Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 94 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 94, in the owner's own words
REAR FRAME, SUSPENSION RUSTED COMPLETELY INTO AN WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND THREW ME INTO DITCH. THIS IS COMPLETELY NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE 1960'S CARS %100 BETTER THAN THIS . I KNOW THIS IS A 1999 BUT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE FUEL TANK STRAP IS COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY, AND THE FUEL TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF. THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF, CAUSING THE FUEL STRAP TO BE EATEN AWAY BY RUST AND CORROSION. THE FUEL TANK IS GOING TO FALL OFF EVENTUALLY. THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND EMISSION FITTINGS AT THE TANK, ARE CORRODING BADLY TOO. *TR
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. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD CURLED UPWARD. THE DAMAGED DASHBOARD CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROST AND AIR CONDITIONER, BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST. THE CONTACT PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW WHENEVER IT RAINED OR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CHILLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR SPORT V6. MY MOTOR/TRANMISSION MOUNTS KEEP FAILING A HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. CAUSING MANY ENGINE ISSUES. HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MECHANICS, EVEN DEALERSHIP. BEEN TOLD THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FAULT. WHY HAS NHTSA NOT MADE A RECALL. TO MAKE THE COMPANY FIX THEIR MISTAKE OR AT LEAST A WAY TO KEEP MOUNTS FROM FAILING. ALL I KEEP GETTING IS "THATS JUST HOW ITS MADE". WHEN COPARING THE FROD REPLACEMENT PART TO THOSE SOLD AT MY LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE ITS THE SAME THING. SO AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT MADE TO PARTS. HAD MY TRANS MISSION REPLACED-THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED-THEY NOTED THAT THE LEAK WAS DO TO FAILED MOUNTS. *TR
DASH CURLING BACK. STRAP FOR FUEL TANK RUSTED, GOING TO BREAK, RUST ON BRAKE LINE, RUST UNDER BOTH BACK DOORS AND SPREADING TO UNDERNEATH CAR, RADIO SPEAKERS OUT, CAR HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING, TRUNK LEAKS DEFROSTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF DASH. WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL FOR DASH. SHOULD BE RECALL FOR CORROSION PROBLEM AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SO I TAKE A HUGE CHANCE EVERYTIME I DRIVE WHICH IS 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK TO WORK.. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. PIECE OF JUNK AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE CARS OR REPLACE THEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE STRAP FOR FUEL TANK IS GOING TO BREAK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A JOKE! *TR
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. *TR
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. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FALLING APART IN HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN THE DEFROST VENT WAS BEGINNING TO PUSH OUTWARD DUE TO THE BENDING OF THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE GLOVE BOX IS OPENED, IT FALLS TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS SHIFTED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE OUTSIDE OR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,090.
DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. DEAL PUT SOME TYPE OF GLUE ON IT BUT ITS NOT STAYING DOWN. NOW ALMOST THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP. I READ THERE WAS A RECALL. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED? NOT HAPPY WITH FORD *TR
1999 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT DASHBOARD PEELING. MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO PEEL AWAY AT APPROX 60,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF A RECALL ON THIS MATTER, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY A SECRET. I HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DUE TO THE LAX CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ALL THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED (I AM 60 AND HARDLY HOT RODDING), REAR STRUTS AND SOMETHING RELATED TO A LOUD HUMMING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CAR TO REMAIN IN WORKING ORDER AND PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND ALSO A FUEL PUMP. *TR
I CONTACTED FORD TO FIND OUT RECALL INFORMATION ON THE 1999 FORD CONTOUR WHICH DASHBOARD WAS CURLING UP AND FORWARD. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL EXPIRED IN 2002, AND THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THEREFORE , IT WILL NOT BE FIXED, AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY. I WISH TO STATE THAT IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT IS CURLING UP AND FORWARD IN THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN IT CURLS UP IT CAUSES OBSTRUCTION TO THE DRIVER'S VIEW. PLEASE IF YOU WOULD LIKE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE PICTURES. THIS CAR WAS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME, AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE OR SELL IT. TO FIX IT WOULD BE MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH. THEREFORE, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY I WILL BE OUT OF A VEHICLE. *AK
WARPED DASH .THERE IS NO HELP AVAILABLE FOR THIS, IT'S GETTING SO BAD THAT IT'S HARD TO SEE OVER DASH THE DEFROSTER DOESN'T DO ITS JOB WELL ,AND FORD WANTS AN ARM AN LEG TO FIX THERE PROBLEM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY WIDE SPREAD. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS DETACHED AT THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WARPAGE AND IS NOW RESTING UPWARD ABOUT 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE DEFROSTER GRILL POPPED OUT - IT IS BLOCKING THE VIEW AND REDIRECTED THE DEFROSTER SO THAT IT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD, BUT NOT COMPLETELY. IT HAS PEELED BACK SO FAR THAT IT IS NOW IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH I FELT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS CONSISTENTLY BLOWN ME OFF. *JB
WARPED PANEL. *JB
DASHBOARD IS WARPED AND IN COLD WEATHER WARPS AND HAS WARPED EVEN WORSE. IT OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VIEW, POTENTIALLY DECREASES FLOW FROM DEFROSTING VENTS, AND THE VIEW IS ADDITIONALLY OBSTRUCTED AS THE PLASTIC VENT COVER ACROSS THE DASH AS IT IS NO LONGER RETAINED BY THE WARPED MATERIAL. AIRBAGS MAY PROJECT PIECES IN CASE OF DEPLOYMENTS AS CRACKS ARE VISIBLE IN THE DASH.
IN JULY 2002, I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD CONTOUR FROM A FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS A FORD CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE, THE DASH BEGAN TO WARP CAUSING THE DEFROST VENT COVER TO POP OUT AND NOT FIT CORRECTLY. THE FORD DEALER NEVER MADE ME AWARE OF A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#01B78). ALSO, I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE DASH HAS CONTINUED TO WARP BADLY. THE WARPING HAS BECOME SO BAD IT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. ALSO, PART OF THE DASH IS COVERING THE DEFROST VENT. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO RE-OPEN THE OFFER TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT FOR SAFETY REASON. I AGREE WITH THE PETITIONER IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP06004, THAT ". . . IMPROPERLY RETAINED INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE DESIRED PERFORMANCE OF FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS AS WELL AS BECOME PROJECTILES DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS." *NM
I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. A FEW YEARS AGO THE TOP OF THE DASH WARPED, CAME UP REALLY HIGH. IT WAS AN UNSIGHTLY MESS, NOISY, AND IT ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD WORK CORRECTLY. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY FORD. HOWEVER WITH TIME, THE REPAIR JOB MAKES SOME NOISES AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S HOLDING AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS DONE. FORD HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THIS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND BELIEVE FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS DASHBOARD PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM
1. DASH WARP CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, DEFROSTER MALFUNCTION, LOOSE TRIM 2. WITH THE DASH WARP THE VENT TRIM IS CONTINUALLY POPPING OUT . THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT BUT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT I DON'T WANT THE VENT TRIM POPPING OUT AND PREVENTING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR CAUSING ANY FURTHER HARM TO ME OR MY FAMILY. THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED INCIDENTS OF DEFROSTER CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE VENT TRIM NOT PROPERLY DISPERSING AIR. 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. *NM
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD IN AUGUST 2001 THAT STATED THE FOLLOWING "THE COVER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS WARPED....AT NO COST TO YOU, YOUR DEALERSHIP WILL EVALUATE THIS CONDITION AND REPAIR AS REQUIRED. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2002, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE." THE DEALERSHIP EVALUATED MY CAR IN LATE 2001 AND STATED THAT A REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY. HOWEVER, BY THE SUMMER OF 2004, THE WARPING HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT THE DEFROSTER GRILL BEZEL CAN NO LONGER BE RETAINED BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ENGINEERS AT MY COMPANY (WHICH MAKE INSTRUMENT PANELS) STATED THAT THE WARPING CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAY BE AFFECTED. FORD NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR COST. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE AS MY VEHICLE WAS STORED IN THE GARAGE AND THEREFORE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE CUMULATIVE THERMAL ENERGY REQUIRED TO WARP THE PART PRIOR TO FORD'S REPLACEMENT PROGRAM EXPIRING. *NM
THE FRONT DASH WILL WARP, PREVENTING PROPER AIR FLOW FOR THE DEFROSTER TO WORK ON THE FRONT WINDOWS, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. ALSO, AS THE DASH WARPS UPWARDS, THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER GREATLY DIMINISHES, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH THE CONTOUR, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT, WHICH SEEMS STRANGE BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY VALID SAFETY CONCERN PRESENT. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED A ONE TIME REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH, WHICH DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IF DASH KEEPS WARPING. *NM
DASH BOARD ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR'S IS CURLING UP SO BAD, DEFROST AIR ACROSS THE WIND SHIELD IS BLOCKED NOT CLEARING FOG/FROST ON WIND SHIELD CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO THE BLOWER FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH SPEED. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER VOLLMAN FORD OF PORTLAND, MI. WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SPENT OVER A $ 1000.00 EXTRA DOLLARS FOR A THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN ESP, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY AND FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE ITEMS. THAT IS STRANGE BECAUSE I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS SITES FROM CONTOUR OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM
1999 VEHICLE, IN A 6 YEAR PERIOD, THE DASH WARPED AND CAME UNGLUED. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY UNATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE, A NON WORKING DEFROSTER, AND A DASH THAT DOESN'T FIT PROPERLY. I HAD TO BUY A $80.00 KIT AND PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASH FROM THE CAR TO INSTALL A REPAIR KIT THAT FORD NO LONGER WARRANTS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. FORD CHARGES 2 HOURS LABOR AT $85.00/HOUR, PLUS THE $100.00 KIT. IT TOOK ME OVER 4 HOURS TO DO THE INSTALL, AND IT STILL DOES NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE DASH. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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