1998 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

I HAVE EXPERIENCE DEFECTS WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS ARE CONSTANTLY JAMMING. THEREFORE, I AM UNABLE TO SAFELY SECURE MY CHILDREN OR MYSELF WHEN DRIVING. ALSO THE BUCKLE DOES NOT FASTEN. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY THE BELT JAMMED FOR MY SIX YEAR OLD AND THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT LOCK FOR MY THREE YEAR OLD. I PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT (AFTER TWO CARS GAVE MY THE RIGHT OF WAY) INTO A PARKING LOT WHILE TRAFFIC WAS AT A STAND STILL. ALL OF A SUDDEN A CAR SPEEDS BY AND FORCED ME TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. WHEN I DID THIS BOTH MY CHILDREN HEADS HIT THE FRONT PASSENGER CAR SEATS. I BEGAN TO WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY CHILDREN IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALER TO GET THEM CHECK OUT AND FIXED AND I AM CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPRING PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE TIRE.*JB. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.*JB

OUR 98 CONTOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR STALLS AT ABOUT 40 MPH OR LESS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON VEHICLE SAID IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR . ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO RUN ALRIGHT FOR AWHILE THEN ENGINE COMES BACK ON AND THE STALLING OF THE ENGINES STARTS UP AGAIN. SISTER HAS THE SAME CAR IT IS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR HER VEHICLE DOES THE SAME THING SHE TOOK HERS IN THEY TOLD HER THE SAME THING THAT IT IS THE OXGEN SENSOR. ALSO HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CONTOUR THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN IT STALLS YOU LOSE ALL POWER CAN BE DANGEROUS IF TURNING A CORNER OR CURVE IN ROAD. MY CAR FINALLY STALLED AGAIN AND NOW IT WILL NOT START STALLED AT ABOUT 40MPH WAS ONEXITING HIGHWAY HAD NO BREAK POWER OR POWER STEERING.THIS COULD END UP BEING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY SEEM TO BE UNRESPONSIVE.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR SYMPTOMS WHILE MERGING ONTO A BUSY FREEWAY.VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY PASSING TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF A NARROW SHOULDER AT POINT OF FAILURE.*AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN, HEARD A LOUD NOISE DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT AXLE. HAD REPAIRED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT SOMETHING IS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER LOOKED UNDER CAR AND NOTICE GAS LEAKING FROM A PIPE CONNECTED TO THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED CONSUMER NOTICED TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, HOURS LATER VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. CONSUMER TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND NOTICE D TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS RAISING. CONSUMER RETURNED HOME, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ENGINE FAN WAS ON FIRE. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT COIL SPRING CRACKED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS, WHEN THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. NLM

WHEN MAKING A TURN AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO START SPINNING ON THE STREET. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT, WHILE SPINNING, FIVE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *JG

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR RECALL 01V230000 AND 01V255000 REPAIRS NONE OF THE TWO RECALLS WERE DONE PROPERLY. NAME OF THE DEALER IS BRAD MARTIN FORD IN YOUNGSTOWN OH 330-793-2444.*AK