1999 Ford Contour Brakes Problems

REAR BRAKE FAILURE ON 99 FORD CONTOUR SE CONTACTED DUTRO FORD ZANESVILE OHIO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270171

Incident

May 21, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS AND OTHER INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE BULBS TO DIM THE LIGHTS. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10213103

Incident

Aug 24, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE I EVEN PULLED OFF THE LOT WHEN I BOUGHT IT USED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. NOW, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE FIRST TIME I BOUGHT A SET OF TIRES, THEN GOT AN ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD I NEEDED DIFFERENT TIRES SINCE THE VIBRATION DID NOT STOP. BOUGHT MORE TIRES ,AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ALIGNMENT. TODAY, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT'S GOING TO COST $120 JUST TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE. I ALSO HEARD STRANGE NOISES FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR EVERY TIME I BRAKE. I'M SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR TOMORROW. I HAVE YET TO MEET SOMEONE WHO CAN TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND FIX IT!*AK

NHTSA ID

10187837

Incident

Apr 13, 2007

Mileage

99,098 mi

I HAVE OBSERVED AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR WHERE THE ABS COMES ON WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 15 MPH). I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FAILED TO CAUSE THIS CONDITION AND OFFERED TO BRING THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DECLINED TO HAVE ME DO SO. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145604

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

51,200 mi

DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES LAGGED ON REACTION TIME IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10145098

Incident

Jun 2, 2005

Mileage

53,488 mi

NHTSA WEBSITE CONFIRMS 79 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF FORD'S KNOWN MANUFACTURE DEFECTS IN DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COMPROMISES THE OCCUPANT/PEDESTRIAN SAFTEY: WARPED DASH PANEL AND SPRUNG OUT FRONT DEFROST GRILL OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S VIEW; LOOSE GRILL STRIKES WINDSHIELD WHILE CAR IN MOTION AND COULD BREAK IT; DEFLECTS PROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT; PROPER AIRFLOW OF DEFROST IS DEFLECTED; FORD KNOWINGLY MANUFACTURES AND SELLS DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. THEN IMMEDIATELY ISSUES A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" NOTICE (IN THIS CASE CPS # 01B78) THAT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE DESIGNED TO PREEMPT MANIFESTATION OF THE DEFECTS BY THE CUSTOMER. ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE, THE DEFROSTER GRILL HAS SPRUNG OUT AND JUTS OUT OF ALIGNMENT SO THAT THE AIRFLOW FROM DEFROST MECHANISM IS OBSTRUCTED. DASHBOARD WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH THE FISSURE SPREADING TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DECLINED TO DO REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE, STATING FORD IS NO LONGER LIABLE BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM EXPIRED AUGUST 2002. INSTEAD, THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OFFERED ME THE LOYAL CUSTOMER SERVICE DEAL OF MAKING THE REPAIR FOR COST OF ONLY $1638.12. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN FEBRUARY 1999 FOR $18077.16 (FINANCED PRICE OF $24318.40)!!! MY CAR LOAN HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL FEBRUARY 2004 WITH NO LATE PAYMENTS. MY VEHICLE'S ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE BY THE FORD DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I AM A SECOND TIME FORD OWNER; MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 1992 FORD TEMPO. HOWEVER, LORD WILLING, THE 1999 CONTOUR WILL BE MY LAST. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES I INCURRED SELDOM USED A/C REPAIR $275 FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT 02 SENSORS REPLACE $500 DEALER CUT BRAKE ROTERS TOO LOW $800. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142373

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE (1999 FORD CONTOUR) LAST AUGUST FROM GSA IT HAS SQUEALED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT HAD ONLY ALMOST 9K ON IT AT THAT TIME. NOW WITH NEAR 20K IT SQUEALS LIKE METAL AND VIBRATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. MOSTLY AT AROUND LESS THAN 40 MPH THAT I HAVE REALLY NOTICED. THE TIRES SEEM TO BE WEARING UNEVENLY, TOO AFTER 2 ALIGNMENTS. SEEMS TO BE FINE OTHER THAN THAT NOW THAT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10122398

Incident

Apr 23, 2005

Mileage

9,000 mi

THE ABS ENGAGED CONTINUALLY DUE TO CORROSION IN THE TONE RING APPARATUS. DEALER SAYS IT IS UNUSUAL, AND WILL COST $600. *JB

NHTSA ID

10119640

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE NORMAL USE ON MY CAR AND ON JULY 26, 2004 MY AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I READ MY OWNER'S GUIDE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND IT STATED THAT IF THESES PROBLEMS WAS TO OCCUR THAT I NEED IT TO BE SERVICE BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN ON JULY 27, 2004 TO GET IT SERVICED. I INFORMED FORD THAT I SMELLED A WIRE BURNING, AND THAT I SAW A LITTLE PUFF OF SMOKE ON JULY 26, 2004 THAT CAME FROM UNDER MY DASH BOARD. I WAS INFORMED MY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THEY DID 3 DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT AND THEY STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE ENDED UP DEADLY IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE CAR. AS FAR AS WHAT IS BEING DONE IS BEYOND ME BECAUSE THEY STILL CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND WHAT PARTS ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS ON MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEM NOR EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082931

Incident

Jul 26, 2004

MY FORD CONTOUR ONLY HAS 69000 MILES. ALREADY, BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, DASHBOARD CURLING UP ABOUT 6 INCHES AND DEFROST COVER HAS COME LOOSE BLOCKING VIEW, NOW THE TIMING BELT IS GOING BAD, HAD TO REPLACE TO MOTOR MOUNT. FUEL PUMP ALSO WENT OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072466

Incident

May 8, 2004

DASH WAS REPLACED, BUT IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS LEAK, AND WILL BE REPLACED NEXT SPRING. *LA VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS: WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, TIE RODS, DASHBOARD, INTAKE MANIFOLD, PASSENGER REAR STRUTS, LEFT FRONT DOME LAMP SWITCH, LEFT FRONT SPEAKERS, AND OYGEN SENSOR.*MR

NHTSA ID

10057352

Incident

Jan 12, 2002

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN REAR ENDED. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO INTERSECTION. DAMAGE TO CAR WAS BUMPER, HAD TO REPLACE MUD GUARDS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN THEY SAID THAT THE FORCE PROBABLY WASN'T GREAT ENOUGH. EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AND WERE SUPRISED WHEN THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AS THE FORCE WAS GREATER THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051076

Incident

Jun 7, 2003

SEVERAL ITEMS FIRST THE DASH BOWED IN FROM BOTH SIDES,A MONTH AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PROBLEM, THE TIRES WERE BAD WE REPLACED THEM THEY ARE BAD ALL THE TIME HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THEN A NORMAL TIRE SHOULD , THE CAR BROKE DOWN LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN MY PROBLEM THE ROTORS AND OTHER THINGS WERE BAD SOMTHING I AS A CONSUMER WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT , CANNOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO AIRBAG AGAIN MY PROBLEM O YES WAS IN A FINDER BINDER AIRBAG DID NOT WORK MINOR INJRIES , THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK MORE PROBLEMS THIS CAR IS WORTH NOTHING I ON;Y DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK IN IT AND THE WAY IT IS FALLING APART YOUD THINK I TRAVEL ACROSS COUNTRY IN IT ...THIS IS NOT A GOOD CAR TO EVER PURCHASE WILL NEVER BUY FROM FORD AGAIN!!! SRB THIS PRBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON GOING FROM 2000-2003. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025656

Incident

Jul 5, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018030

Incident

Mar 11, 2003

1999 FORD CONTOUR W/ 2 LIT. ENGINE AND FACTORY INSTALLED/AUTHORIZED 8" BRAKE SYSTEM. SAFETY HAZARD: POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO IMPROPERLY DESIGNED AND/OR FACTORY INSTALLED BRAKES. TRYING TO STEER THE CAR THROUGH EVASIVE MANEUVERS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUDDER EXCESSIVELY. ON APX APRIL 7 I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-71 APX 1 MILE NORTH OF I-270. ACCIDENT APX 1/4 OF A MILE AHEAD FORCED EVERYONE TO SLAM ON BRAKES. CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER EXCESSIVELY. HAD ANOTHER CAR CLOSE ON MY TAIL AND BEGAN TO POSITION MYSELF TO THE LEFT TO BAIL OUT INTO MEDIAN IF NECESSARY AND ANY STEERING ACTION OTHER THAN PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AHEAD CAUSED THE SHUDDERING TO BECOME EVEN MORE EXTREME. HAVEN'T EXPERIMENTED WITH RADICAL MANEUVERS WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY. STARTING IN MARCH, 2003 I HAD NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION DRIVING. TOOK CAR IN TO FIRESTONE FOR ROUTINE BALANCE, ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. AFTER WORK DONE THE CAR SHUDDERED NOTICEABLY WHENEVER BRAKES APPLIED, PARTICULARLY SLOWING DOWN THROUGH 45 MPH TO 30 MPH. RETURNED CAR TO SHOP AND THEY WORKED ON ROTORS AND DRUMS. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT. TOOK CAR TO 2ND FIRESTONE AND HAD SENIOR MECHANIC INSPECT. REPLACED REAR DRUMS WITH NEW BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED, SO HE PUT OLD DRUMS BACK ON AND SUGGESTED TAKING TO FORD DEALER. TOOK CAR TO KRIEGER FORD. THEY REPEATED EXPERIMENT WITH NEW DRUMS WITH SAME RESULT. THEY CALLED FORD HOTLINE AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 8" BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO INSTALL FACTORY AUTHORIZED 9" BRAKE SYSTEM PER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 0009007. IN OTHER WORDS FORD KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 8" BRAKES AS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED BY FORD BUT WANTS ME TO PAY TO ELIMINATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED ALL OF MY RIMS TO BECOME SOMEWHAT WARPED, WITH ONE EXCESSIVELY WARPED. TOTAL COST IS $523 FOR PARTS, $323 FOR LABOR, $100 FOR NEW RIM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016462

Incident

Apr 7, 2003

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 ID

10015886

DO TO IMPROPER LOCATING THE RUBBER ON THE BRAKE LINE UNUSUAL WEAR TO RUBBER BRAKE LINE. HAVE PICTURE. DT

NHTSA ID

769472

Incident

Oct 23, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND ENDED UP STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR ALSO. CONTACTED DEALER MR

NHTSA ID

8020501

Incident

Oct 2, 2002

REPLACEMENT BRAKE ROTORS WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD. ROTORS SEPARATED, DID NOT RETREIVE BROKEN ITEM FROM REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ID

763284

Incident

Jun 17, 2002

DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES, AND REAR OF VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND FLIPPED OVEDR 3 TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE PCV WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003590

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896083

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON T BRAKES PEDAL AND BRAKES WILL VIBRATE. FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND DEFFECT IS STILL THERE. *AK

NHTSA ID

889003

Incident

May 18, 2001

CONSUMERS HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM 7 TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER RECALL 00V075001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S03/ REAR BRAKE VALVES WAS DONE. BRAKES SQEUAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULDN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKES SQUEAL AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THEM, DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS, PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

883927

Incident

Oct 19, 2000

RECALL 00 V 075 001BRAKE /REAR CHECK VALVE: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE IN OCT 2000. ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH,. THIS FORCED VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE SENT OUT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

883459

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

FRONT END VIBRATES/ SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL EXISTS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

883194

Incident

Mar 1, 2001