163 of the 4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour are about the other systems — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
163
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE CAR HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING APART. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100K MILES AND WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY EXTREME CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKS OUT OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE ALMOST AS QUICKLY AS IT IS POURED IN AND HAS LEFT THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE WITHOUT EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10851796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL I AND OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR AND IT'S DEFECTIVE PARTS INCLUDING THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM STATING IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL T*JBREATING EACH PERSON WHO HAS CONTACTED THEM AS IF THEY ARE AN ISLAND AND THIS IS A ISOLATED EVENT MY WATER PUMP,FLASHERS,BRAKE LIGHTS,HAVE BEEN ALL AFFECTED BY THIS ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON MAKING ME UNABLE TO REGISTER MY CAR AND GET UPDATED TAGS PLEASE CONTACT T ME REGARDING THIS MATTER AS I AND OTHER CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS .[XXX] VIA EMAIL ALSO [XXX]. VIN INVALID INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint #10808252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER - NO MECHANIC COULD FIND OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE WILL NOT GO OFF -VERY COSTLY. IT STALLS WHEN RAINING, THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, IT HAS TO WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL MOVE, THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME LOOSE, CAUSING MELTING OF HOUSING, EVERY VALVE IMAGINABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BELT SQUEALS WHEN AIR OR DEFROST TURNED ON.
NHTSA complaint #10260956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT WAS MADE, THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A GAP NEXT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT, WHICH OVER TIME, CAUSED THE VENT TO SINK BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (KEN GORDON FORD) AND HAD IT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10214834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. I BOUGHT IT USED, AND WITHIN A 1 YEAR REMAINDER OF A 3 YEAR WARRANTY. I WAS NEVER OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED OF SEVERAL DEFECTS AND NHTSA RECALLS THAT ARE STILL IN EFFECT FOR THIS CAR MODEL YEAR. ONE OF THE REPAIRS FOR THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS PERFORMED TWICE, HOWEVER IT WAS NEVER DONE TO MY SATISFACTION AND IT DID NOT MEET THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY AS EXPECTED FOR THE RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT AFTER WHAT I HAVE READ. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS VERY NEGLIGENT IN FOLLOWING UP WITH CONSUMERS ON THESE ISSUES, AND THEY KEEP AN OUTDATED DATABASE OF FORMER OWNERS WHICH THEY FAIL TO UPDATE WITH THE CURRENT OWNERS IN CASES WHERE THE CAR OWNERSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS. I AM KIND OF CLOSE TO HIRING A LAWYER TO SUE THEM OVER THESE RECALL ISSUES. WHAT SHOULD I DO? ARE THEY STILL OBLIGATED TO FIX THE RECALL ISSUES AT THEIR EXPENSE? I AM CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT TO PUT ONE DIME OF MY OWN MONEY INTO THAT CAR TO FIX ISSUES COVERED BY RECALLS. AGAIN, I DO NOT WISH TO FIGHT OR WRANGLE WITH A COMPANY THAT IS SO AWFUL WHO PUTS OUT A TERRIBLE AND CHEAP PRODUCT LIKE THE FORD CONTOUR, THEN WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR. HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE FORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO, I WILL RESERVE MY RIGHT TO PURSUE THIS UNDER THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. PLEASE ADVISE. SINCERELY, MR. MCDONOUGH
NHTSA complaint #10209371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VINYL DASHBOARD ON MY 200 FORD CONTOUR SVT IS WARPING CAUSING THE VINYL TO RISE INTO THE DRIVER FOV.
NHTSA complaint #10205376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD HAS WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE THE DEFROSTER PLASTIC VENT DOES NOT FIT IN ITS DESIGNATED SPOT. DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AS A RESULT OF THE AIR NOT BEING DIRECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10186420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2000 FORD CONTOUR TOP OF DASH WARPED SEVERELY.
NHTSA complaint #10186323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. DASH WARP CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, DEFROSTER MALFUNCTION, LOOSE TRIM. I DROVE OVER A SEAM IN THE ROADWAY AT AN OVERPASS (SMALL BUMP) & THE VENT TRIM POPPED LOOSE. THIS IS SIMPLY AN AGING ISSUE AS THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL EVENT. MY CAR IS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR, BUT THIS ISSUE IS ALSO PREVALENT ON THE MERCURY MYSTIQUE 1999 & 2000 , AND SOME 1998 MODELS WITH THE NEWER STYLE DASH. 2. THE TRIM POPPED LOOSE FROM THE DASH WHILE COMMUTING ON I-45 TO WORK. THE VENT TRIM CAME TO REST IN FRONT OF THE AIR BAG & ON MY ARMS AS I DROVE, BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 3. THE VENT TRIM WAS PLACED LOOSELY ONTO THE DASH SO THE DEFROSTER WOULD STILL BE USABLE, BUT THE WARPED DASH PREVENTS IT FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED. A NEW VENT TRIM WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN OLD RECALL WHICH INCLUDED A 'REPAIR KIT', BUT IT HAS EXPIRED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RECALL RE-INSTATED.
NHTSA complaint #10179536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VENT BRACKET ON THE DASH BECAME LOOSE AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF WHEN I REMOVED IT FROM THE CAR. THE DASH PAD BEGAN TO SHRINK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE GOT THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUED TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT IN 2004. THERE WAS A REPAIR CAMPAIGN FOR A 6 MONTH PERIOD--BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT PART TO ME AT NO COST. I WILL INSTALL IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER IS BLOCKED BY THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHRINKING DASH PAD; PART OF THE DRIVER'S VISION IS BLOCKED; THE GRILLE IS DANGEROUS IF IT BECOMES LOOSE IN THE CAR; THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WILL BE INTERFERED WITH UNLESS THERE IS A REMEDY.
NHTSA complaint #10175225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH WARPED ON 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN FEB. OF 2001 AND HAD THE DASH REPLACED ONCE ALREADY WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER FORD'S WARRANTY. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED FORD REFUSED TO HELP AS MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE DASH IS SEVERELY WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. CONSIDERING MY HEIGHT, IT HAS CERTAINLY HAD AN EFFECT ON MY VISION OF THE ROAD. IT ALSO HAS AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE DEFROSTER FUNCTION. THE FRONT OF THE DASH IS NOW BEGINNING TO WARP AS WELL JUST ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO HELP. PLEASE HELP!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10174712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT PANEL PADDING PULLING LOOSE AND CURLING AT WINDSHIELD. ALSO DEFROSTER GRILLE POPPED OFF. INTERFERES WITH DEFROST AIR FLOW. PADDING GLUED AND STAPLED AND OLD DEFROSTER GRILL ATTACHED WITH SCREWS. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED TO HAVE WORKING ROOM. REPAIR WAS MADE BY AN AUTO TRIM SHOP WITH A COST OF $400.00
NHTSA complaint #10166476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR'S PAINT IS PEELING AND STARTING TO RUST ON THE ROOF.
NHTSA complaint #10164147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE DASHBOARD DOWN LET LOOSE BLOCKING THE DEFROSTER MAKING IT UNABLE TO SEE BOTH IN WINTER AND ON RAINING DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10159573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS NO INCIDENTS TO REPORT. HOWEVER THE DASH ON THIS VEHICLE IS WARPED. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM ON FORD CONTOURS AND MERCURY MSYTIQUE'S THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1999. THE WARPAGE REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND PREVENTS THE DEFOGGER FROM OPERATING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10156579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH WARPAGE ON 1999 FORD CONTOUR: DASH HAS WARPED AT LEAST 3 INCHES. DEFROSTER VENT CAN NO LONGER FIT INTO DASH CAUSING DEFROSTING ISSUES FOR DRIVER. WARPAGE IS VERY NEAR FRONT PASSENGER DASH AIRBAG. FORD AND THE DEALER RESPOND THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR DASH WARPAGE. I HAVE FOUND A NOTATION FOR A RECALL 01B78 DASH WARPAGE ON A SERVICE INVOICE FROM SEPT. 2001. DEALER RAN CHECKED RECALL AND FOUND NO WARPAGE AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10151827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.