1998 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE IS NOT SAFE FOR ADULTS BECAUSE OF THE MODIFICATION FOR CHILD SEATS. THE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER ANY NORMAL MOVEMENT. *AK

WHENEVER THE BUILT-IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT STRAP CLIP IS PULLED OR TUGGED ON, IT BECOMES UNLATCHED. THIS HAPPENS AFTER IT'S LOCKED IN (CLICKED SOUND) & THE DOT TURNS FROM RED TO GREEN TO SAY SEAT IS LATCHED IN PROPERLY. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS DUST UNDERNEATH. DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE ANY PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

A LARGE PORTION OF BACK SPLIT 40/60 FOLD DOWN SEATIS VERY DIFFICULT TO LATCH INTO UPRIGHT POSITION. IT TAKE SNUMEROUS ATTRMPTS AT SLAMMING THE SEATBACK, USING A LOT OF FORCE BEFORE THE LATCH WILL CATCH.

VEHICLE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION FROM FRONT DRIVE TRAIN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH.

REAR DISC BRAKES DRAGGING. THE REAR BRAKE PADS REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS EVEN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE AND SERVICE BRAKE ARE RELEASED. SYMPTOMS REAR WHEELS WILL NOT TURN FREELY, REAR ROTORS APPEAR SCORED FROM CONTINUOUS PAD-CONTACT, EXCEPTIONALLY POOR FUEL ECONOMY (17-18 MPG HIGHWAY VS. 29 MPG EPA/DOE RATING). DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSE TO ADMIT EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THE REAR BRAKES CLEARLY FAIL THE DIAGNOSTIC 'PINPOINT TESTS' SPECIFIELD IN FORD'S 1998 CONTOUR/MYSTIQUE WORKSHOP MANUAL. THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED, BUT IT MAY BE RELATED TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TSB 97-5-2 AND/OR TSB 96-25-6.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHILE IN USE AT NIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THIS WAS NOT SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

DAS TANK DEFORMED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER/STALLING. IN ADDITION. IN ADDITION, STUTTERING OF ENGINE DUE TO FALSE GAS GAUGE READINGS. *AK