1999 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

MY DASH BEGAN TO BUCKLE TO THE POINT WHERE THE DEFROST VENT WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DASH FACE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FALLING OFF. THE FLOOR ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT SEAT GETS SOAKED EVERY TIME I DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES OR RAIN. THE DOME LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE DOOR BUZZER HAS TENDENCIES TO COME ON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH ALL 4 DOORS ARE SHUT TIGHT. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT, HE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALL WIRES CONNECTING TO THE PUMP HAD BURNED THE WIRING INSULATION. THE FUEL PUMP HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK. THERE WERE BARE WIRES IN THE FUEL TANK! (I DO STILL HAVE THE FUEL PUMP)THE TRUNK LATCH LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001 AND I CANNOT SEEM TO GET FORD TO OWN UP TO ANY OF THEM. THE RECALL ON THE DASH APPARENTLY IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME. I CANNOT GET THROUGH TO SOMEONE WHO WILL HELP ME SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AT ANY OF THE DEALERS IN MY AREA. I AM CURRENTLY STILL PAYING FOR A VEHICLE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AND NO LONGER CARE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER DRIVE IT AGAIN.

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THE 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAD WARPED. THE CONSUMER PRESENTED THE RECALL NOTICE BUT WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREE TO PAY 80% OF THE REPAIR COST BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED SERVICE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD SHOULD PAY 100% OF THE REPLACEMENT COST (CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 01B78). *NM

THE ABS ENGAGED CONTINUALLY DUE TO CORROSION IN THE TONE RING APPARATUS. DEALER SAYS IT IS UNUSUAL, AND WILL COST $600. *JB

THE DASH VINYL COVERING BECAME UNGLUED. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

WELL I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER IN MY LIFE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED SO MANY TIME I CANT START TO NAME OFF DATES. I DO KNOW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR I DROVE TO THE BEACH LESS THAN 30 MINUTES ALWAYS AND IT CUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT CUT OFF 4 TIME BEFORE I GOT HOME. NEXT DAY I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT. SINCE I HAD THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A BURDEN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINT ONCE BEFORE, AND AS I WRITE THIS LETTER IT IS BEING DONE AGAIN FOR A 2ND TIME. MY HEAT AND AIR STOP WORKING. HEAT ONLY WORKS ON HIGH, AND MY DEFROST TAKE FOR EVER TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS. MY DOOR JUST WONT STAY CLOSED IT POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. ON MY PASSENGERS SIDE ON THE FLOOR. IT GETS SOAKED WITH RAIN EVERYTHING. IF ITS RAINY AND IM DRIVING MY CAR MAKES A LOUD SCRATCHING NOISE. MY BRAKES HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. SHOCKS GAVE OUT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING MY CAR. MY ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO OVER 3 FORD DEALERS AND MANY SHOPS, AND NO CAN SAY WHY THE LIGHT KEEP POPPING ON. SO TODAY I DROPPED MY CAR OFF TO THE SHOP TO HAVE BRAKES,DOOR,ENGINE LIGHT, BALL JOINTS AND TO SEE WHY THE OVER DRIVE OFF LIGHT KEEP BLINKING WHILE IM DRIVING. THIS IS THE WORST CAR EVER MADE BY FORD. I KNOW ITS NOTHING ON MY BEHALF WHY THIS CAR IS SO HORRIBLE BECAUSE IS KNOW 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF '!@#$%, I JUST CANT AFFORD IT. WELL I KNOW THIS SUMMER IF I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE AND JUNGIAN THIS CAR, IM GOING TO PUSH IT OFF A BRIDGE MYSELF, AND NEVER EVER BY A FORD AGAIN. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE ASSUMED FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A BAD MODEL. HOW DARE U TRY AND MAKE A QUICK BUCK INSTEAD OF BUILDING A RELIABLE CAR FOR FAMILIES. *AK

1999 V6 CONTOUR SE. RH REAR SPRING MADE BY VISTEON BROKE FROM CORROSION @ 87K MILES. LH REAR SPRING COVERED WITH RUST VISTEON IS ALSO MAKER OF FRONT SPRINGS THAT HAD RECALL ON 95-97MY FRONT SPRINGS. POOR SPRING COATING DESIGN INCL. IRON PHOSPHATE. IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AT 75K MILES. HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOP OF DASHBOARD WAS RECALLED WITH A KIT. KIT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM -- EXCESSIVE RATTLES STILL EXIST. I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS THE INTENT OF RECALL & FORD HAS NO ADDITIONAL KITS OR PLANS TO REPLACE FAULTY RECALL. KIT WAS REPLACED AROUND 60K MILES. FAULTY DPFE SENSOR ON THIS DURATEC ENGINE. DEALER TOLD ME REPLACEMENT SENSORS HAD A RE-DESIGN THAT DID NOT HAVE EXPOSED AREA THAT CONSTANTLY TRIGGERS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ORIGINAL SENSORS GET CONTAMINATION AND WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY. FORD DID NOT RECALL AND ONLY REPLACED IF COMPLAINTS UNDER WARRANTY. I NOTICED PROBLEM AROUND 60000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK FILLER GROMMET WAS DAMAGED AND RUSTED. AS A RESULT FUEL FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TANK WAS FULL .*AK *NM

1999 FORD CONTOUR, CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, CAR JERKING/STALLING, TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, THEN HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DELAERSHIP (KEY SCALES FORD, LESSBURG, FLORIDA), THEY KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, CHARGED OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $165 TO REPLECE SPARK PLUGS (SERVICE DECLINED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR $50), "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STILL ON, CAR STILL JERKING/STALLING. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR OUT OF IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD. LOCAL MECHANIC SUGGESTED POSSIBLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM BUT SAID IT COULD NOT EVEN BE TESTED BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE CONVERTER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MANIFOLD AND IS INACCESSIBLE. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS NOT REPLIED TO EMAIL REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TRIED RESTARTED THE VEHICLE FIVE MINUTES LATER. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED AND HAS WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LITERALLY FALLING OUT, DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF VISIBLE RUST OR DECAY. AGAIN, MY SAFETY IS AT RISK, AS MY VISIBILITY IS MINIMIZED BY THE INACCURACY OF THE AIMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK