1998 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V243000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT (3->2) HARD RECENTLY, AND I BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO PERFORMED SEVERAL TESTS AND GAVE IT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. ~5,000 MI LATER WHILE GENTLY SLOWING TO TURN LEFT FROM A MAJOR STREET, IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD RUN OVER SOME WALNUT SHELLS. AS I BEGAN TO EASE OPEN THE THROTTLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN, THE ENGINE BOGGED AND THE CAR LURCHED, MAKING SOME CRUNCHING SOUNDS. I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER OR BY PUSHING BY HAND. LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS HAVE SAID THE CD4E TRANSMISSION IS NOTORIOUS FOR EARLY FAILURE, AND THAT I WAS LUCKY TO GET 102,000 MILES FROM IT BECAUSE MANY FAIL BY 40,000 MILES. THEY HAVE QUOTED ME REPAIR PRICES RANGING FROM $1500 TO $3500. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THIS FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE EITHER ON THE FREEWAY OR ON A CURVY ROAD, AS AN AXLE LOCKUP LIKE THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

ALL THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD HAS BRITTLE INSULATION. EVERY SENOR. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL 99M03 WHICH IS SHOULD SINCE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 1997 AND TITLED A 1998. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *JB

MY DASH ON MY 98 CONTOUR HAS BEEN WARPING / CURLING , EVEN WHILE IT KEPT IN MY GARAGE , IN A COOL CLIMATE . ALSO MY REAR BUMPER IS SAGGING FOR NO APPARENT REASON . *JB

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 01V230000 . THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO FIX THE RECALL AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AND IT REQUIRED THEM TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. SHE DID NOT START EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM UNTIL 2005. THE BLOWER DID NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE NEW OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE VINE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER IT EXPIRED. THEY SAID THAT THE TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL WAS EITHER THE FIRST SIX YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED OR 72,000 MILES. THEREFORE, THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THE TIME LIMIT. *AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CONSUMER COULD NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, DID A POWER STEERING FLUSH. *AK *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A REAR COIL SPRING PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS BE REPLACED. A RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS ISSUED, BUT NOT ON THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY TYPE OF SERVICE UNDER A RECALL, AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THIS DECISION BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON 5/15/97 BUT IS TITLED AS A 1998 VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR VEHICLES FOR A PROBLEM WHERE THE INSULATION FALLS OFF THE UNDERHOOD WIRING. MY VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM TO THE EXTENT THAT BARE COPPER WIRING IS EXPOSED AT EVERY CONNECTOR UNDER THE HOOD AND I AM SURE IN PLACES THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE AS WELL. IF THESE WIRES CONTACT EACH OTHER, POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING, LOSS OF LIGHTING, COOLING AND EVEN ENGINE FIRES ARE POSSIBLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS TITLED AS A 1998 EVEN THOUGH IT WWAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997 WITH THE SAME PARTS AS THE VEHICLES THEY ARE OFFERING TO REPAIR. I AM REFERING TO THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION 99M03 WHICH CALLS FOR ALL WIRING HARNESSES TO BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. MY LOCAL FORD EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND AGREED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NECESSARY FOR THE ONTINUED SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE BUT WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE VIN IN HIS SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE TITLE YEAR, (1998 BUT BUILT IN 1997 WITH 1997 PARTS). THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON ARE REFUSING TO MAKE GOOD ON MY VEHICLE. *NM

DT: THE CALLER FOUND A RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS IT WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION AND NOT A RECALL. THE CALLER HAS NOT HAD THE FAILURE YET THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS SOME CORROSION ON THE COIL N SPRINGS. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS UNTIL THEY FRACTURED.*AK

JAN, 2004: 1998 FORD CONTOUR RECALL PERFORMED (BRACKETS FOR FRONT SPRINGS). AUG, 2005: REPLACED TIRES ON 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE USING P205/60R15 TIRES SUGGESTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE BRACKET BOLTS INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL, CAUSING TIRE TO BE GOUGED (TRIED 3 BRANDS, ALL HAD SAME CONTACT PROBLEM). FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRACKET. I ENDED UP USING A DIFFERENT TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15, WHICH BARELY CLEARS THE BRACKED BOLTS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE BRACK RECALL / TIRE COMBINATION.