79 of the 248 complaints about the 2000 Ford Contour are about the body and structure — 32% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 46,000 miles.
79
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS DELAMINATING AND PEELING UPWARD INTERFERING WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DEFROSTERS AND VISIBILITY. FORD HAS ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND QUALITY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11329060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAD JUST GOT ON INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OUT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FLASHERS ON & TRIED TO GET IN THE LEFT LANE SO I COULD GET ON SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE BUT CARS WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GET OVER. MY CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE. I CALLED ASAP (A SERVICE IN ALABAMA FOR HELP ON THE INTERSTATE) & TOLD THEM WHERE I WAS & I NEEDED THEM TO BRING ME SOME GAS. THEN A CAR CAME FLYING UP BEHIND ME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP & DID NOT HIT ME. THEN THE CAR BEHIND HIM HAD STOPPED BUT A TRUCK BEHIND HER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. HE HIT HER, SHE HIT THE MAN BEHIND ME AND HE HIT ME. PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED FOR A 4 YEAR OLD IN THE WOMANS CAR WHO SAID HIS HEAD HURT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME AND TURNED MY CAR SIDEWAYS & WAS HIT ON THE SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS DRIVING WAY TOO FAST AND DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY FLASHERS AT ALL. THEY WOULD FLY PAST ME BLOWING THEIR HORNS. DID THEY THINK I WAS STOPPED ON PURPOSE? BELIEVE ME IF I COULD HAVE MADE THE CAR GO I WOULD HAVE. THIS CAR DOES THIS SOMETIMES WHEN ON A 1/4 TANK OF GAS, AND SINCE THIS ACCIDENT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT DOES IT ON 3/4 TANK. I DO NOT GET ON INTERSTATE ANYMORE. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY THESE CARS DO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10482382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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CARS DASHBOARD GOT SO HOT THAT IT CURLED UP CAUSING THE FRONT DEFROSTERS NOT TO WORK AND ALSO PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10400911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2000 FORD CONTOUR SVT, 71K MILES THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CURLING, FROM WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MEETS THE DASHBOARD, FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY SLOW, BUT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT NOW SEVERELY INTERFERES WITH DEFROST VENT FLOW AND VISION. THE DEFROST VENT POPPED OUT A YEAR AGO AND NOW DOES NOT FIT. THE CURLING OF THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR DECENT DEFROST AND VENTING, WHICH IN ADDITION TO THE 6 INCHES OF DASHBOARD THAT HAS CURLED UP, INTERFERES WITH ADEQUATE SIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS (STRANGERS) STOP ME OUT-OF-THE-BLUE AND INQUIRE ABOUT MY PROBLEM THAT THEY ALSO HAVE. BASED ON THE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THIS DEFECT, A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED BY FORD!
NHTSA complaint #10353849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
IN MY WIFES CAR THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD IS STARTING TO COME UP ITS RIGHT NEAR THE VENT IN THE CAR IT MAKES DRIVE THE CAR MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE DASH IS NOW BLOCK PART OF THE WINDSHIELD I WAS TOLD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOME ONE BEFORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO.
NHTSA complaint #10321059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD BEGAN SLOWLY WARPING OVER A YEAR. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY AHEAD WAS COMPROMISED, AND THE DEFROSTER VENTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT, SO I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP AT MY FULL COST. SO FAR, THE REPLACEMENT DASH IS OK.
NHTSA complaint #10224388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE DASH BOARD IS CURLED UP. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 2002 AND HAS SLOWLY CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THAT THE TIME FRAME FOR MAKING A CLAIM HAD EXPIRED. WE DIDN'T PROCEED FURTHER BECAUSE THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST US $1000 TO FIX. OUR WARRANTY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED IT "UPHOLSTERY." WE HAVE JUST LEFT IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE CURLED DASH BOARD. PLUS, IN THE WINTER, THE WINDOW DOESN'T DEFROST PROPERLY, AGAIN MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. I JUST SAW YOUR WEBSITE ON LINE TODAY, WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T CONTACT YOU EARLIER.
NHTSA complaint #10197658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR THAT I PURCHASED IN 2000 WHILE I LIVED IN NH. IN EARLY 2001, I MOVED OUT OF NH AND TO MA. LAST YEAR, I STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO A VERY NOTICEABLE WARPING IN MY DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE BLACK VENTING PIECE IS NO LONGER CONNECTED AND COULD BECOME LOSE AND SERVE AS A PROJECTILE IN AN ACCIDENT. MY FRONT WINDSHIELD NO LONG DEFROSTS PROPERLY WHICH CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH SEEING WHILE DRIVING. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2001, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE NOTICE WAS SOMEHOW SENT TO MY OLD ADDRESS.
NHTSA complaint #10184348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPTTO DRIVE THE 2000 FORD CONTOUR SHE GOT IN AND SAW THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS PEELING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL TYPES OF WEATHER MADE IT PEEL MORE AND MORE. HER VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10181363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE DASHBOARD IS WARPED AND IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE BASE CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW AS WELL AS LIMITING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER. HAVE NOT CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AS OF YET AND I AM RELUCTANT TO GIVEN THE GROWING NUMBER OF DISSATISFIED CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. INCIDENT DATE IS UNKNOWN, I USED 1/1/05 BECAUSE THE DEFECT BEGAN IN EARLY PART OF 2005. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN JUNE 2004 AND THERE WAS NO DEFECT AT THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10175011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD ADHESIVE IS DEFECTIVE ON MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR SVT. THE DASH AROUND THE DEFROSTER VENT AND UP TO THE WINDSHIELD HAS WARPED SO BADLY THAT THE DEFROSTER VENT ACTUALLY POPPED OUT OF THE DASH AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DASH EVENTUALLY CURLED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO TOUCH THE DASH, MAKING THE DEFROSTER INEFFECTIVE TO CLEAR FOGGING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALSO SEPARATING FROM THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE WARPING. FORD HAD ORIGINALLY HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY LEFT IT OPEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN FLAW, SO I AM INDICATING THE VEHICLE'S BUILD DATE AS THE INCIDENT DATE, EVEN THOUGH THE DASH CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10174857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SUDDEN WARPAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER ATTACHING TO THE DEFROSTER VENT UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD (ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, NHTSA 624125), CAUSING BLOCKING OF VIEW AND HEAT VENTILATION. FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES STATED ON OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01B78-S2, INSTEAD WANTED THE OWNER TO REPLACE ENTIRE PANEL COVER, WHICH WOULD COST 8-10 TIMES MORE THAN THE 01B78-S2 PROTOCOL.
NHTSA complaint #10173598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD HAS BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS MORE AND MORE NOTICEABLY. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND I HAVE TO WIPE DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH AND DAWN DISH SOAP (TO HELP KEEP THE FOGGING DOWN).
NHTSA complaint #10170327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FOAM COVER ON DASHBOARD HAS WARPED. EDGE NEAREST WINDSHIELD HAS CURLED UP AND IS NOW TOUCHING WINDSHIELD AT LEAST 5 INCHES FROM BASE. WARPED DASHBOARD BLOCKS AIR FROM DEFROSTER RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD AS VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A KNOWN DEFECT (TSB 01B78). FORD HAD AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PLACE BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER DESPITE OWNING THE CAR AND HAVING IT REGISTERED AT THE TIME. A SUPERVISOR AT THE FORD "CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER" TOLD ME THAT "IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE MAIL". I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED. THIS IS NO LONGER AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM AS THE BLOCKAGE OF THE DEFROSTER SEVERELY COMPROMISES SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10168273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD RAISED UP CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. UPDATED 10/2/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10168158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 2000 FORD CONTOUR THAT WAS BOUGHT IN 2001. THE DASH PANEL AROUND THE DEFROSTER GRILL HAS PEELED BACK. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY $1600 TO REPLACE THE DASH. I FEEL THAT SINCE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY DASH REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10164951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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DASHBOARD COMING AWAY FROM FIREWALL WHICH IN TURN DISRUPTS THE DEFROST DUCT ALSO COULD MAKE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, SANTA MARIA FORD, FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORM ME THAT IT IS NOT COVERED THEY STATE THERE IS A FIX WHICH COSTS ABOUT 200 TO 300 DOLLARS (INSTALL YOURSELF) BAD IDEA COULD AFFECT AIR BAGS, TO FIX PROPERLY FORD STATES THE DASH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED 1300.00 DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A DEFECT FOR A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10164671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
SAME AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE DASH BOARD IS COMING APART AND CURLING UP SO THAT THE DEFROSTER VENT IS BLOCKED CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY ($500.00) TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR AS MANUFACTURED. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10161177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR AND THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS VERY WARPED. IT IS CURLING UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEFROST VENT AREA. IT WOULD BE OBSCURING THE FIELD OF VISION OF THE DRIVER IF I HADN'T WEDGED SOMETHING NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD TO HOLD IT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10159195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR AND THE DASHBOARD IS WARPED. IT IS CURLING UP AT THE DEFROST VENT AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10157389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FORD HAD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION (NOT RECALL) ON DASHBOARD WARPING. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE, THE DASH ROLLS UP SO MUCH IT OBSCURES CARS OR OBJECTS THAT ARE VISIBLE NORMALLY AT THE LOW ANGLE OF THE WIND SCREEN. SUCH AS GOING UPHILL OR INCLINE. OR EVEN SMALL CHILDREN IN FRONT. THE WORK TO FASTEN THE DASH DOWN TO REDUCE OBSTRUCTION ONLY WORKED TEMPORALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10148774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR IS PLAGUED WITH THE "DASHBOARD CURL" PROBLEM WHICH, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1998-2000 MODEL YEAR FORD CONTOURS. BASICALLY, AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD (AROUND THE DEFROSTER VENT), THE DASHBOARD HAS COME LOOSE AND IS CURLING UP. BESIDE THE FACT THAT THIS IS ANNOYING AS I LIKE TO KEEP MY VEHICLE IN GOOD SHAPE, IT COULD ALSO POSE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM OF BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I AM TRULY SURPRISED THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED BY A MANUFACTURER RECALL, AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10146548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASH IN MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR HAS WARPED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS NOW ~4 INCHES HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE, AND IS BLOCKING THE HEATER VENT IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE WINDOW CAN NO LONGER BE DEFROSTED BECAUSE THE WARPPING HAS BLOCKED THE HEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10145493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FAX FM CONSUMER WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO GET ASSISTANCE RE A WARPED DASHBOARD ON HIS WIFE'S 2000 FORD CONTOUR, DISSATISFIED W/NHTSA'S PREV. RESPONSES, REPLY EAST GEORGIA REG. OFC., DOT/I#2005-6046 *TS
NHTSA complaint #10144270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FORD CONTOUR SVT DASH WARPAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10142819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD DELAMINATED FROM THE FOAM. THE DASHBOARD LAMINATE WAS PUSHING UPWARD, THUS HINDERING THE CONTACT'S VISION THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOW. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER REVIEW, AND THAT IT WAS COSMETIC. ALSO, HE IS ALSO EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP AND WATER PUMP PROBLEMS. UNDER HARD ACCELERATION THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE BEARINGS ON THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #10142592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
1) NO EVENT YET. 2) THE DASH IS CURLED AND PULLED AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD TO THE POINT THE DEFROSTERS CAN'T WORK. THE ENTIRE FRONT DASH ASSEMBLY HAS TWISTED UNTIL THERE IS TENSION ON THE AIRBAGS, STEERING WHEEL, STEREO HAS FALLEN OUT, NO VENTING WORKS. SO MUCH DISTORTION THAT WE ARE FEARFUL OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASING ANY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. 3) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE ISSUES THE FIRST YEAR AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE DASH, WHY IT WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CAR. HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. THREE TIMES THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE MENTIONED A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE DASHBOARD, BUT STATED "IT'S TOO LATE NOW, IT ENDED IN OCTOBER". I WENT TO THE OWNER OF THE COMMUNITY FORD WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE TOLD ME I HAD TO "GO TO THE MANUFACTURER, FORD" AND GET THE DASH REPLACED." I'VE CONTACTED FORD MOTORS VIA-E-MAIL, AND GET NO RESPONSE. 4) THE DEFROSTERS CAN'T OPERATE BECAUSE THE DASH HAS CURLED AND BLOCKS AIR FROM REACHING THE GLASS. VISIBILITY IS OBSTRUCTED. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE MOVEMENT AND DISTORTION OF THE ENTIRE FRONT DASH IS DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY FOR FEAR OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASING OR THE DASH JUST SIMPLY FALLING INTO OUR LAPS WHILE WE ARE TRAVELING. 5) I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THESE PROBLEMS STARTED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. I'VE HEARD OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF VEHICLE. 6) I LIKE THE CAR, HAS GOOD GAS MILEAGE, ETC., AND CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE. THE SAFETY ISSUES NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. 7) SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED DRIVING THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10138132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
LTR FM DOUGLAS HOLT (GA) 2ND ATTEMPT W/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO GET NHTSA TO REQUIRE FORD TO REPLACE HIS DEFECTIVE WARPED DASHBOARD THAT NOW CAUSES THE WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10129109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DT: THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL CURLED UP. IT PUSHED THE VENTS UP AND THEY WERE COMING LOOSE. IT WAS BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS SIDE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10127620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED AND CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE VENTING SYSTEM. THE DEFROSTER AIR FLOW IS DIVERTED AND ESSENTIALLY USELESS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. I ALSO DID NOT GET THE RECALL, FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TOO LATE. LOCAL DEALER SAID CALL FORD. CUSTOMER SERVICE SUGGESTED I GET IT REPAIRED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO HELP AT THIS TIME. SHE SAID REPORTS LIKE THESE ARE WHAT GET THE ENGINEERS TO CONSIDER RECALLS---WHEN?
NHTSA complaint #10126257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.