1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS NOT READING THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION ,CAUSING INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. ALSO, THER EIS RECALL 98V233000 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL APPEAR, WITH THE ENGINE ALMOST STALLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR GOING AS FAST AS 35 MPH AND AS SLOW AS 5 MPH. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE DEALER HAS REPORTEDLY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, THE SERVICE PERSONNEL WAS AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE SPECIFIC MODEL. AFTER REPEATED RETURNS TO THE DEALER (AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE COMPLAINTS), THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND THAT THE CAR WAS EVEN "DRIVEN THROUGH SEVERAL PUDDLES" WITHOUT ANY STEERING FAILURE. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN WAS APPROXIMATELY AUGUST, 1999. THE WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ON 02/13/00, THE VEHICLE AGAIN EXPERIENCED STEERING FAILURE.

WATER PUMP IMPELLER BROKE INTO TWO PIECES IMEEDIATELY PARALIZING THE ENTIRE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS DEFECT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE IS COMMON FOR FORD CONTOURS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 DURATEC ENGINES. ALTHOUGH NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO PASSENGER SAFETY IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, THIS DEFECT IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THE PART GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF GEAR ,CAUSING LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 99V103000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S14 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE RECALL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A REFUND. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 99V103/MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS 99M07, 99M03 AND 99S14 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT FAILURE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HIM HAD SLOWED DOWN, BUT THE CAR BEHIND DIDN'T COMPLY. CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, AND SMASHED IT IN. SEA TBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP HAD CAR OVER TWENTY TWO DAYS, AND VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

BATTERY NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE CURRENT. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. *AK

DUAL FAN ON AIR CONDITIONER WAS CONSTANTLY ON. CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL LETTER FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. BUT, THEN OTHER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING. *AK