1998 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

1998 FORD CONTOUR, VEHICLE HOOD CAME LOOSE AND HIT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0296-90)*JB

I HEARD ABOUT THE FORD CONTOUR ENGINE WIRING HARNESS RECALL ONLY BY INTERNET. MY CAR IS A FORD CONTOUR SPORT 1998. THE WIRE INSULATION IS PEELING OFF IN THE WHOLE HARNESS, AND THE CAR IS STOPPED NOW. MILEAGE IS APPROX. 110000. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY MESSAGE FROM FORD. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR. *TR

THE WIRING INSULATION ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR IS LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE WIRES. I AM AFRAID TO TOUCH ANY WIRE BECAUSE THE INSULATION JUST FLAKES OFF LEAVING BARE WIRE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND APPARENTLY IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THIS MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING HIS FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TIRE WAS PUNCTURED AS WELL. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO FAILED, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY, AND THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER BEFORE IT DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST AND HE IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT OF THE SPRING CATCHER BRACKET WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES. IF A TIRE WERE THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BURST. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST OR ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE WIRING AROUND THE HEATING UNIT SENSORS HAVE DETERIORATED. THE CODING HAS CRACKED OFF THE OTHER WIRES, CAUSING THEM TO BE EXPOSED. THIS ALLOWS ALL OF THE WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, WHICH COULD CAUSE A SHORT IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL OPERABLE, BUT THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE BECOMES EXTREMELY HIGH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS 15 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HE DID NOT KNOW THE BOLTS WERE MISSING AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD HAVE THEM ORDERED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

1998 FORD CONTOUR. HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR OVER HEATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION. TERMINAL 15 OF CONNECTOR WAS BURNED. SAFETY RECALL 99S14 ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD DEALER SAYS THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. . I INSTALLED FORD KIT F5RZ14A411BA AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY WAS THIS CAR NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL OR IS THE FORD DEALER MISTAKEN? SHOULD THE RECALL BE EXPANDED? I SAVED THE OLD CONNECTOR. *TR