2000 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CURLING AND LIFTING UP FROM THE FRAME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR SE WHEN THE GAS TANK GETS BELOW 1/2 TANK. I T BEGINS SPUTTERING AND STALLING BELOW THAT. IT DIES OUT ENTIRE.LY AT 1/4 TANK. I THOUGHT IT WAS WATER IN THE FUEL AT FIRST. AND KEPT MY TANK FILLED AND UTILIZED A "HEET" TYPE PRODUCT. IT BEGAME APPEARANT DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT WATER ICING UP IN THE FUEL.*AK

TOP OF FRONT DASHBOARD HAS DELAMINATED AND CURLED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD, PREVENTING DEFROSTER AIR FLOW FROM OPERATING. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT IN FEB-MAR '04. FORD MOTOR CONTENDS THIS IS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE, AND NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. WILL NOT ASSIST IN $1400 COST TO REPAIR DEFECT.*AK

THE VINYL COVERING ON THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE. IT HAS, OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 5 MONTHS, PEELED BACK FAR ENOUGH THAT IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST VENT TRIM NO LONGER FITS INTO PLACE. THE DEFROSTER NO LONGER WORKS PROPERLY, AS THE VINYL NOW OBSTRUCTS THE AIR FLOW. THE VINYL IS ALSO IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO POTENTIALLY IMPEDE THE FUNCTON OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. FORD HAS ISSUED A COUPLE OF 'CAMPAIGNS', AS THEY CALL IT, BUT BOTH HAVE EXPIRED. MY DASH WAS NOT WARPED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND SO WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME. SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE DASH, FORD WILL NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT (~$1200). THE DASH ON A 3.5 YEAR CAR SHOULD NOT WARP SO BADLY IT LOOKS LIKE A PRINGLES CHIP. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS, AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL.*AK

I WAS DRIVING IN THE EVENING RETURNING HOME-I BRAKED FOR THE RED LIGHT AND HEARD METAL ON METAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND JERKED TO A STOP-I HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY REPAIRS DONE-FAILURE OF THE CALIPERS, ROGER AND LASER ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AND THE HEAT/AIR DOES NOT CIRCULATE PROPERLY. IT IS BEGINNING TO COVER THE VENTS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE CLEARED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY HAVE SEEN VEHICLES WORST THAN HIS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM.*AK

CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND STALLS. AFTER TOWED STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO,HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LAST SUMMER. SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPATURES ARE HOT.*AK

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT 88,000 MILES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT AN AUCTION. THE FED GOV. IS REQUIRED TO MEET MANUFACTURER STANDARDS ON MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH NUMEROUS MECHANICS CAN NOT FIX. THERE IS A VOLTAGE DRAIN, WHICH MAKES FUSES BLOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL, BLINKERS, AND AC DON'T WORK, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT USING A MANUAL OVERRIDE. *AK

Y FUEL PUMP FAILED ON MAY 21, 2003. CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (MILEAGE 41,711). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, TOTAL COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $463.80. DEALERSHIP THAT COMPLETED REPAIRS ADVISED THAT FUEL FILTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED OR WARRANTY ON NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE VOIDED. THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP FAILED ON JUNE 6, 2001 (MILEAGE:8,884). MANUFACTURER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL NEW FUEL FILTER. MARCH 28, 2003 ALTERNATOR FAILED (MILEAGE: 38,307). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $377.36. (ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 31, 2003 (MILEAGE 35,290) CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED DUE TO BATTERY LIGHT HAVING COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. FORD TSB 15830 ADVISES THAT THE LIGHTING OF THE BATTERY LAMP MAY INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN FACT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN MAY HAVE LEAD THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A MORE COSTLY PROBLEM (I.E. ALTERNATOR FAILURE).)*AK