1999 Ford Contour Visibility Problems

The dash is curling up

NHTSA ID

11520293

Incident

May 1, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

10464182

Incident

Mar 9, 2009

Mileage

84,919 mi

HAPPENED AROUND OCT 15, 2008 AT NIGHT, BETWEEN MARSHALL AND OLIVET MI. FAILURE WAS WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE, CAUSING WIPERS TO BLOW OFF THE VEHICLE. PART IS HARD TO FIND, LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED FOR SAFETY OBVIOUSLY. WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE WELL, SINCE NEXT EXIT WAS STILL MILES AWAY. NO EASY WAY TO FIX THIS IN AN EMERGENCY, LIKE THIS. THIS TYPE OF LINKAGE IS UNSAFE, AND I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WITH IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246227

Incident

Oct 15, 2008

Mileage

157,000 mi

I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE CLOUDING OF HEADLIGHT LENS - IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD AND VERY DANGEROUS...THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ANY INCIDENTS BEFORE THIS IS LOOKED INTO..... LETS DO IT BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10234642

Incident

Jul 17, 2008

DASH ON FORD CONTOUR WARPS, INTERFERING WITH VISION AND DEFROST CAPABILITIES OF VEHICLE. FORD HAD A ONE RECALL ON THE DASH, BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN.*CN

NHTSA ID

10213358

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WARPED. IT TOUCHED THE WINDSHIELD, AND WAS PULLING THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG PIECE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN ON SINCE. HE STATED NOW THAT HE WAS USING THE DEFROSTER, IT WAS COMING UP MORE. OFTEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141324

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

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

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1999 FORD CONTOUR LX , FOR THE DASHBOARD PEELS BACK. I NEVER RECIEVED A NOTICE WE HAD MOVED FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO GEORGIA. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HONOR THEIR RECALL NOTICE. I WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH 700.00 -850.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO INCUR PAYMENTS FOR A RENTAL, WHILE MY CAR IS BEING WORKED ON. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

10124871

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

106,755 mi

THE BLOWER RESISTER WIRES IN THE DEFROSTER MELTED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108733

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

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

99' FORD CONTOUR SE THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. IT BECOMES UNGLUED AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW, AND ALSO PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER, AS LIKE I SAID IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN A FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BECAME UNGLUED AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10104720

Incident

Jun 22, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

THE TAIL LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE AFTER FOUR REPLACEMENTS. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK IN LOW GEAR, AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SPLICE FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OPENED. (THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE) THE TAIL LIGHTS, FRONT RUNNING LAMPS WERE OUT AGAIN, A FUSE WAS BAD AND FOUND SOME MORE WIRES IN THE TRUNK WIRED INCORRECTLY, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE TAIL LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THERE WAS A WIRING SHORT IN THE HARNESS IN THE COWL AREA, THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE IN THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE #33 FUSE WAS FOUND OPEN, THE SUNROOF WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A SHORTED MOTOR, BAD DRIVE GEAR AND TWO CABLES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101775

Incident

Jul 19, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE HEATER BLOWERS FAILED. THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRE STARTED TO FILL THE VEHICLE. THE DEFOGGER COMPLETELY FAILED. CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE WINDOWS. HOWEVER, THERE WERE BURNT WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM....REPLACED STARTER MOTOR AND DAMAGED BATTERY CABLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101630

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

56,149 mi

I OWN A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. AROUND THANKSGIVING 2003 I NOTICED THAT THE DEFROST VENT ON MY DASH CAME LOSE. NEXT THE DASH STARTED TO CURL UP. THEN THE DASH STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I CAN SEE THE GLUE USED TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME. THE DASH IS NOW CURLED SO HIGH I CAN'T SEE THE WIPERS & PART OF THE HOOD. I AM FEARFUL PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD COMPANY IN NV & WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL BUT IT EXPIRED. I HAD SEVERAL ESTIMATES DONE & HAVE BEEN TOLD PARTS ALONE ARE APPROX $800 & LABOR AT LEAST $1000. AUGUST 9TH 2004 I CALLED THE WORLDWIDE SERVICE LINE AT FORD & WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM #01B78 THAT RAN FROM AUGUST 2001 THRU AUGUST 31 2002. I NEVER GOT ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM I DIDNT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN THEY KNOW FAULTY EQUIPMENT IS IN THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. WHEN I TOLD THEM IN THEIR EYES NO ONE HAS DIED YET SO IT IS NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ISSUE AN ACTUAL RECALL. THE REP ACKNOWLEDGED THIS STATEMENT SAYING I WAS CORRECT, THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THEY ARE WRONG, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE AIRBAG IS UNDER THAT DASH AND COULD DEPLOY. FORDS ONLY ANSWER TO ME WAS TO TAKE IT TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALER IN MY AREA & HAVE THEM INSPECT IT. A TECH WILL TELL ME THE COST TO FIX. THEN IT WAS REPEATED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS EXPIRED. FORD IS NOT GOING TO DO A RECALL FOR EQUIPMENT THEY KNOW IS FAULTY & THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM LEFT WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DONT KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED BUT I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEONE ACTUALLY GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT OR A FATALITY FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.. THANKS LJR

NHTSA ID

10086565

Incident

Nov 27, 2003

1999 FORD CONTOUR SE - HEATER BLOWER WORKING ONLY ON HIGH MODE. BURNED OUT RESISTOR. THIS WAS A RECALLED PART FOR 96-98 CONTOURS. I SUSPECT SAME PROBLEM IN 1999 MODEL. ONLY 22,000 MILES. PART REPLACED BY MECHANIC 8/4/04.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086276

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

Mileage

21,200 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

VEHICLE HESITATES AND JERKS VIOLENTLY ON ACCELERATION, FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL.DASHBOARD CURLED UP IN FRONT BY WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCTING VIEW AND POPPED OUT VENT TRIM. DEALER WOULN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE RECALL ON IT HAD EXPIRED. HAD TO TRY TO GLUE IT DOWN OURSELF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078763

Incident

Jul 21, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT. 99; NO DASHBOARD WARPAGE' RECEIVED A PRINTOUT OF TSB# 01B78 FOR WARPAGE ON 8/24/01; NO WARPAGE YET. 01/07/04 RECEIVED A PRINTOUT FROM DEALER OF NO ACTIVE TSB#01B78. DASHBOARD WARPAGE SEVERE AFTER WINTER OF 2004. BROUGHT INTO SERVICE THE TSB. THE DEALER AND FORD COMPANY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY QUOTE THE SENT LETTERS TO CONSUMERS OF THE CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. THE BLAME THE US POST OFFICE FOR THE FAULT. LIABILITY FALLS INTO THE MFG., WHICH IS FORD NOT THE USPS. DASHBOARD IS WARPED AND DEFROSTER FAILS TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER DUE TO WARPAGE. THE DEFROST VANES NO LONGER FITS IN THE DASH TO DIRECT FLOW TO WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSES A VISUAL HAZARD TO DRIVING IN FOGGY, WINTERED ENVIRONMENTS. I WOULD LIKE THE TSB SERVICED DUE TO HAZARD. I AM ORIG. OWNER OF THE CAR. I FOUND ALL THE INFORMATION ON MY OWN THROUGH THE INTERNET AND PRINTOUTS. NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION WAS SERVED TO ME. THE LIABILITY SHOULD TO SERVICE THIS TSB.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068243

Incident

May 3, 2004

DASHBOARD HAS DELAMINATED AT THE WINDSHIELD. 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. FINALLY, HAS ANSWERED ABOUT THIS AFTER NEARLY A YEAR, THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR MYSELF, MINUS 10% FORD SAFETY WARRANTY. I FELT IT SHOULD BE PAID IN FULL BY FORD. I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT GET FULL TRADE IN VALUE FROM THEM DUE TO THIS ISSUE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043333

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

DASH BOARD IS WARPING NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY TO FIX THAT PART WAS EXPIRED. THE COST TO FIX IT WOULD BE $300. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I FIXED IT MYSELF. FORD NEVER SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE AND NOW THEY ARE CLAIMING THEY DID. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043114

Incident

Oct 6, 2003

THE DASH BOARD ON MY 1999 CONTOUR HAS CURLED BACK AND THE VENT MECHANISM HAS COME OUT. NOW, THE DEFROSTER IS OBSTRUCTED AND DOES NOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. MY WINDSHIELD HAS NOW CRACKED. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL IS NOW "EXPIRED".OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR: THE RADIO SPEAKERS HAVE FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE REPLACE UNDER MY WARRANTY, BUT NOW THAT I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY, THE PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKERS ARE SHOT; THE DOME LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BUT IT DOES WHEN THE OTHER DOORS ARE OPENED; MY BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED, AND IT NOW SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING WHEN I USE IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10020938

Incident

May 3, 2002

Mileage

50,000 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

CONSUMER STATES HER DASHBORAD IS WARPED AND WHEN SHE TURNS ON HER DEFROGGER THE AIR DOES NOT HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO TAKE LONGER TO BECOME CLEAR. MR

NHTSA ID

8021179

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIRES IN THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS MELTED WHICH IS CAUSING THE DEFROSTER TO STOP WORKING. TS

NHTSA ID

8020991

Incident

Sep 16, 2002