1999 Ford Contour Other / unspecified Problems

I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES, BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY. I HAVE A 1999 FORD CONTOUR, PURCHASED NEW, ONE OWNER, WHERE THE DASH IS CURLING BACK, THE HEADLAMPS COLLECT MOISTURE, THE TAIL LAMP HAS BEEN REPLACED REPEATEDLY, AND NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS SHOWING UP ON A READ-OUT. I HAVE ASKED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURE ISSUES, BUT CURRENT READINGS SUGGEST OTHERWISE. I REALLY NEED TO GET THESE ITEMS CORRECTED IF THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347925

Incident

Nov 16, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

10287331

Incident

Sep 18, 2009

Mileage

37,777 mi

1999 V6 CONTOUR SE. RH REAR SPRING MADE BY VISTEON BROKE FROM CORROSION @ 87K MILES. LH REAR SPRING COVERED WITH RUST VISTEON IS ALSO MAKER OF FRONT SPRINGS THAT HAD RECALL ON 95-97MY FRONT SPRINGS. POOR SPRING COATING DESIGN INCL. IRON PHOSPHATE. IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AT 75K MILES. HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOP OF DASHBOARD WAS RECALLED WITH A KIT. KIT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM -- EXCESSIVE RATTLES STILL EXIST. I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS THE INTENT OF RECALL & FORD HAS NO ADDITIONAL KITS OR PLANS TO REPLACE FAULTY RECALL. KIT WAS REPLACED AROUND 60K MILES. FAULTY DPFE SENSOR ON THIS DURATEC ENGINE. DEALER TOLD ME REPLACEMENT SENSORS HAD A RE-DESIGN THAT DID NOT HAVE EXPOSED AREA THAT CONSTANTLY TRIGGERS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ORIGINAL SENSORS GET CONTAMINATION AND WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY. FORD DID NOT RECALL AND ONLY REPLACED IF COMPLAINTS UNDER WARRANTY. I NOTICED PROBLEM AROUND 60000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116663

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH REAR DRIVER' SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF VEHICLE. DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO UNDERCARRIAGE BRAKE DRUM RIM RUNNING BOARD. LUG NUTS WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO FAILURE TO RE-TORQUE AFTER CHANGING SEASONAL TIRES (EVIDENCED BY ELONGATED LUG NUT HOLES) WOBBLING AND SHAKING OCCURRED 3 MILES PRIOR TO LOSS OF WHEEL. *AK *EH *JB

NHTSA ID

10101390

Incident

Dec 14, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

THIS IS NOT AN AESTHETIC COMPLAINT AS CLASSIFIED BY FORD MOTOR CORPORATION. DASHBOARD IS PEELING UP FROM BASE OF WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW, DEFROST PANEL IS NOW DISLODGED FROM DASHBOARD AND CREATING ADDITIONAL OBSTRUCTION OF DRIVER'S VIEW AND RENDERED NON FUNCTIONAL. THE RECESSION OF THE DASHBOARD IS NOW SEPARATING FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SECTION OF THE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN JULY 1999 AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED FIRST THE FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND HAD SINCE EXPIRED AND WAS DIRECTED TO CALL FORD MOTOR CORPORATION DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE THREE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE PAST 24-30 MONTHS EACH CONFIRMED THE RECALL AND NOTED 1) SINCE IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM IT HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE ATTACHED IT AND 2) IT WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO EXPEDITE ON VEHICLES THAT CAME IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS. AGAIN, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED FROM EITHER THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF MY SERVICE VISITS OR FORD MOTOR CORPORATION WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED. I HAVE REQUESTED SECOND OPINIONS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT ARE FORD CERTIFIED IN BODY REPAIR AND EACH NOTED THE RAMIFICATIONS OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT CORRECTED IS AND NOT LIMITED TO A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND A RESULT OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND NOT EXCLUDING OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD THAT COULD INADVERTENTLY BE INVOLVED. IN MY RESEARCH OF THIS SITUATION I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WITH SIMILAR RESPONSES SINCE 2001.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080492

Incident

Jul 30, 1999

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WARPAGE AND IS NOW RESTING UPWARD ABOUT 5 INCHES HIGHER THAN ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE DEFROSTER GRILL POPPED OUT EARLIER AND IN THE WINTER THE DEFROST FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE WARPED DASHBOARD IS OBSTRUCTING OUR VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A HAZARDOUS. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#01B78) WHICH WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST 2001 AND EFFECTIVE UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2002 ADMITTING TO PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD (INSTRUMENT PANEL) WARPAGE ON THE 1999 & 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. THE FORD DEALER (HERITAGE FORD IN SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THEY WERE TO NOTIFY A FORD REGIONAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN OVER A MONTH AGO BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE. THE LOCAL DEALER ESTIMATES THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1400 TO $1800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I'VE OUTLINED ABOVE, I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED AT FORD'S COST. I FEEL THAT THIS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WHICH IS GETTING WORSE WITH THE IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE HOOD FROM MY SITTING POSITION IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ALSO, IF I WERE TO TRY AND SELL THE CAR, IT WOULD BE BASICALLY NON SALEABLE BECAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE ARE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED WITH YOUR AGENCY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM THAT I RESEARCHED UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF OTHER, VISIBILITY AND VISIBILITY...DEFROSTER AMONG OTHERS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE YOU FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION? FORD HAS ALREADY ADMITTED A FLAW IN THE DASHBOARD WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID

10079006

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

77,000 mi

SINCE I TOOK THE OWNERSHIP OF MY 99 FORD CONTOUR SVT, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I WANT TO KEEP THIS SHORT, SO I WILL BREIFLY TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED. FOG LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, TWICE. CV AXIS BOOT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FLAWED MANUFACTURING. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WENT OUT. ITS ON ITS 3RD FUEL PUMP. VERY TOUGH STARTS WHEN ITS COLD, STOCK ALARM MALUFUCTION, RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT, LEFT FRONT SPEAKER WENT OUT, DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE MALUFUCTION, THE DASH CAME UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD BACK ABOUT 6". HONESTLY THERE IS MORE, I AM TRYING TO PULL ALL THIS FROM MEMORY. TO CONCLUDE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. EVER.

NHTSA ID

10071152

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD CONTOUR, AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASH WAS COMING UP, BUT THEY WERE ON RECALL. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR IS NOT ON THAT RECALL LIST. EVER SINCE I DID BUY IT IN JANUARY 2003 THE DASH HAS COME UP EVEN MORE.THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DASH IS WARPED.I HAVE TRIED EPOXY, BUT THE WHOLE DASH JUST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED,IT'S SO BAD. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS A DEFAULT ON THE MAKERS END. I THINK THAT IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THERE ARE AIRBAGS UNDER THE DASH. WHY IS THIS NOT ON A RECALL LIST? CAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY CHILDREN AND I. PLEASE CALL ME WITH INFORMATION. [XXX] VIN# [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10028529

Incident

Jul 17, 2003

I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THERE WAS A MAINTENANCE RECALL FOR THE CONTOUR'S DASH COMING UP DUE TO BAD GLUE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT MY DASH WAS SO BAD IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME ALSO. NOW MY DASH IS COMMING UP JUST LIKE IT DID BEFORE, EVIDENTLY THE DASH THEY REPLACED IT WITH STILL HAD THE DEFECTIVE GLUE IN IT. I CONTACTED FORD EXPLAINING THIS TO THEM AND FINDING OUT THAT THE MAINTENANCE ORDER HAD ENDED LAST YEAR. I TOLD THEM ABOUT IT BEING REPLACED AND DOING THE SAME THING IT DONE BEFORE WHILE ALSO EXPLAINING MY CONCERN ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RELEASING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS COULD VERY WELL HURT SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAS HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND THEN HAD TO HAVE MY CHEST REWIRED DUE TO MY STERNUM NOT FUSING BACK TOGETHER CORRECTLY NOT TO MENTION WHAT THIS COULD DO TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MY DASH EVEN THOUGH I DID WHAT THE LETTER TOLD ME AND COULDN'T HAVE AVOIDED THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I DIDN'T MAKE THE DASH NOR DID I MAKE THE GLUE, BUT I UPHELD MY RESPONSABILITIES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD AT THERE EXPENSE NOT MINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021495

Incident

Jun 12, 2003

Mileage

5,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON; AIR CONDITIONER WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH; WILL NOT WORK ON LOW; RELATIVE HAS SAME CAR 2000 MODEL - - HAVING SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10020795

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

JACK THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE IS TOO SHORT , WILL NOT PICK UP VEHICLE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY TAKE OFF THE TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIP OFF JACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

844608