSB#01B78. DASHBOARD WARPAGE SEVERE AFTER WINTER OF 2004. BROUGHT INTO SERVICE THE TSB. THE DEALER AND FORD COMPANY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY QUOTE THE SENT LETTERS TO CONSUMERS OF THE CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. THE BLAME THE US POST OFFICE FOR THE FAULT. LIABILITY FALLS INTO THE MFG., WHICH IS FORD NOT THE USPS. DASHBOARD IS WARPED AND DEFROSTER FAILS TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER DUE TO WARPAGE. THE DEFROST VANES NO LONGER FITS IN THE DASH TO DIRECT FLOW TO WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSES A VISUAL HAZARD TO DRIVING IN FOGGY, WINTERED ENVIRONMENTS. I WOULD LIKE THE TSB SERVICED DUE TO HAZARD. I AM ORIG. OWNER OF THE CAR. I FOUND ALL THE INFORMATION ON MY OWN THROUGH THE INTERNET AND PRINTOUTS. NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION WAS SERVED TO ME. THE LIABILITY SHOULD TO SERVICE THIS TSB.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IDLING TOO HIGH. WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED TOO HIGH IT ALSO SHUT OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED 2-3 TIMES. EACH DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR. CONSUMER HAD A NEW CAM SENSOR INSTALLED ON 04/19/2004, AND IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IDLE HIGH AND THEN STALL. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD DUE TO POOR HEADLIGHTS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE CONDENSATION INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHTS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE HEAD LAMPS TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE THE ROADS SURFACE. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. *AK ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHILE PARKED, BECAUSE THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. *JB

TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY IS BROKEN AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. IT HAS SHREDDED A BIT OF THE LOWER TIMING BELT COVER AND CAUSES A WHIRRING NOISE WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND DRIVEN CAREFULLY.

AS SOON AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY (ALMOST A FULL CIRCLE EXIT), MY CAR STARTED CHOKING AND FINALLY STOPPED. NO FUEL SEEMED TO BE REACHING THE ENGINE. I HAD AAA TOW IT HOME SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. THE ENGINE CRANKED BUT WOULDN'T START. THIS CHOKING HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE WHEN I ENTERED THE FREEWAY ON A SIMILAR FULL-CIRCLE RAMP, AND THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS TO PICKUP SPEED. IT COUGHED A BIT BUT THEN RAN FINE. SEEMS LIKE THE SPIN CAUSES SOMETHING TO CHOKE. OTHER CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. IT SUPPOSEDLY HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL IS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE TANK. FORD HAD RECALLED THE FORD FOCUS FOR FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND MY CAR EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. WHEN I TALKED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER, HAVE IT FIXED AT MY EXPENSE AND THEN THEY WOULD CONSIDER RE-IMBURSING THE EXPENSES, BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT I SHOULDN'T COUNT ON A REIMBURSEMENT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY. I'VE SEEN A FEW MORE COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON THIS SITE (WWW.NHTSA.ORG) BUT NO SOLUTIONS. SOME SAY THAT THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE FORD FOCUS RECALL SOLUTION AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT FORD'S EXPENSE.

MY DASHBOARD IS WARPING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND IT APPEARS TO BE THE SECOND DASHBOARD PUT IN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. IT DOES OBSTRUCT THE VIEW. THE DASHBOARD IS CURLING TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.*AK

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE IT WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. *PH *NM

DASHBOARD IS PEELING UP FROM WINDSHIELD, DEFROST PANEL IS NOW FREE FLOATING ON THE DASH. AT THIS TIME THE DASH IS PEELING UP NEAR THE AIR BAG AND I HAVE CONCERNS OF IT DEPLOYING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE CONTACT FORD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VERY ITEM WHICH HAS NOW EXPIRED. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED (I AM THE ONLY OWNER). THEY HAVE REFUSE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER THIS DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL BE $1500.00 TO REPLACE THE DASH. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT I INDEED WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THAT THE DEALERSHIPS WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTICED IT. MY CAT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 3 MONTHS DURING THE RECALL TIME AND THE DEALERSHIP NEVER CHECKED MY VEHICLE FOR THIS DEFECT. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD AT THEIR COST REPLACE MY DASH. THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

STALLS AND WON'T RESTART. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHANGED AND THE FUSE BEHIND THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BY GOODYEAR. THEY DID A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND SAID THE ONLY THING IT COULD BE WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND MAYBE THE FUSE. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 3 HOUR'S THEN STALLED. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK 3 MORE TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL VISIT AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GOOD YEAR COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER SHIP WHERE I HAD TO PAY AGAIN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CAME BACK CLEAN, SO THEY SUGGESTED A NEW BATTERY AND FUSE. THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER WHEN THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED, IT STALLED YET AGAIN. I CAN BARELY OPEN THE DOOR'S WITH MY KEY AND IT TAKES ABOUT THREE TIMES TO DO SO. I WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT SOME FUSE'S AND FOR NOW IS WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 PLACE'S ONE A FORD DEALER SHIP AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS LAST YEAR, IF BOTH PLACE'S COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM THEN, THEN WHY SHOULD I WASTE MY MONEY AGAIN. THERE IS A DEFECT SOME WHERE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE FUSE SO OFTEN. *AK

A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CONSTANT STRAIN OF 32 AMPS BEING DISCHARGED, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN, AND NOT BEING CHARGED. *AK THE KEY COULD BE TURNED OFF WITH THE IGNITION IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE BUZZER THAT REMINDS THE CONSUMER THAT THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE IGNITION HAD GONE OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. *SC

AFTER 22K MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TIRES 185/70/R14 ON MY FORD CONTOUR SE '99. I CONTACTED GENERAL TIRE (THE TIRES HAVE 70K MILES WARRANTY). I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT "GENERAL TIRE WAS NOT CONTRACTED BY FORD CO TO PUT TIRES 185/70/R14 ON FORD CONTOUR SE". I CONTACTED TIRE DEALERS, CHECK WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THE ONLY SIZE 205/60/R15 IS LISTED AS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE SIZE 185/70/R14 IS DOWNSIZE TIRES, AND TIRE MANUFACTURES WILL NOT HONOR THE TIRE WARRANTY IF I PUT THESE TIRES ON MY CONTOUR SE. THIS IS ONE PROBLEM. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS SAFETY: DO THE TIRES 185/70/R14 PROVIDE THE SAME SAFETY FEATURES AS 205/60/R15? I FOUND THAT R15 TIRES COULD HOLD 400 LB MORE THAN R14 TIRES, PROVIDE BETTER TRACKING CONTROL. AND, I ALREADY KNOW THAT, THE R14 TIRES LASTED ONLY 22K MILES. I TRY TO CONVINCE FORD CO THAT BECAUSE OF THE PRODUCTION DEFECT MY CAR - CONTOUR SE 99 -WAS EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT TIRES (185/70/R14 INSTEAD OF 205/60/R15), AND AS A RESULT OF THAT THE SAFETY LEVEL OF THE CAR IS LESS THAN IT SHOULD BE, AND TIRE WARRANTY IS DENIED BY TIRE MANUFACTURERS. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHEELS (RIM AND TIRES). THANK YOU.

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IN RETURN, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A BUS. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK *JB

THE DASHBOARD CURLED CAUSING THE VENT TO COME OUT. *PH *MR

DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND HIT A HOUSE POLE THEN A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FORD MOTOR CORP IS AWARE OF A DEFECTIVE VALVE IN IT'S FORD CONTOURS WITH 6 CYL 2.5L ENGINES THAT CAUSES AN OIL OUT AND OVER-PRESSURIZED CONDITION. MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS AND MY MECHANIC CONTACTED A FORD SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE HAVING A SILENT RECALL, AND EACH CASE WILL BE HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD AND AFTER KEEPING IT FOR A WEEK THEY DETERMINED THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAD NOT RECEIVED MY OIL CHANGE FROM THEM. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO FORD AND SPENT SO MUCH MONEY FOR ALL PROBLEMS AND I HAVE WELL DOCUMENTED SERVICE RECORDS ON MY VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE A COLLEGE SON THAT I PURCHASED THE SAME VEHICLE FOR AND AM AFRAID THAT HIS WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE HE IS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I THINK THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MANY CONSUMERS AND THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND SERVICE THIS PROBLEM FOR IT'S LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND FOR THE SAFETY OF SO MANY INDIVIDUALS. *JB

DASH WAS REPLACED, BUT IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS LEAK, AND WILL BE REPLACED NEXT SPRING. *LA VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS: WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, TIE RODS, DASHBOARD, INTAKE MANIFOLD, PASSENGER REAR STRUTS, LEFT FRONT DOME LAMP SWITCH, LEFT FRONT SPEAKERS, AND OYGEN SENSOR.*MR

I OWN A 1999 FORD CONTOUR WITH A HORRIBLY WARPED DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL, ONLY A COURTESY CALL TO COME TO FORD AND HAVE IT FIXED. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY LOCAL DEALER, WHO DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER DASH TO REPLACE. THEY HAD TO ORDER IT. WHEN I CALLED BACK SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THEY TOLD ME THAT TIME HAD EXPIRED AND THEY SENT THE DASH BACK TO FORD AND THERE WAS NOTHING I CAN DO. THIS WARPED DASH IS DANGEROUS, INTERFERES WITH MY FIELD OF VISION, THE DEFROSTER WON'T WORK PROPERLY AND NOW IS INTERFERING WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EARLY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 1999 BY ME AND ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT. *AK

DASHBOARD ON 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS BUCKLED AND THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISIFACTION RECALL FOR THE WORK AND WAS NEVER TOLD THERE WAS AN EXPIRATION AND I WANT TO HAVE IT FIXED AND FORD WILL NOT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE VIEW IS BLOCKED.*AK

MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR CLEAR PAINT IS BUBBLE UP. I HAVE A RED CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S BEEN IN A WREACK COULD THAT BE THE REASON OR IT'S JUST BAD PAINT. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2000.

LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAS CAME ON , COOLANT OK SECERAL MONTHS AGO. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON. HOW CAN I GET THE FUSE BOX CHECKED WITHOUT COSTING ALOT. ONLY HAVE 64645 MILES ON CAR. CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS PROBLEMS ALREADY.

SINCE I TOOK THE OWNERSHIP OF MY 99 FORD CONTOUR SVT, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I WANT TO KEEP THIS SHORT, SO I WILL BREIFLY TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED. FOG LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, TWICE. CV AXIS BOOT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FLAWED MANUFACTURING. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WENT OUT. ITS ON ITS 3RD FUEL PUMP. VERY TOUGH STARTS WHEN ITS COLD, STOCK ALARM MALUFUCTION, RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT, LEFT FRONT SPEAKER WENT OUT, DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE MALUFUCTION, THE DASH CAME UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD BACK ABOUT 6". HONESTLY THERE IS MORE, I AM TRYING TO PULL ALL THIS FROM MEMORY. TO CONCLUDE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. EVER.

CAR JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. HAS HAPPENED ATLEAST THREE TIMES.

INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASHBOARD WARPED ON A 1999 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN BUT THEY REFUSED TO AND THE CONSUMER NEEDS REPAIRS BECAUSE IT'S DEFECTIVE. *CB *JB

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD.*MR *CB *JB

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN REAR ENDED. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO INTERSECTION. DAMAGE TO CAR WAS BUMPER, HAD TO REPLACE MUD GUARDS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN THEY SAID THAT THE FORCE PROBABLY WASN'T GREAT ENOUGH. EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AND WERE SUPRISED WHEN THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AS THE FORCE WAS GREATER THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR. *AK

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DASHBOARD PROBLEM WHICH AFFECTED THE USE OF THE DEFROSTER. THERE WAS NO AIR MOVEMENT.*AK

IN SUMMER, 2003, THE DASHBOARD WARPED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER GRILL TO SEPARATE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NLM

PRODUCT DEFECT, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DUE TO WATER LEAK FROM LENSES WHICH CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT.*MR (NAR) *CB *JB

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS WARPED. THIS ALLOWED BIG PIECES OF PLASTIC TO FLY THROUGH. SOME OF THE PLASTIC PIECES WERE SHARP AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE OCCUPANTS. THE DASHBOARD WARPING IS DUE TO THE SUNRAYS AND HEATER BLOWER. *NLM

VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS CURLED UP AND THE AIR VENT HAS POPPED OUT. *MR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WINDOWS DID NOT DEFROST PROPERLY AND THE AIR CONDITION FOGGED THE WINDOW BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD CURLED UP TO THE POINT IT TOUCHED THE WINDSHIELD. *JB *NM