231 of the 4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour are about the body and structure — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
231
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
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
REAR FRAME, SUSPENSION RUSTED COMPLETELY INTO AN WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND THREW ME INTO DITCH. THIS IS COMPLETELY NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE 1960'S CARS %100 BETTER THAN THIS . I KNOW THIS IS A 1999 BUT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10954971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10748430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FUEL TANK STRAP IS COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY, AND THE FUEL TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF. THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF, CAUSING THE FUEL STRAP TO BE EATEN AWAY BY RUST AND CORROSION. THE FUEL TANK IS GOING TO FALL OFF EVENTUALLY. THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND EMISSION FITTINGS AT THE TANK, ARE CORRODING BADLY TOO.
NHTSA complaint #10559782 — 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.
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD WINDSHIELD AIR/DEFROSTING VENT COVER BELOW THE WINDSHIELD POPPED OFF AND THE DASHBOARD PADDING HAS PEALED UP BLOCKING WINDSHIELD/FORWARD VISIBILITY. THIS HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL THE VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION. ALL REMEDIES WE HAVE TRIED HAVE ONLY SEEM TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY RELIEF. I HAVE PICTURES. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER CONTOUR OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I HAVE SEEN CONTOURS IN PARKING LOTS WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS IDENTIFIED IN A PAST SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND POOR DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10464182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA complaint #10430469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD CURLED UPWARD. THE DAMAGED DASHBOARD CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROST AND AIR CONDITIONER, BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST. THE CONTACT PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW WHENEVER IT RAINED OR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CHILLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10416925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
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.
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR SPORT V6. MY MOTOR/TRANMISSION MOUNTS KEEP FAILING A HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. CAUSING MANY ENGINE ISSUES. HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MECHANICS, EVEN DEALERSHIP. BEEN TOLD THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FAULT. WHY HAS NHTSA NOT MADE A RECALL. TO MAKE THE COMPANY FIX THEIR MISTAKE OR AT LEAST A WAY TO KEEP MOUNTS FROM FAILING. ALL I KEEP GETTING IS "THATS JUST HOW ITS MADE". WHEN COPARING THE FROD REPLACEMENT PART TO THOSE SOLD AT MY LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE ITS THE SAME THING. SO AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT MADE TO PARTS. HAD MY TRANS MISSION REPLACED-THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED-THEY NOTED THAT THE LEAK WAS DO TO FAILED MOUNTS.
NHTSA complaint #10395278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DASH CURLING BACK. STRAP FOR FUEL TANK RUSTED, GOING TO BREAK, RUST ON BRAKE LINE, RUST UNDER BOTH BACK DOORS AND SPREADING TO UNDERNEATH CAR, RADIO SPEAKERS OUT, CAR HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING, TRUNK LEAKS DEFROSTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF DASH. WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL FOR DASH. SHOULD BE RECALL FOR CORROSION PROBLEM AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SO I TAKE A HUGE CHANCE EVERYTIME I DRIVE WHICH IS 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK TO WORK.. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. PIECE OF JUNK AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE CARS OR REPLACE THEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE STRAP FOR FUEL TANK IS GOING TO BREAK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A JOKE!
NHTSA complaint #10379607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
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:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE REPLACED STARTER AND BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES FEELS LIKE SUSPENSION IS FALLING APART AND NEVER NOTIFIED I HAVE SMALL AND OLDER CHILDREN SHAMEFUL. THESE EVENTS STARTING TAKING PLACE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1999 ARM CONTROL 3 TIMES REPLACED I WAS LIED TO BY FORD AND SAID I MUST OF HIT A BUMP BUMP MY BUMP 3 TIMES ALMOST DEAD.
NHTSA complaint #10287331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE WARPING DASH ON VARIOUS FORD PRODUCTS SUCH AS HIS 1999 FORD CONTOUR. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED FORD ISSUED A RECALL IN 2001 TO REPLACE THE DASH BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WARPING. APPARENTLY, FORD NEVER FIXED THE MANUFACTURING FLAW BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT DASH STARTED TO WARP SOON AFTERWARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DASH WARPED UPWARDS, IMPACTING THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER. THE WARPING ALSO IMPACTED THE OPERATION OF THE DEFROSTER, SO THE FRONT WINDOW WAS NOT BEING DEFROSTED WHICH CAUSED VISIBILITY ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10287509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FALLING APART IN HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN THE DEFROST VENT WAS BEGINNING TO PUSH OUTWARD DUE TO THE BENDING OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE GLOVE BOX IS OPENED, IT FALLS TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS SHIFTED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE OUTSIDE OR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,090.
NHTSA complaint #10273662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. DEAL PUT SOME TYPE OF GLUE ON IT BUT ITS NOT STAYING DOWN. NOW ALMOST THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP. I READ THERE WAS A RECALL. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED? NOT HAPPY WITH FORD
NHTSA complaint #10246022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
REAR PASSENGER DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THE WINDOWS ONLY OPEN HALF WAY AS A CHILD SAFETY FEATURE.
NHTSA complaint #10231416 — 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.
STRUCTURE
1999 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT DASHBOARD PEELING. MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO PEEL AWAY AT APPROX 60,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF A RECALL ON THIS MATTER, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY A SECRET. I HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DUE TO THE LAX CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ALL THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED (I AM 60 AND HARDLY HOT RODDING), REAR STRUTS AND SOMETHING RELATED TO A LOUD HUMMING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CAR TO REMAIN IN WORKING ORDER AND PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND ALSO A FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10199517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.