SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10167163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ford Contour seat problems
63 of the 4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour are about the seats — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
63
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
16
Crashes
1
Fires
Seats complaints by model year
What owners said
SEATS
DT: THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARDS AND THE HINGE BROKE. THE SEAT FELT LOSE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BREAKAGE WAS DUE TO FATIGUE OF THE SEAT FRAME. THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10146789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR VIN [XXX] BROKE OFF EVENING OF 05/05/05 AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THIS IS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND/OR MATERIALS, AND THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE FREE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID FORD WOULD NOT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10120287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Exton, PA
SEATS
I OWN A 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE, RECENTLY ON 10-13-04 I WAS DRIVING AND THE BACK OF MY SEAT GAVE OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL BUT AVOID AN ACCIDENT. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE SEAT, I FOUND THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE METAL HAD SHEARED IN HALF, I COULDN''T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAD HAPPENED. THE BOLT WAS STILL INTACT, THE METAL HAD JUST SHEARED INTO TOP AND BOTTOM CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL IMMEDIATELY BACKWARDS. I SENT EMAILS TO FORD MOTOR CORPORATION AND THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM BRAND NEW, SEEING IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP. SO FAR I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY RESPONSE AND MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS, WITH NO USABLE SEAT BELT AND NO SUPPORT TO DRIVE. I AM A RECENT COLLEGE GRAD AND CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT WORK, SO I MUST STILL DRIVE IT EVERYDAY.
NHTSA complaint #10095783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSED REARWARD DURING LOW SPEED REAR-IMPACT COLLISION. DRIVER EJECTED INTO BACK SEAT. BROKEN NECK. QUADRIPLEGIA.
NHTSA complaint #10066174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK FLOORBOARD BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10066816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Philadelphia, PA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER SEAT LEFT SIDE SNAPPED ( NOT THE HINGE ) WHILE ENTERING MY CAR. CAUSING IT TO FALL BACK, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10058116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
2000 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT AUTOMATIC, 64,200 MILES. MY PREGNANT WIFE AND I WERE REAR ENDED BY A MAN IN A FORD CARGO VAN DOING ABOUT 40 MPH, NOT PAYING ATTENTION. CONDITIONS WERE SUNNY AND WARM, ABOUT 1:15 PM. I WAS THE DRIVER AND WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, WAITING FOR A FORD TAURUS IN FRONT OF ME TO TURN LEFT ONTO A SIDE STREET. DURING THE COLLISION THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE INTO A RECLINED POSITION (WE BOTH ENDED UP LOOKING AT THE ROOF BECAUSE OF THE SEAT POSITION) WHICH WOULD HAVE CRUSHED THE LEGS OF REAR SEAT PASSENGERS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECAME UNBUCKLED AS WELL. I WAS PUSHED INTO THE TAURUS BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10046913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 Ford Contour
Canoga Park, CA
SEATS
THE VEHICLE HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW JAMMED. THE RUBBER PIECE AROUND THE FRAME OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT CONSTANTLY CAME OFF. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND IN THE REAR SEATS TWISTED AND JAMMED. THE DASHBOARD COVER CAME LOOSE. THE RADIO OPERATED POORLY. THE TRUNK LATCH OFTEN REQUIRED MULTIPLE PULLS TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A WHINING/GRINDING NOISE. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1997 Ford Contour
Greenville, AL
SEATS
CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OFF OR BRAKING THE PASSENGER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO JERK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #10003795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Uniontown, PA
SEATS
I ACCELERATED LEAVING A STOP LIGHT AND THE DRIVER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. UPON FURTHER REVIEW A METAL BRACKET SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF. I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET AND IT APEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. HOWEVER, FORD SEEMS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ITAND THE PART IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. MR
NHTSA complaint #768114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Long Beach, CA
SEATS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE DUE TO FAULTY TRACK, THE SEAT BELT WAS ALSO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #566887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEATBACK COLLAPSED DUE TO A REAR END COLLISION FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE SITTING STILL. SPEED FROM OTHER VEHICLE WAS 55 MPH. TRUNK CRUMBLED, AND VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED FROM THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. DRIVER DID SUSTAIN A SEVERE HEAD INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #8015463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Clinton Township, MI
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME LOOSE AND FELL INTO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT WAS CRTACKED. *AK THE RECALL (99B23) ON THE WATER PUMP EXPIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS BOOKED UP SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8014450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Inglewood, CA
SEATS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT,BACKREST,RIGHT SIDE,INTERNAL STEEL FRAMEWORK,SNAPPED COMPLETELY THROUGH,CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND ALMOST BEING INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #763191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REARENDED, AND SEAT BROKE OFF THE TRACK.
NHTSA complaint #8004621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Arcata, CA
SEATS
THIS PRETAINS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE REINFORCING BAR ATTACHED TO THE REAR, UNDERSIDE OF THE SEAT PAN HAS SNAPPED. THIS BAR CONNECTS THE SEAT PAN BOTTOM TO THE SEAT TRACKS. THE BROKEN BAR IS ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SEAT AND TRACK ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #758159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 Ford Contour
Yonkers, NY
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEAT WAS REPAIRED BECAUSE OF SQUEAKS AND BROKEN STABILIZER BAR UNDER THE SEAT BASE. SEAT WAS STABILE AFTER REPAIR WITH NO MORE SQUEAKS. I GOT INTO THE CAR TODAY, AND AS I TURNED TO GRAB MY SEATBELT, THE SEAT BACK SUDDENLY GAVE WAY. I CAN NO LONGER USE THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO SUPPORT MYSELF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTOUR IS BEING TAKEN TO SMITH-CAIRNS FORD ON 2/11/2002 FOR REPAIRS. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECASUE I THINK THAT FORD SHOUD CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY DEFECT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR, ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 76,000 MILES AND HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH THE SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #758060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Ford Contour
Barboursville, WV
SEATS
THE MOUNTS FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT ARE ABOUT TO BREAK OFF. I HEARD A LOUD "POP" WHILE IN MID CORNER, THEN THE SEAT BEAN TO LEAN HARD. WHEN THESE MOUNTS COMPLETELY BREAK, I BELIEVE IT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD CONTOURS, PLEASE DO SOMETHING AS THESE SEATS ARE NOT SAFE. HOW CAN FORD EXPECT SOMEONE TO REMAIN IN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE IF THE SEAT BREAKS OFF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING?
NHTSA complaint #757137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Ford Contour
Micaville, NC
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEATBACK BROKEN SIX INCHES UP FROM BOTTOM ON OUTSIDE POST.
NHTSA complaint #750738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.