1998 Ford Contour Interior & seats Problems

1998 FORD CONTOUR, VEHICLE HOOD CAME LOOSE AND HIT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0296-90)*JB

NHTSA ID

10340095

Incident

May 20, 2010

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 ID

10167163

Incident

Aug 31, 2006

Mileage

112,000 mi

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 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10146789

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

170,000 mi

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 ID

10120287

Incident

May 5, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

1.ABS BRAKE FUSE AND BLOWER MOTOR FUSE ARE ONE AND THE SAME, DARN COLD IN MINNESOTA, AND HARD TO GET TOO TO REPLACE. MUST PULL OUT BATTERY FIRST. TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC PUMP FOR ABS BRAKES TO FIX PROBLEM...$3000.00, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH FOR TRADE IN OR RESALE VALUE. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER HITTING A DEER ON NOV. 26 2004. AND DOES NOT INCLUDE COSMETIC DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. 2.FRONT AND BACK WINDOW MOLDING IS SHRINKING AND FORCING WINDOWS OUT, VERY DRAFTY. 3.SHIFT MODULE FAILED, TOOK TO FORD DEALER TO REPLACE, WHEN REPLACED THE DASH BOARD STARTED SMOKING. THE NEIGHBOR MODULE BURNT UP, AND ALL THE DASH BOARD WIRING. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR $1200.00, BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOOK OFF $200.00 OF THE LABOR COSTS. 4. I CALLED FORD ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO COMPLAIN. THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE DEALERS THAT WILL NOT TAKE IT ON A TRADE IN, BECAUSE IT'S A CONTOUR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100906

Incident

Nov 26, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095783

Incident

Oct 13, 2004

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRONZE TERMINALS, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS STATED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRE HARNESS RECALL 99V103000. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10056114

Incident

Jan 27, 2004

Mileage

119,700 mi

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058116

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

VEHICLE IS WITHOUT DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055708

Mileage

79,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER STATED LATCH FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038063

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

NO DASH LIGHTS, BACK-UP, OR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DASH LIGHTS WERE FIXED $200.PLUS. BUT NO CLOCK LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT OR BACK-UP LIGHTS. ALL FUSES WHERE CHECKED AND OK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10020870

Incident

Jun 2, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE OCTOBER 2002. DEALER STATES PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10001915

Incident

Oct 2, 2002

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 ID

768114

Incident

Oct 4, 2002

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020239

Incident

Sep 28, 2002

THE HOOD'S SAFETY LATCH FAILED CAUSING HOOD TO FLIP OPEN AND SMASH BACKWARD ONTO TO THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERING IT COMPLETELY, KNOCKING OUT THE LIGHT CONSOLE IN THE ROOF, DENTING THE ROOF, AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOOD, AND VARIOUS APPURTENANCES IN THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD AREA. NLM

NHTSA ID

767148

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 50MPH HEAT WAS EXTREMLY HOT COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018449

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 25MPH INTERIOR LIGHT DROPPED OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016224

Incident

Aug 10, 2002

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015463

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH GETTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHIFT AND CLUTCH PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566887

Incident

May 15, 2000

TURN SIGNAL ELECTRICAL HARNESS MALFUNCTION, NO 4-WAY OR TURN SIGNAL AT ALL. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ELECTRICAL HARNESS, WORKED FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THEN MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THIS TIME LEFT TURN SIGNAL INOP AT THE HARNESS(SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.)

NHTSA ID

764619

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

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. *YH

NHTSA ID

8014450

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

763191

Incident

Jun 14, 2002

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 ID

758159

Incident

Jan 25, 2002

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 ID

758060

Incident

Feb 10, 2002

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A "LEMON" SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST, 1997 FROM SAM GALLOWAY FORD IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. FROM THE BEGINNING, THE CAR DROVE "ROUGH" NOT SMOOTH. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY WAS VIBRATING, AND SIMPLY GOT WORSE OVER TIME. THE VIBRATIONS WOULD OCCUR AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR, INCREASING THE FASTER YOU DROVE. YOU COULD ACTUALLY FEEL AND SEE YOUR BODY SHAKE. THE RIDE WAS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF A SMOOTH ONE. ROUGH AND BUMPY, EVEN ON SMOOTH, FLORIDA ROADS. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE YOU WERE "PUSHING" OR "FORCING" IT TO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANUVER, GENERALLY STICKING WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. A COUPLE OF TIMES, THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS. WHEN REPORTED TO FORD, THE ONLY RESPONSE THAT THAT "PER THE MANUAL, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED SOME TYPE OF OVERHAUL, AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. ALSO, SEVERAL TIMES, THERE WAS SMOKE AND A BURNING RUBBER TYPE SMELL EMITTING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THIS WAS BROUGHT INTO FORD SEVERAL TIMES, AND NOT FIXED. THE FINAL TIME, THE ENTIRE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE--I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER, MARLON HANSON, FROM THE VEHICLE ON MY CELL PHONE, BECAUSE I WAS SCARED THAT THE CAR MAY BURST INTO FLAMES. HIS REMARKS MADE IT SOUND LIKE "NO BIG DEAL" JUST BRING IN THE CAR. MEANWHILE, I HAD TO PULL OVER, I WAS SO SCARED, NOT KNOWING IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO START ON FIRE OR EVEN BLOW UP. THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TWICE MORE FOR THIS REPAIR, AND FINALLY APPEARS TO BE FIXED. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS SOME WIRING THAT WAS BURNING, OR STARTING ON FIRE. OUR ONLY COMPENSATION FOR THAT WAS A FREE RENTAL CAR, AFTER I PRESSURED THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE CASSETTE PORTION OF THE RADIO BROKE EARLY ON. NEVER ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE WITH DEALER OR FORD. STEERING COLUMN IS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MANUEVER-VERY HARD TO TURN. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENDLY COMES ON, AT ANY SPEED. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT NEWER TIRE KEEPS DEFLATING--PER TBS, COIL SPRING PROBLEM?*A

NHTSA ID

751179

Incident

Jun 14, 2001