1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

I OWN A 1996 FORD CONTOUR [XXX] THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT ON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM (RECALL 99S14) BACK IN 1999. UPON BRINGING THE CAR INTO AN BROOKDALE FORD (BROOKLYN CENTER, MN), THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALREADY FIXED ON MY CAR (EVEN THOUGH I NEVER BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THIS SERVICE). THEY REFUSED TO HELP. EVEN IF THE RECALL WAS FIXED ON MY CAR, THE FACT THAT THE SAME TWO PARTS OF MY CAR (INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TAIL LIGHTS) FAILED, TELLS ME THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. ALSO, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT SEND ME A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER ON MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR. I NEED TO SEND MY CAR BACK TO FORD MOTOR ASAP, AND FORD NEEDS TO SEND ME A BRAND NEW CAR. DUE TO ALSO SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 1999 EVERY PART IN MY CAR IS A DEFECT FRAUD NON FORD, ALSO NEWMAN FORD IN SALEM, NH REFUSED AND DISCRIMINATED MY DISABILITY AND LAUGHED AT ME AND DENIED MY SERVICES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, AND THEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *AK

CAR STALLS WHEN PARALLEL PARKING, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE, OR WHEN PARKING SLOPES. CAR STALLED WHEN STARTING UP FROM RED LIGHT IN CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA INTERSECTIONS. HEADLAMPS OUT OF ALIGNMENT (DON'T SHINE DOWN ONTO ROAD, BEAMS NOT CENTERED). AIR BAG LIGHT ON CONTROL PANELS BLINKS SPORADICALLY, FREQUENTLY; ANXIETY THAT AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER COMMENT ON STALLING: "PROBABLY SOMETHING STUPID" AND WASN'T ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A VACUUM TUBE. DEALER CHARGED $95 TO TELL ME THAT THE MEMORY IN THE VEHICLE DIDN'T GIVE ANY CODES FOR THE STALLING OR AIR BAG PROBLEMS, THEN ADDED THAT THE MEMORY IS WIPED CLEAN EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. QUESTION: IF THEY KNOW THAT ABOUT THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHY CHARGE THE CUSTOMER FOR A POINTLESS DIAGNOSTIC? HEADLIGHTS STILL OUT OF ALIGNMENT AFTER HAVING BEEN "ADJUSTED" BY DEALER IN JANUARY 2005. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I BOUGHT A 1996 FORD CONTOUR SE IN JUNE OF 2003.I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP 4 TIMES.I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A MAN WHO BLEW THE ENGINE BECUASE THE WATER PUMP WENT AND HE LET THE CAR OVER HEAT.I HAVE REPLACED IT IN OCT.2003,FEBRUARY 2004,JUNE 2004,AND DEC.2004.IT IS REALLY STARTED TO BECOME A BURDEN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE THEN SHIFT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR DETERIORATED AND FANS OUT THEREFORE CAN NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN. *TC

I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 14TH THIS YEAR. I CAN NOT FILL MY GAS TANK ALL THE WAY FULL. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING GAS EVERY TIME I DO. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT STORES WHEN I GAS UP MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM ON LEVEL GROUND IT STILL LEAVES A PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. IT IS WORSE IF I PARK ON ANYTHING BUT LEVEL GROUND . PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

RUSTING WINDSHIELD FRAMING. *BF CONSUMER WORRIED ABOUT THE WINDOW BLOWING OUT. *TC