1999 Ford Contour complaints

ROADS WERE WET AND CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY.HE FELT VIBRATION INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE FLIPPED TWICE AND LANDED ON TOP OF ROOF OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATIONS, SHAKING, AND SEVERE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGH AND GOT MORE SEVERE WHEN THE HEATING OR COOLING SYSTEM WAS USED. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, A MAJOR BRAKE JOB WITH ROTORS TURNED WAS COMPLETED, AND THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED. REGARDLESS OF THIS WORK, THE SHAKING IN THE CAR HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE EITHER SAID THAT IT WAS "NORMAL CONTOUR" OR THAT IT WAS THE TIRES. FINALLY, THEY INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IT IS. MY CAR MAKES A THUMPING NOISE AND A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN I MAKE SLOW RIGHT TURNS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY FOOT HAS BEEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR SURGED FORWARD. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT THAT THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME BECAUSE THE CAR JERKED SO HARD AND SO UNEXPECTEDLY. AGAIN, I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK LTA P205/60R15 M+S 25213 UR BM06368. HAS KNOT ON FRONT TIRE.

IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER DEFECTS I HAVE LISTED ON THE QUESTIONAIRE, MY VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT GO INTO FORWARD GEAR, AND THEN VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR.*AK

REAR OF FUSE BOX OVERHEATED, AND ONE OF THE PLUGS MELTED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION . DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG, AND THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSES THAT CONSUMER INCURRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT VEHICLE HAD ONLY 37,000 MILES AND IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD.*JB

PUSHED CLUTCH IN AND ENGINE REVVED UP TO 4000 RMPS. IT COULD BE IDLING, AND FOR NO REASON IT JUST REVVED UP. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED SENSOR LIGHT.*AK DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, AND THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *SLC

ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. CONSUMER NOTED THAT FORD STATED THAT VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS ARE SPECIFIED TO DEPLOY AT 8 TO 14 MPH. CONSUMER CANNOT START VEHICLE UNTIL MOVING STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN WITH THE KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SEAT BELT FAILED ALSO. *NLM

THE DEALERSHIP ADMITED THAT A TECHNICIAN LEFT A WIRE LOOSE WHEN THEY INSTALLED A NEW MOTOR IN MY CAR. THEY WERE REPAIRING ALL DAMAGE DUE TO THE FIRE. THEY DID NOT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT 4 MONTHS LATER. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSANGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS BURNT AND MELTED, THEREFORE NEVER COMPLETELY DEPLOYING.

MY CONTOUR CONTINUES TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. I WAS FIRST TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP, THEN THE FUEL FILTER, AND FINALLY THAT IT WAS A SENSOR. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO STALL WHEN MY GAS GAUGE IS CLOSE TO A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. I JUST GOT THIS CAR OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPT. 4 DAYS AGO, NOW IT IS STILL STALLING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *AK

VINYL IS ROLLING UP ON THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD. IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHO REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. *SLC

THE DECORATIVE PLASTIC PIECE CAME OFF THE DASHBOARD SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER PUT IT BACK,BUT THE PIECE CONTINUED COMING OFF AND IT WAS PUT BACK AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT HELPFUL TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *YH *CB

PROBLEMS STARTED AT 119MILES, DEALERS EITHER DON'T CONFIRM PROBLEM OR SAY IT'S NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT 4 DEALERS. SEVERE VIBRATION AND PULL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE THE TIRES (CONFIRED WITH MY WINTER TIRES-NO PROBLEM), KLUNKING FROM FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DURING WINTER AT IDLE-GO OUT AFTER RESTART OR ENGINE ACCELERATION, FRONT SEATS WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE-DEALER SAYS NORMAL FOR CAR-WAN'T PRESENT WHEN NEW, PULSING FRONT END SHIMMY ON HIGHWAY-NOT TIRE RELATED-POSSIBLE CV SHAFT ISSUE-DEALERS STATED NPF, ENGINE SPARK KNOCKS UNDER LIGHT LOADS-NO CHANGE WITH DIFFERENT GAS GRADES OR BRANDS-DEALERS SAYS NPF, HEADLAMPS GO DIM AT IDLE-DEALERS SAYS NORMAL-NOT PRESENT WHEN NEW, POOR LOW BEAM VISIBILITY FROM HEADLAMPS, ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE TOO POROUS-LOSE ABNORMAL AIR AMOUNTS-DEALER SAYS NPF. MOST OF THESE HAVE BEEN SINCE NEW OR STARTED WITHIN 1ST YEAR OF NEW- NO DEALERS HAS YET "CONFIRMED" PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE READILY APPARENT TO OTHERS. IN SHOP FOR OVER 3 MONTHS TOTAL SINCE NEW. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON T BRAKES PEDAL AND BRAKES WILL VIBRATE. FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND DEFFECT IS STILL THERE. *AK

DASHBOARD IS CURVING UP AND ITS IS PROGRESSIVLY GETTING WORSE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT, AND STATES DEFECT IS COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

THERE WAS A BAD OIL LEAK THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS CRANKSHAFT SHIELD. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE CONTACTED THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD AND WAS DENIED HER ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE. *JB

ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED/TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND CANNOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHENEVER TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER CAR HESITATES AND ON HIGHWAY, IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED.*AK

WE WERE DRIVING (ONE MILE FROM HOME) WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED. TIRES WERE FINE. HEARD THUMPING AGAIN. TURNED CAR AROUND BECAUSE OF 87 YEAR OLD FATHER IN VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. HUSBAND WAS DOING YARD WORK. MY SON ADAM YELLED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES. MY HUSBAND RAN TO THE GARAGE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. PUT FIRE OUT. HAD TO CUT TWO WIRES TO STOP THE SMOKING AND SIZZLING. CONTACTED STATE FARM. A FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID HE BELIEVES THAT THE WAY THE WIRES WERE ROUTED ONTO THE FIRE WALL, RUBBED AGAINST A SCREW THAT WAS STICKING OUT OF THE FIRE WALL AND OVER TIME WORE THE WIRE, CAUSING A FIRE.*AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A WHILE. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR STALLING, BUT CAUSE OF PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE LOCATED. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS TO CONSTANTLY UNJAM OR UNTWIST THE SEATBELTS TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OR RETACT PROPERLY TO BUCKLE OR UNBUCKLE. *MJS

CONSUMERS HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM 7 TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER RECALL 00V075001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S03/ REAR BRAKE VALVES WAS DONE. BRAKES SQEUAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULDN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKES SQUEAL AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THEM, DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS, PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 2056015T)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2056015T )

RECALL 00 V 075 001BRAKE /REAR CHECK VALVE: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE IN OCT 2000. ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH,. THIS FORCED VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE SENT OUT. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, SPEED WAS UNDETERMINED IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

FRONT END VIBRATES/ SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL EXISTS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

COVER OVER SCREW ON WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAS A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, AND DEALER WANTS HER TO PAY FOR IT. CONSUMER SAID IT CAME FROM MANUFACTURER THAT WAY.*AK

SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLING THE BELT AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES IT'S HAPPENED DAILY FOR 2 MONTHS. *SLC

I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS BY FORD BECAUSE THERE IS DEFENITELY SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION.*AK

ENGINE WILL SURGE FORWARD EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL, CONSUMER HAS MANY CLOSE CALLS DUE TO VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD, DELAER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM 5 TIMES, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS MAKING SPITTING AND SPUTTERING NOISES, AND THEN IT STALLED. WHILE CONSUMER WENT INSIDE TO CALL DEALER, ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER, WENT BACK OUT AND FOUND VEHICLE ON FIRE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD CRANK, BUT WILL NOT START. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A 'RUBBING' SOUND, CONSEQUENTLY HAD ROTORS TURNED AND THEN REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE HAD THIS VIBRATION AS FAR BACK AS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I PAID FOR A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT DUE TO UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $87 FOR THE SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED IN WRITING THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE VIBRATION UNTIL I REPLACED THE TIRE. ONCE I REPLACED THE TIRES $339.96. I STILL HAD THE VIBRATION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED IN WRITING THAT I HAD 2 DEFECTIVE TIRES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE STORE THAT I PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM AND ENDED UP UPGRADING TO A MORE EXPENSIVE TIRE SINCE THE COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. (COST $67.52)I WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY ROLLED UP 517 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED. THEY SHOWED ME A SERVICE BULLETING FROM FORD THAT STATED A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW AND THEN STOP EVEN IF THE VIBRATION WAS NOT ELIMINATED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ASKED ME TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER TRY. ANOTHER 400-500 MILES WERE ROLLED UP ON MY CAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I CONTACTED FORD SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY ARE SENDING ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? IF MY TIRES FAIL OR I HAVE ANOTHER FAILURE, WHO IS GOING TO COVER MY COSTS AND BE LIABLE. WHO IS GOING TO COVER THE EXPENSES HAVE ALREADY INCURRED?*AK (TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/60R15 )

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A FENCE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 00V-075 REGARDING PCRV CORROSION, CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER LOOK AT BRAKES BUT THEY REFUSED TO CHECK THEM UNLESS SHE PAID ALTHOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NLM

THE BRAKES MAKE A CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE AND MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS HEATED, THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. *MJS

DURING RECALL REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WITH A BROKEN BRAKE LINE AND GREASE WAS REMAINING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RECALL REPAIR (00V-075). *MJS

MY VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLES STALLS AFTER SPLASHING THROUGH WATER. ONLY 1-2 INCHES ARE NECESSARY TO CAUSE A STALL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN TURNING IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE WILL SQUEAL, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP AND STEER DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFED IN FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # TSB 97-11-2. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO AFFECT 1995-1998 CONTOURS. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE NOTED THAT MY CONTOUR IS AN EARLY 1999 (MANUFACTURED IN SEPTEMBER 1998). THE TSB DESCRIBES THAT THE VEHICLES NEEDS TO HAVE A SPLASH GUARD INSTALLED. REPEATED REQUESTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE NOT LEAD TO ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THROUGH ANY AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED WATER. ITS TENDENCY TO STALL FORCES ME TO DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES VERY SLOWLY WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR VEHICLES AROUND ME. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE (LABOR AND PARTS). I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOUR AGENCY COULD PROVIDE.

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. *CJ

INSIDE TIRE WALL BLEW. NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. NO ROAD HAZARD HIT DURING HISTORY OF CAR. MANUFACTURER SAID DAMAGE HAD TO BE CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD SINCE A DEFECTIVE TIRE NEVER LEAVES THEIR PLANT. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215/50ZR16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/50ZR16 )

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, CONSUMER TOOK THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT SOME WIRES HAD MELTED AND MUST HAVE SHORTED SOMETHING OUT. *SLC

WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A SMALL AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER AT LOW SPEED, ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY. *AK

I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD (DATED AUGUST 18) LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO PAY OVER $700 FOR AN ALTERNATOR (WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONLY 1 YEAR OLD) AND AN AIR FLOW SENSOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 1999 AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REPLACING EITHER AFTER ONLY A YEAR. PLEASE SEE LETTER ATTACHED. THIS MORNING (10/17/00), MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.*AK

THESE TIRES ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HORN UNABLE TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED. BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING MORE. *AK