1997 Ford Contour Visibility Problems

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 *TR

NHTSA ID

10195359

Incident

Dec 17, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

I BELIEVE ALL 1997 FORD CONTOURS SHOULD BE RECALLED, OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH, WATERPUMP, BLOWER MOTOR, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT & REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS(BOTH TWICE!!!!), AXLE, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, EGR VALVE, COIL SPRINGS, BATTERY, BALLJOINTS, DOOR LATCH, ALMOST ALL OF THE FULL FRONT SUSPENSION!!!! THERE ARE MORE PARTS THAT I HAD REPLACED BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES OF THE PARTS THERE ARE TOO MANY!! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW, THE ENGINE WILL (REV) UP BY ITSELF WHEN IT'S IN GEAR AND WHEN IT'S NOT, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEATS, WATER LEAKAGE IN THE TRUNK, A/C LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, ALL DOORS SQUEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, CARPET IS FALLING OUT, HORN WILL NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME, SAME FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER DOES NOT WORK, KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, ENDED UP IN VERY BAD DEBT BECAUSE OF THIS AND NO ONE WILL TAKE IT, I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE PIECE OF CRAP. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AT ONE TIME REGARDING ALL THE PARTS I REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT, THEY SAY IT'S NOT THERE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME SAYS IT WAS JUST FINE, BULL CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE TOO MANY ITEMS FOR A 1997 TO GO WRONG ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049024

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK, WILL BLOCK THE VIEW AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, COOLANT LEAKING, ENGINE OVERHEATING, TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8001306

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

THIS AUTOMOBILE IS GIVING OFF A HORRIFIC BURNING SMELL ANYTIME THAT THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. NO ONE AT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS WITH THEIR PRODUCTS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, THAT IS BEYOND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THE PART OF FORD. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY MAJOR.*AK MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE FOUND. THE ENTIRE FRONT-END SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I LESS THAT 1 WEEK AGO REPLACED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS BECAUSE OF A LOUD RUBBING, ROARING NOISE AND THEY ARE STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME UNBEARABLE NOISE AGAIN. YOU, AT FORD, ADVISED ME THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. WELL I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE THAT THERE ARE. IF YOU WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINTS UNDER ANYTHING HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE TIRES, FRONT-END SUSPENSION, WHEELS, WHEEL BEARINGS OR BEARINGS THEMSELVES I AM CERTAIN THAT YOU WILL FIND ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS. WHEN YOUR POOR UNFORTUNATE AND MISEDUCATED CUSTOMERS CALL WITH THEIR COMMENTS CONCERNS AND ISSUES, THEY ARE ASKED WHAT IS THEIR CONCERN. THEY, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE STATE WHAT IT IS THEY HEAR WHILE DRIVING THE DEATH TRAP THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD OR HAVE BEEN TOLD BY YOUR DEALERS. LEAVING EVERY THING TOO BROAD AND WIDE OPEN TO BE SCATTERED AND INCORRECTLY CATEGORIZED. WHICH WORKS OUT TO YOUR BENEFIT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ANYTIME FORD HAS A RECALL OR ADMITS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THEY ARE FINED AND HAS TO PAY SEVERAL PENALTIES. WELL I SHOULD THINK THAT FORD WOULD WANT TO PAY THE PAUCITY OF FEES AND PENALTIES NOW AND MAKE THE REPAIRS NEEDED RATHER THAN HAVE ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE INCIDENT ON THE HANDS AND CONSCIENCE. BUT WHO KNOWS MAYBE YOU ALL DONT CARE.

NHTSA ID

755689

Incident

Dec 14, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V230000, AND CALLED DEALERSHIP TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED. DEALERSHIP REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

895899

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

DURING REPLACEMENT OF HEATER BLOWER SWITCH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED TOGETHER AND CHARRED BLACK. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

894186

Incident

Aug 12, 2001

HEATER SWITCH RECALL - FORD IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE A FAULTY SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED UNDER THEIR PROGRAM M - THE RECALL LETTER WAS NOT SENT OUT TO ME. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN COLUMBUS OH. THE RECALL SWITCH CAN CAUSE POTENTIAL FIRES AND IS CURRENTLY BAD IN MY CAR. I SPOKE WITH FORD AND TO A MANAGER, WHO WAS VERY RUDE TO ME OVER THE PHONE AND OFFERED NO HELP. SHE STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR PROGRAM M RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MADE IN THE SAME FACTORY AS THE OTHER CARS COVERED BY THE PROGRAM M . BUT I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE FIRES. FORD IS UNHELPFUL AND UNWILLING TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART ON MY CAR. IF I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED UNDER THIS PROGRAM BACK IN 1999 WHEN THE LETTER WAS SENT OUT THEN THE SWITCH WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SINCE IT HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR OVER ONE YEAR. THE VIN NUMBER IS [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

750189

Incident

May 1, 2000

HEATER FAN CONTROL SWITCH BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUTDOWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT DEFECT RESULTED FROM FACTORY WIRING HARNESS BEING TOO SMALL A GUAGE OF WIRING TO CARRY ELECTRICAL LOAD. REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS WAS OF A HIGHER GUAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885770

Incident

Mar 31, 2001

THE HEATER BLOWER WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH PRIOR TO TODAY, BUT NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

742778

Incident

Mar 20, 2001

I ONLY HAVE 2 SPEEDS ON MY HEATER BLOWER,LO AND 2. I ALSO HAVE HAD SMOKE COMMING FROM UNDER THE DASH OR FROM A HEATER VENT WHEN THE HEATER HAS BEEN ON. WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL THERE IS A THUMP SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE TRUNK AREA. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEEMS TO HIT REALLY HARD WITH ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSY FIXED ACCORDING THE RECALL BECAUSE OF TAILLIGHT AND PANEL FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

738894

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

HEAT BLOWER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

550229

THE FAN MOTOR SWITCH FAILED TO WORK. WOULD FLICKER BUT NOT ON. BEEN TO DEALER & BROUGHT PARTS FOR FAN MOTOR. DASHBOARD PULLED DOWN & NOTICED THE WIRES TO FAN MOTOR HAD BURNT OUT. HAD REPLACED THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

848153

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

547309

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH SMELLED SMOKE, AND HEATER SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

842073

Incident

Jul 2, 1999

BURNED WIRES AND MELTED CONNECTOR AT BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH RESISTOR, BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH WILL NOT OPERATE AT SECOND HIGHEST SETTING.

NHTSA ID

707474

Incident

Jun 11, 1999

WHEN TURNING BLOWER ON ANY TEMPERATURE IT DOES NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

834361

Incident

Dec 27, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAY MALFUNCTIONING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW, SPRAYS TOP AND BACK OF VEHICLE. *YC

NHTSA ID

607423

RIGHT/REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE.MGM

NHTSA ID

606906

DISCOVERED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD, WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE. WENT TO NEAREST FORD DEALER (NOT SELLING DEALER), AND HAD THEM INSPECT IT. THEIR BODY SHOP CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS CRACKED THROUGH BOTH INNER AND OUTER GLASS LAYERS, AND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY

NHTSA ID

700136

Incident

Oct 13, 1998