1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

ACCELERATOR STICKS AND DRIVER HAS TO PUSH HARD, THEN IT OVERACCELERATES, AND THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN FRONT. THERE'S TOO MUCH FORCE.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN AN OPERATING CONDITION TO ENABLE THE IGNITION KEY TO BE PULLED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. SPOKE TO CAPISTRANO FORD, STATED CAR USED AND COST OF REPAIR: $200.00. *AK

AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER THIS RECALL THE A/C COMPRESSOR, WHICH FAILED PREMATURELY. CHRIS EARLY, AT JOE MACHENS FORD, COLUMBIA, MO, INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER, AND SO, WILL NOT COVER THE WORK UNDER THIS RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER AND ITS PROBLEM (BLOWING AIR QUITE HARD, BUT WITH NONE COMING OUT THE VENTS, AND NOT HEATING OR COOLING THE CAR/DEFROSTING THE WINDOW). THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN 9 OR 10 TIMES TO HAVE THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PROBLEM FIXED, I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT FROM TIME TO TIME. SURELY THIS KIND OF STRAIN CAUSED THE A/C COMPRESSOR TO WORK HARDER, AND BE SUBJECT TO UNDUE STRESS AND THEREFORE IMMATURE WEAR AND TEAR AND ULTIMATELY FAILURE. (EVEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE EARLINESS OF THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ANYWHERE WITH FORD IN THE PAST -- I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SORT OF REPLY FROM FORD AS TO MY INQUIRIES TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH I REGISTERED IN WRITING TO THEM IN AUGUST 1998. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK! *AK

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER DRIVER WAS ALERTED THAT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRE DEPT SUSPECTED EXPLOSION IN OIL CRANKCASE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR STALLS, DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

UPON SLIGHTLY WET SURFACE OR POSSIBLE OIL DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES SLIGHTLY, HE LOST CONTROL, HITTING CURB W/CAUSE UNKNOWN, RESULTIN GIN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK

LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE, CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT, ALSO NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRB AG UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH, UPON TURNING KEY, ENGINE WON'T START, INSTEAD WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVEDWITHOUT ENGAGING WIPER SWITCH.*AK

COATING INSIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL COME OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR ALSO CAUSES SEVERE STALLING. *AK

ENGINE PISTON AND VALVE FRACTURED UNDER NORMAL DRIVIN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SEIZE WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. *AK