232 of the 4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
232
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
7
Fires
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The dash is curling up
NHTSA complaint #11520293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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.
VISIBILITY
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.
VISIBILITY
VISORS FALL OUT OF ROOF WHEN TOUCHED, HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10314824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. THE BLOWER CONTROLS THE DEFROSTER AND HEATER. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN FOG, FROST ETC SO VISIBILITY IS GREATLY LIMITED. IF ONE CAN SEE WELL AN ACCIDENT IS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10279197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
HAPPENED AROUND OCT 15, 2008 AT NIGHT, BETWEEN MARSHALL AND OLIVET MI. FAILURE WAS WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE, CAUSING WIPERS TO BLOW OFF THE VEHICLE. PART IS HARD TO FIND, LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED FOR SAFETY OBVIOUSLY. WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE WELL, SINCE NEXT EXIT WAS STILL MILES AWAY. NO EASY WAY TO FIX THIS IN AN EMERGENCY, LIKE THIS. THIS TYPE OF LINKAGE IS UNSAFE, AND I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WITH IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10246227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE CLOUDING OF HEADLIGHT LENS - IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD AND VERY DANGEROUS...THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ANY INCIDENTS BEFORE THIS IS LOOKED INTO..... LETS DO IT BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES!!
NHTSA complaint #10234642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DASH ON FORD CONTOUR WARPS, INTERFERING WITH VISION AND DEFROST CAPABILITIES OF VEHICLE. FORD HAD A ONE RECALL ON THE DASH, BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10213358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR FOR THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN SWITCH FAILED AND WOULD COST $58 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER KEPT CHANGING THE DIAGNOSIS UNTIL THE CONTACT SPENT $271; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I009000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM: WINDSHIELD: CONTROLS/WIRING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEN YEAR FREE PERIOD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10208516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL # 01I009000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:CONTROLS/WIRING) IN 2001. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO DO NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL # 99V103000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) IN 1999. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 92,794 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08
NHTSA complaint #10195359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN SUNLIGHT EVERYDAY; BLOWER SEPARATED FROM DASHBOARD AND DASHBOARD IS NOW WARPED BADLY. NO RECALL NOTICE/ BULLETIN RECEIVED FROM DEALERSHIP IN WHICH VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM.
NHTSA complaint #10178578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD (PORTION NEAREST THE WINDSHIELD) HAS "WARPED" UPWARD SEVERELY (6+ INCHES!). IT NOW PRESSES AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, PREVENTING THE DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY DURING WINTER MONTHS. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS DASHBOARD WARPAGE WOULD INTERFERE WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BY FORD TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, BUT THIS PROGRAM TERMINATED IN 2002, AND THIS WARPAGE COMMONLY DOES NOT/DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL WELL AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDED.
NHTSA complaint #10177545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW CRANK SHAFT (MANUAL WINDOW) SNAPPED OFF CLEAN INSIDE REGULATOR LEAVING WINDOW UTTERLY INOPERABLE. THIS HAPPENED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF WINDOW DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND WARM WEATHER. DEALER CLAIMED "IT HAPPENS A LOT". VERY DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE WAS IN A FIRE, ACCIDENT, SUBMERGED IN WATER ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10174716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH, A HUMMING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED BOTH RIGHT FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACED. THE BRAKE ROTORS ON THE REAR WERE REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. THE HEATER BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WERE THE SENSOR TO THE HEATER BLOWER WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10149115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WARPED. IT TOUCHED THE WINDSHIELD, AND WAS PULLING THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG PIECE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN ON SINCE. HE STATED NOW THAT HE WAS USING THE DEFROSTER, IT WAS COMING UP MORE. OFTEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #10141324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT: THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE RADIATOR COMING ON/OVER AND OVER AGAIN. PREVIOUSLY IT OVERHEATED IN JUNE 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT, ADDED MORE WATER TO THE RADIATOR, AND SOMETHING ELSE IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THEY TOLD HER THAT IT WAS DUE TO A BRACKET THAT BROKE.. DEALER REPLACED THE RADIO. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY SINCE THEY REPLACED THE RADIO. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD WAS LOOSENING AND THERE WERE WIRES SHOWING. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KNOB CAME OFF. THESE WERE THE ONLY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENTS CONCERNING THESE ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10136271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.