1998 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

COIL SPRING EXPLODED WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. THIS CAUSED RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO BE SLICED. FRONT END SEIZED UP AFTER VEHCLE COLLAPSED TO GROUND.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 5MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LOOSE LUGS: NUTS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FOLLOWING: FUEL FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, TRANSMISSION, CV BOOT, BRAKES, AIR FILTER, WIRE, ROTORS NEED TURNING, TIMING GEAR, TIMING BELT, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *SLC

I SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS 2 LOUD BANGS AND MY WHEELS FROZE. THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING LET GO, SLASHING MY TIRE ON THE INSIDE AROUND THE WHEEL (BRAND NEW TIRE APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS OLD), THE CAR FROZE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997 CONTOUR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY MADE A REPORT BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE CAR. NOT EVEN 60 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT A SPEED OF 65MPH. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN TRANSIT THE CAR WOULD HAVE FROZE CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING MY DEATH. I FEEL ESPECIALLY WITH A RECALL ON THE 1997 CONTOUR THAT THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT, THERE IS A SLIP WHEN YOU APPLYING GEARS. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND GRABS A LITTLE BIT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BRAKES HAVE FAILED, ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A CHILD, BRAKE PEDAL SLIPS FROM UNDER FOOT. EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ONLY EFFECTIVE 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES GEARS ROUGHLY, AT TIMES JARRING OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: LIGHT OF THE CLOCK HAS BURNED OUT TWICE, CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE SHORTS IN THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE HEATER OR A/C TO ONLY HAVE ONE SPEED WORKING, DOME LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, LIGHT UNDER DASH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, WARNING BELL DOES NOT CHIME ALL THE TIMES IT SHOULD, CONSUMER STATES A SENSOR CAUSES HEATER TO ACT AS THE AC AND VICE VERSA. HINGES NOT MADE PROPERLY, CAUSING DOOR MOVEMENT WHILE OPENING/CLOSING, DOES NOT STOP WHEN IT SHOULD. SEAT BLET RETARCTION DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ELAST, CAUSING IT NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY, HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE DOOR JAM. ALARM SYSTEM HAS FAILED. WHEEL COVER CRACKED WHEN A TIRE WAS BEING CHANGED AND ANOTHER ONE FELL OFF, CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TIME OR PLACE IT FELL OFF. *SLC

WITHIN 55,000 MILES ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, AND ENGINE TO RISE WHEN ACCELERATING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO LEFT TO AVOID DEBRIS IN STREET. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , STEERING WAS UNCONTROLABLE, AND THEN VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED OUT ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED BELT AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP FRONT BRAKES GRIND. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO REPAIR SHOP, WERE MECHANIC STATED THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE TOO SOFT, AND ROTORS HAVE WORNOUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP PREMATURELY CAUSING CAR TO PULL VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT HAD THERE BEEN A CAR TO THE RIGHT. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL DUE TO OTHERS HAVING WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS PREMATURELY. *AK

CONSUMER SPED UP TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS RACING UP TO 2000 RPM/, STALLING, AND MAKING A RUMBLING SOUND. DEALER STATED OXYGEN SENSOR HAD GONE BAD. IT CONTROLS AMOUNT OF AIR AND GAS MIXTURE. *AK

THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOSES ALL FUNCTION. NLM