1999 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A FENCE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 00V-075 REGARDING PCRV CORROSION, CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER LOOK AT BRAKES BUT THEY REFUSED TO CHECK THEM UNLESS SHE PAID ALTHOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NLM

THE BRAKES MAKE A CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE AND MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS HEATED, THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. *MJS

DURING RECALL REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WITH A BROKEN BRAKE LINE AND GREASE WAS REMAINING ALL OVER THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RECALL REPAIR (00V-075). *MJS

MY VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLES STALLS AFTER SPLASHING THROUGH WATER. ONLY 1-2 INCHES ARE NECESSARY TO CAUSE A STALL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN TURNING IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE WILL SQUEAL, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP AND STEER DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFED IN FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # TSB 97-11-2. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO AFFECT 1995-1998 CONTOURS. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE NOTED THAT MY CONTOUR IS AN EARLY 1999 (MANUFACTURED IN SEPTEMBER 1998). THE TSB DESCRIBES THAT THE VEHICLES NEEDS TO HAVE A SPLASH GUARD INSTALLED. REPEATED REQUESTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE NOT LEAD TO ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THROUGH ANY AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED WATER. ITS TENDENCY TO STALL FORCES ME TO DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES VERY SLOWLY WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR VEHICLES AROUND ME. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE (LABOR AND PARTS). I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOUR AGENCY COULD PROVIDE.

INSIDE TIRE WALL BLEW. NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. NO ROAD HAZARD HIT DURING HISTORY OF CAR. MANUFACTURER SAID DAMAGE HAD TO BE CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD SINCE A DEFECTIVE TIRE NEVER LEAVES THEIR PLANT. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215/50ZR16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/50ZR16 )

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, CONSUMER TOOK THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT SOME WIRES HAD MELTED AND MUST HAVE SHORTED SOMETHING OUT. *SLC

WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A SMALL AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER AT LOW SPEED, ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY. *AK

I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD (DATED AUGUST 18) LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO PAY OVER $700 FOR AN ALTERNATOR (WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONLY 1 YEAR OLD) AND AN AIR FLOW SENSOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 1999 AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REPLACING EITHER AFTER ONLY A YEAR. PLEASE SEE LETTER ATTACHED. THIS MORNING (10/17/00), MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HORN UNABLE TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED. BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING MORE. *AK

POSSIBLE STEERING FAILURE, VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER, CONSUMER ALSO SUSPECTS POSSIBLE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *SLC