Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DASHBOARD IS DELAMINATING AND PEELING UPWARD INTERFERING WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DEFROSTERS AND VISIBILITY. FORD HAS ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND QUALITY ISSUE. *TR
IN MY WIFES CAR THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD IS STARTING TO COME UP ITS RIGHT NEAR THE VENT IN THE CAR IT MAKES DRIVE THE CAR MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE DASH IS NOW BLOCK PART OF THE WINDSHIELD I WAS TOLD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOME ONE BEFORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO. *TR
VISORS FALL OUT OF ROOF WHEN TOUCHED, HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. *TR
DASHBOARD BEGAN SLOWLY WARPING OVER A YEAR. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY AHEAD WAS COMPROMISED, AND THE DEFROSTER VENTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT, SO I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP AT MY FULL COST. SO FAR, THE REPLACEMENT DASH IS OK. *TR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN SUNLIGHT EVERYDAY; BLOWER SEPARATED FROM DASHBOARD AND DASHBOARD IS NOW WARPED BADLY. NO RECALL NOTICE/ BULLETIN RECEIVED FROM DEALERSHIP IN WHICH VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM. *NM
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD (PORTION NEAREST THE WINDSHIELD) HAS "WARPED" UPWARD SEVERELY (6+ INCHES!). IT NOW PRESSES AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, PREVENTING THE DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY DURING WINTER MONTHS. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS DASHBOARD WARPAGE WOULD INTERFERE WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BY FORD TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, BUT THIS PROGRAM TERMINATED IN 2002, AND THIS WARPAGE COMMONLY DOES NOT/DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL WELL AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDED. *JB
THE DASH BOARD HAS BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS MORE AND MORE NOTICEABLY. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND I HAVE TO WIPE DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH AND DAWN DISH SOAP (TO HELP KEEP THE FOGGING DOWN). *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH, A HUMMING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED BOTH RIGHT FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACED. THE BRAKE ROTORS ON THE REAR WERE REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. THE HEATER BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WERE THE SENSOR TO THE HEATER BLOWER WAS REPLACED.
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR HAS CURLED UP AT THE DEFROSTER VENT AND BLOCKS THE DEFROST AIRFLOW FROM FLOWING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD
THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED AND CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE VENTING SYSTEM. THE DEFROSTER AIR FLOW IS DIVERTED AND ESSENTIALLY USELESS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. I ALSO DID NOT GET THE RECALL, FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TOO LATE. LOCAL DEALER SAID CALL FORD. CUSTOMER SERVICE SUGGESTED I GET IT REPAIRED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO HELP AT THIS TIME. SHE SAID REPORTS LIKE THESE ARE WHAT GET THE ENGINEERS TO CONSIDER RECALLS---WHEN?
DASH HAS CURLED UP SO BADLY THAT MY WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST. THIS CONDITION HAS ALSO CAUSED MY WINSHIELD TO CRACK FROM ON SIDE OF THE CAR TO THE OTHER. IT IS SO BAD THAT AT TIMES I NEED TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD WITH ONE HAND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE OTHER JUST SO I CAN SEE WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD LINKAGE THAT KEEPS COMING APART DURING OPERATION OF THE WIPERS CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STOP WORKING.
THE DASHBOARD PANEL ON MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR IS WARPED AND BLOCKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS. THIS IN TURN CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY DURING RAINY OR SNOW. I NOTICE THIS PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 2002 SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, FROM THE ON-BASE AAFES EXCHANGE CAR DEALERSHIP AT THE US ARMY BASE IN MAINZ-KASTEL, GERMANY. APPARENTLY, WHAT THE CAR DEALER HAD DONE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR WAS TO PUSH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS DOWN INTO THE MOLDED DASHBOARD PANEL, SO THAT MOLDED DASHBOARD PANEL DID NOT LOOK WARPED. AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, I NOTICE THAT FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS WERE SEPARATING FROM THE MOLDED DASHBOARD PANEL, SO I PUSH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS DOWN INTO THE MOLDED DASHBOARD PANEL, AND IT STAYED DOWN FOR A WEEK AND THEN THE VENT WOULD POP-UP. I HAVE SINCE GIVEN UP PUSHING, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS DOWN INTO THE MOLDED DASHBOARD PANEL. IN MAY 2005, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MAINZ, GERMANY THAT HANDLES US SPEC FORD'S, TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE WAS AS CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THIS, BUT IT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. ON MAY 19, 2005, I CONTACT THE FORD BY PHONE (1-800-392-3673) AND WAS INFORMED THAT UNDER THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION # 01B78, FORD REPAIRED INSTRUMENT PANEL WARP AGE. THIS NOTIFICATION WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 10, 2002 AND EXPIRED ON AUGUST 31, 2002 FOR THE 2000 FORD CONTOUR CAR THAT I OWNED. SINCE THE NOTIFICATION HAD SINCE EXPIRED, I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AND PAID FOR BY FORD. BY FORD ISSUING CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION # 01B78, THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PERIOD EXPIRED.
THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AFTER BEING REPAIRED ON A RECALL. WINDSHIELD IS VERY HARD TO DEFROST BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. *AK
DASHBOARD CRACKED OPEN AND WAS BLOCKING THE VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER, THE TIME EXPIRED. CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD AT THE TIME.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER DEFROSTERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY DUE TO THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE VENT IS OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHEILD PROPERLY. *TC
DASHBOARD HAS COME UNGLUED, EFFECTING DRIVING VISABILITY AND PREVENTING THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FROM DEFROSTING WINDSHIELD.NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT YET .APPEARS FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPOSIBILITY FOR THIS HAZZARDOUS DEFECT. *AK
TOP OF FRONT DASHBOARD HAS DELAMINATED AND CURLED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD, PREVENTING DEFROSTER AIR FLOW FROM OPERATING. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT IN FEB-MAR '04. FORD MOTOR CONTENDS THIS IS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE, AND NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. WILL NOT ASSIST IN $1400 COST TO REPAIR DEFECT.*AK
THE VINYL COVERING ON THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE. IT HAS, OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 5 MONTHS, PEELED BACK FAR ENOUGH THAT IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST VENT TRIM NO LONGER FITS INTO PLACE. THE DEFROSTER NO LONGER WORKS PROPERLY, AS THE VINYL NOW OBSTRUCTS THE AIR FLOW. THE VINYL IS ALSO IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO POTENTIALLY IMPEDE THE FUNCTON OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. FORD HAS ISSUED A COUPLE OF 'CAMPAIGNS', AS THEY CALL IT, BUT BOTH HAVE EXPIRED. MY DASH WAS NOT WARPED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND SO WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME. SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE DASH, FORD WILL NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT (~$1200). THE DASH ON A 3.5 YEAR CAR SHOULD NOT WARP SO BADLY IT LOOKS LIKE A PRINGLES CHIP. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS, AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL.*AK
2000 FORD CONTOUR, 4-DOOR SEDAN, VIN: [XXX] ------ ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED/DISCONNECTED. IT IS RAISING UP IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD, THIS IS STARTING TO OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEW, THE DEFROST DEFLECTORS ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE TO DEFLECT THE AIR ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND IT HAS COMPROMISED THE POSSIBLE OPERATION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS RECALLS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS FORD CONTOUR PROBLEM. BUT, THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CONSUMER STATES THAT DASHBOARD IS BUCKLING,CAUSING WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENTS TO MOVE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER CANNOT DEFROST FRONT WINDSHIELD WHEN NECESSARY. THIS RESULTS IN POOR OR NO VISIBILITY. *AK
THE DEFROSTER DID NOT CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. *JB
VEHICLE HAS A BAD SMELL COMING FROM HEATER WHEN TURNING IT ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE IN VEHICLE CONSUMER WENT TO CLOSE WINDOW, AND CONSUMER'S NEPHEW HAD HIS FINGER IN WAY, AND WINDOW TOOK CHILD'S FINGER RIGHT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO COOL AIR COMES FROM DRIVERS SIDE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR 3000 MILE SERVICE, CONSUMER THEN TOLD DEALER OF PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER. THEY ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HEAD QUARTERS IN DETROIT TOLD DEALER TO TAKE OUT THE WHOLE FRONT DASHBOARD. THEY REMOVED THE HEATER ER BOX TRANSFER, STILL COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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