1999 Ford Contour Interior & seats Problems

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOOR HANDLES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY, AND NOW RESULTED IN A COMPLETE FAILURE ON TWO OF THE DOOR LATCHES. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE MUST HAVE BOTH THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH PULLED TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS REPLACING THE DOOR LATCHES AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140962

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136271

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

WELL I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER IN MY LIFE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED SO MANY TIME I CANT START TO NAME OFF DATES. I DO KNOW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR I DROVE TO THE BEACH LESS THAN 30 MINUTES ALWAYS AND IT CUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT CUT OFF 4 TIME BEFORE I GOT HOME. NEXT DAY I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT. SINCE I HAD THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A BURDEN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINT ONCE BEFORE, AND AS I WRITE THIS LETTER IT IS BEING DONE AGAIN FOR A 2ND TIME. MY HEAT AND AIR STOP WORKING. HEAT ONLY WORKS ON HIGH, AND MY DEFROST TAKE FOR EVER TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS. MY DOOR JUST WONT STAY CLOSED IT POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. ON MY PASSENGERS SIDE ON THE FLOOR. IT GETS SOAKED WITH RAIN EVERYTHING. IF ITS RAINY AND IM DRIVING MY CAR MAKES A LOUD SCRATCHING NOISE. MY BRAKES HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. SHOCKS GAVE OUT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING MY CAR. MY ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO OVER 3 FORD DEALERS AND MANY SHOPS, AND NO CAN SAY WHY THE LIGHT KEEP POPPING ON. SO TODAY I DROPPED MY CAR OFF TO THE SHOP TO HAVE BRAKES,DOOR,ENGINE LIGHT, BALL JOINTS AND TO SEE WHY THE OVER DRIVE OFF LIGHT KEEP BLINKING WHILE IM DRIVING. THIS IS THE WORST CAR EVER MADE BY FORD. I KNOW ITS NOTHING ON MY BEHALF WHY THIS CAR IS SO HORRIBLE BECAUSE IS KNOW 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF '!@#$%, I JUST CANT AFFORD IT. WELL I KNOW THIS SUMMER IF I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE AND JUNGIAN THIS CAR, IM GOING TO PUSH IT OFF A BRIDGE MYSELF, AND NEVER EVER BY A FORD AGAIN. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE ASSUMED FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A BAD MODEL. HOW DARE U TRY AND MAKE A QUICK BUCK INSTEAD OF BUILDING A RELIABLE CAR FOR FAMILIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118666

Incident

Apr 27, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED DASHBOARD WAS LIFTING, AND DEFOGGER DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A LETTER WAS SENT TO HER TWO YEARS AGO. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10101891

Incident

May 9, 2004

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL THAT OCCURRED IN 2001 ON 1995-1999 FORD CONTOURS, MERCURY MYSTIQUES, AND COUGARS. THE DASHBOARD IN MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR IS TEARING AND A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK THE RECALL INFORMATION ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE. INSTEAD I FOUND OTHER DISTURBING INFORMATION. ACCORDING TO A REPORT LISTED, THE BLOWER SWITCH / RESISTOR OVERHEATS AND STARTS OR COULD START A FIRE. IT ALSO STATES THAT "FAILURE OF THE BLOWER SWITCH CAUSES LOSS OF ONE OR MORE BLOWER SPEEDS". HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT NEITHER RECALL. IN JULY 2003, I HAD TO HAVE MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR (BOUGHT BRAND NEW) REPAIRED BECAUSE MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. THE REPAIRS INVOLVED THE WIRING IN THE FUSE PANEL (REPAIRED) AND THE BLOWER / RESISTOR WAS REPLACED. THE COST: $60.00 (TECHNICIAN HOOKED CAR TO A MACHINE TO DIAGNOSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON, PARTS & LABOR) AND $187.40 (A/C PROBLEM, PART $7.40 AND LABOR $180.00). I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP) THAT THERE HAD EVEN BEEN A RECALL. WILL I BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS MISHAP? *JB

NHTSA ID

10102802

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

83,000 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

I OWN A 1999'CONTOUR THE DASHBOARD HAS CURLED UP AT THE VENT AREA NEAR WINDOW. HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNERS AND THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY FORD. FORD TELLS ME IT WAS A TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TYPE OF THING . BUT I SEE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY TRIED TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY PRODUCT. I WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER NEVER PURCHASING ANOTHER FORD . THIS HAS BEEN MY 4TH FORD THAT I HAVE OWNED AND IT SADDENS ME TO SEE THE POOR RESPONSE FROM FORD ABOUT A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10078694

Incident

Apr 4, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE DASHBOARD BUCKLING. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS SORRY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075493

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

7,500 mi

THE CAR IS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BUCKLED IN THE REAR SEAT. WE WERE DRIVING WHEN SHE REACHED OVER AND THOUGHT SHE WAS PULLING FOR THE WINDOW. SHE GRABBED FOR THE DOOR HANDLE INSTEAD, AND TO MY SURPRISE OPENED IT. THE DOOR FLEW OPEN,,SHE WAS BUCKLED IN AND NOT ONE WAS HURT..JUST UPSET. I CHECK THE CHIKD DOOR LOCKS....AND TO MY SURPRISE THE LABEL IS BACKWARDS. IT POINTS IN THE LOCK DIRECTION, BUT THIS IS THE OPEN DIRECTION. I LOOKED AT A FRIENDS CONTOUR, ALL THE LABELS ARE INCORRECT!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10072783

Incident

Apr 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

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

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HOOD FLEW UP AND BROKE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. PH COLLISION SHOP ADVISED THAT THE HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY LATCH SEIZED OPEN. OTHER VEHICLES WERE RECALL DUE TO THIS DEFECT, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. *TT

NHTSA ID

10002044

Incident

Dec 10, 2002

OUR CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE WE HAVE 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS, WINDOW FELL OUT, SPEAKERS BUSTED, CARPET RUINED BY LEAKS, FAN SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING, INSTRUMENT PANEL SMOKED UP AS IF BURNING, HOOD DOESN'T MEET UP WITH COWL, TRUNK STAYS SOAKED, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

760154

Incident

Oct 19, 1999

SAID CAR HAD DEFECTS ALMOST AS SOON AS WE PURCHASED IT, WE NOTICED IT HAD 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS AND THEY HAD TO RUN THE VIN# SO THEY COULD FIND OUT WHICH IT WAS. THE CAR STARTED LEAKING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THEY WORKED ON IT 3 TIMES TO NO PREVAIL(STILL LEAKS) THE DASH HAS BOWED UP AT THE WINDSHIELD AND AT THE PANEL BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS SMOKED UP, HEATER SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING, PASS. SIDE FRONT WINDOW FELL OUT OF DOOR TRACK WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SPEAKER BUSTED, CARPET RUINED BECAUSE OF LEAKS. BLANCETTS HAD ALL OF THESE PARTS ORDERED FOR OVER 6 MONTHS AND THEY STILL DID NOT GET ALL OF THEM IN, AN D FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS CLOSED THEM DOWN. I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE REASONS FOR CLOSING THEM, BUT THEY HAD TROUBLE ONCE OR TWICE WITH GETTING CARS AND TRUCKS WITH MILEAGE ROLLBACK PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

758345

Incident

May 15, 2000

DASHBOARD IS COMING UP, AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, THERE ARE BUBBLES ON DASHBOARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003728

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

PROBLEMS STARTED AT 119MILES, DEALERS EITHER DON'T CONFIRM PROBLEM OR SAY IT'S NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT 4 DEALERS. SEVERE VIBRATION AND PULL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE THE TIRES (CONFIRED WITH MY WINTER TIRES-NO PROBLEM), KLUNKING FROM FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DURING WINTER AT IDLE-GO OUT AFTER RESTART OR ENGINE ACCELERATION, FRONT SEATS WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE-DEALER SAYS NORMAL FOR CAR-WAN'T PRESENT WHEN NEW, PULSING FRONT END SHIMMY ON HIGHWAY-NOT TIRE RELATED-POSSIBLE CV SHAFT ISSUE-DEALERS STATED NPF, ENGINE SPARK KNOCKS UNDER LIGHT LOADS-NO CHANGE WITH DIFFERENT GAS GRADES OR BRANDS-DEALERS SAYS NPF, HEADLAMPS GO DIM AT IDLE-DEALERS SAYS NORMAL-NOT PRESENT WHEN NEW, POOR LOW BEAM VISIBILITY FROM HEADLAMPS, ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE TOO POROUS-LOSE ABNORMAL AIR AMOUNTS-DEALER SAYS NPF. MOST OF THESE HAVE BEEN SINCE NEW OR STARTED WITHIN 1ST YEAR OF NEW- NO DEALERS HAS YET "CONFIRMED" PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE READILY APPARENT TO OTHERS. IN SHOP FOR OVER 3 MONTHS TOTAL SINCE NEW. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )

NHTSA ID

746237

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND ONE OF THE DOORS WAS OPENED WHILE TALKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. COURTESY LIGHT FELL DOWN DUE TO FIXTURE OVERHEATING AND BURNING OFF THE FASTENER. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE IN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

872526

Incident

Sep 26, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 70MPH, EXITED OFF THE FREEWAY AND BEGAN TO BRAKE WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN. ENGINE TURNED BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

862630

Incident

Apr 28, 2000

WHILE DRIVING; RADIO & INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF WHEN BLINKER, DOOR & OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT USED OR FOR NO REASON AT ALL. ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ ALARM SYSTEM. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE SORCE OF PROBLEM, CHANGED RADIO TWICE, ALARM & FUSE BOX ONCE.

NHTSA ID

718683

Incident

Dec 20, 1999

I RECENTLY RENTED A 1999 MERCURY CONTOUR AND DROVE IT THROUGH RURAL WESTERN MASS, VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN DUSK AND DARK, ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. JUST AFTER DUSK I STOPPED TO REFUEL THE CAR. AT THAT POINT THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT TURNED ON, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE TO THE NEXT REST AREA AND STOPPED TO READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT PROVIDED NO USEFUL INFORMATION ON TURNING OFF THE LIGHT. HOWEVER, WHILE I WAS ALONE IN THE REST AREA READING THE MANUAL IN A CAR LIT UP LIKE A SPOTLIGHT(AND I AM FEMALE), A STRANGE MAN APPROACHED MY CAR FROM BEHIND WITH WHAT I ASSUME WERE BAD INTENTIONS. I THEN DROVE ANOTHER 50 MILES TO A TOTAL OF 7 GAS STATIONS BEFORE I FOUND ONE WITH AN ATTENDANT. HE ALSO HAD NO IDEA HOW TO TURN OFF THE DOME LIGHT. I THEN HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SPENDING THE NIGHT IN A RENTAL CAR IN A PARKING LIGHT NEAR THE INTERSTATE, OR DRIVNG HOME WITH A LIT DOME LIGHT AND CLOSE TO ZERO VISIBILITY. AS MY LIFE INSURANCE IS PAID UP, I CHOSE OPTION (B.) AND DROVE HOME. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE CAR MANUFACTURERS, AND ESPECIALLY THIS CAR MANUFACTURER, TO SUPPLY ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WITH A POSITIVE ON-OFF SWITCH. EITHER THAT, OR SUPPLY LARGE SLEDGE HAMMERS AND A PROMISE OF INDEMNITY FROM CAR RENTAL AGENCIES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WILL DO ABOUT THIS UNSAFE DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID

714235

Incident

Oct 27, 1999