1999 Ford Contour Suspension Problems

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. SHE STATED THAT THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING. THEY STATED THAT THE ROAD SALT COULD BE A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE CRACK. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 85,000. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10200098

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10199517

Incident

Sep 22, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE 1999 CONTOUR HAS 67,000 MILES. AT 36,000 MILES HAD THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. SINCE THEN, I HAD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 3 MORE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196634

Incident

Jun 30, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

TOOK CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE ACTING UP . FOUND THAT BOTH TONE RINGS IN THE ABS SYSTEM BROKE. THE DASHBOARD HAD BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I MUST HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER, BUT IT EXPIRED AND WILL COST $1164.60 TO REPLACE IT. THE DURING THE INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD BECAUSE THEY COULD BLAME THE CONSUMER, FOR DRIVING WITHOUT CLEAR VISION?, BUT THE RINGS THAT CONTROL THE BRAKING ACTION,AND THE COIL SPRING BEING MADE OF BAD MATERIALS WAS A ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT SHOULD BRING ABOUT AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. WHEN ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING A BUS FULL OF CHILDREN OF A CLIFF WHOSE FAULT WILL IT BE THEN. NOT MINE FOR NOT REPORTING IT, MAYBE THAT OF NHTSA FOR NOT RECALLING IT, MAYBE FORDS FOR NOT FIXING IT, OR MAYBE SHARED BLAME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196223

Incident

Jul 12, 2007

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

ON MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR WITH 95,000 KM, BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN, PUNCTURING BOTH REAR TIRES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY NICELY AND GIVEN INCREDIBLE TLC. THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS TOTALED $1000, AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SPRINGS WERE MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185060

Incident

Feb 25, 2007

Mileage

95 mi

MY CAR SPORADIC STALLED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE WAS FAULTY WIRING THAT SHORTED OUT AND IN TURN DESTROYED THE CARS COMPUTER. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE SO DEALER WAS USING PARTS FROM DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL PARTS FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154842

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

81,600 mi

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 1999 FORD COUNTOUR. IN AUGUST 2004, I HAD A BROKEN LEFT-FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WITH A USED PART FROM THE IDENTICAL MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. IN MAY 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DURING A NYS VEHICLE INSPECTION FOR A BROKEN LEFT-FRONT COIL SPRING. AFTER CHECKING ON INTERNET AND FINDING A PATTERN OF SIMILAR COIL SPRING BREAKAGE IN RECENT FORD VEHICLES - INCLUDING A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 1998 CONTOUR - I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REQUEST AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1999 CONTOUR WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY RELATING TO THIS VERY COMMON DEFECT AND THAT NO ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE MADE. WHY HAS FORD CONTINUED TO UTILIZE THIS DEFECT-PRONE COIL SPRING DESIGN ON NUMEROUS MODELS, AND WHY IS THERE NO EXTENTED WARRANTY IN PLACE FOR THE 1999 CONTOUR AS THERE IS FOR THE 1998 MODEL?

NHTSA ID

10122520

Incident

May 28, 2005

Mileage

149,400 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

THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE, IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN TEARING INTO THE FRONT TIRE AND CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO DROP TO THE GROUND. *JB THE FLAT TIRE WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10097361

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES HAD GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097352

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

Mileage

171,000 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090115

Incident

Oct 2, 2003

Mileage

111,000 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH STRUTS BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083553

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

5,600 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 1999 FORD CONTOUR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON 6/21/04. WHEN I HAD THE REQUIRED STATE OF VERMONT INSPECTION DONE ON 6/30/04 A BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS A HISTORIC PROBLEM, AND SEVERE SAFETY HAZZARD ON THE FORD CONTOUR SERIES, AS SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE IS COMMMON WITH THIS BREAKAGE. YEARS 1995 THROUGH 1998 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM FOR THE 1998 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 2001, AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED THAT SAME YEAR. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT FORD WAS STILL USING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHEN MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 9/98. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM AS FORD IS BACKORDERED ON REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH. IT IS MY FEELING AT THIS TIME THAT THE 1999 MODEL SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080519

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

Mileage

75,785 mi

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FRONT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED, AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080318

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

29,000 mi

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

FRONT SPRING BROKE WHICH PUNCTURED THE TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021832

Incident

May 22, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

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

WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL, AND NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO MOVE.*AK WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN GOING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MILES PER HOUR. A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSED DAMAGE AFTER DRIVING AROUND WITH LOW FLUID. *JG

NHTSA ID

8012432

Incident

Jun 21, 2002

VEHICLE VIBRATED AT 10 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS VIBRATION, BUT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THESE CARS. AT 6000 MILES FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WERE WEARING OUT. AT 17000 MILES ALL 4 TIRE WERE WORN. DEALER WILLINGLY REPLACED ALL 4. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009189

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

ROADS WERE WET AND CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY.HE FELT VIBRATION INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE FLIPPED TWICE AND LANDED ON TOP OF ROOF OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

896931

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATIONS, SHAKING, AND SEVERE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGH AND GOT MORE SEVERE WHEN THE HEATING OR COOLING SYSTEM WAS USED. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, A MAJOR BRAKE JOB WITH ROTORS TURNED WAS COMPLETED, AND THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED. REGARDLESS OF THIS WORK, THE SHAKING IN THE CAR HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE EITHER SAID THAT IT WAS "NORMAL CONTOUR" OR THAT IT WAS THE TIRES. FINALLY, THEY INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IT IS. MY CAR MAKES A THUMPING NOISE AND A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN I MAKE SLOW RIGHT TURNS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY FOOT HAS BEEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR SURGED FORWARD. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT THAT THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME BECAUSE THE CAR JERKED SO HARD AND SO UNEXPECTEDLY. AGAIN, I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

752090

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896124

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896121