1996 FORD CONTOUR Visibility Problems

BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. THE BLOWER CONTROLS THE DEFROSTER AND HEATER. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN FOG, FROST ETC SO VISIBILITY IS GREATLY LIMITED. IF ONE CAN SEE WELL AN ACCIDENT IS POSSIBLE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR FOR THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN SWITCH FAILED AND WOULD COST $58 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER KEPT CHANGING THE DIAGNOSIS UNTIL THE CONTACT SPENT $271; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I009000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM: WINDSHIELD: CONTROLS/WIRING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEN YEAR FREE PERIOD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY RECALLS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE THAT SHE WASN'T AWARE OF BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NEVER SENT NOTICES. SINCE THEN CONSUMER HAS BEEN PAYING FOR ENTIRE FULL PRICE AND IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THE GAS FUMES WHICH IS LEAKING THEREFORE LEAVING POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COMING IN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. THESE HARSH CHEMICALS ARE DAMAGING TO THE LUNGS, BRAIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND ITS MAKING CONSUMER VERY TIRED AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS. *TT

RUSTING WINDSHIELD FRAMING. *BF CONSUMER WORRIED ABOUT THE WINDOW BLOWING OUT. *TC

THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 70000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE FUEL DOOR, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, DOOR HANDLES, TRANSMISSION, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, AND NOW AS A SPECIAL TREAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE WORST INVESTMENT THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE EVER MADE. I HAVE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND TRUCKS WITH 200000 PLUS MILES ON THEM AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN AS PROBLEMATIC AS THIS AUTOMOBILE.

Mileage: 49,000

PROBLEMS WITH 1996 FORD CONTOUR FRONT BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, FUSE BOX, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, ELECTRICAL AND STEERING AND SUSPENSION. *MR FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING A LOUD RUBBING SOUND, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS REPLACED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, WATER WAS INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT SEALS, WHICH MADE THE LIGHTS VERY DIM, THE SELECTOR MODE SWITCH ON THE HEATER MOTOR BLOWER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHICH MADE THE HEAT NOT WORK AT A 100%. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION AND WHEEL BEARING WERE ALL DEFECTIVE. *JB *NM

HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALLS ON VEHICLE SPRINGS, RECALL 01V230000, AND HEATER BLOWER SENSOR, RECALL 01I009000. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE, EVEN LEFT VEHICLE WITH MECHANIC. RECEIVED CALL TO PICK UP VEHICLE, AND ALSO INFORMED NONE OF THE RECALLS WERE EVER REPAIRED. MECHANIC REFUSED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIRS. BRAMVIEW FORD; QUEEN ST; BRAMPTON ONTARIO CANADA; 9054511041. *AK

HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW REPAIRED TODAY, AS WELL AS PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED IN JULY 2002. BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR BOTH. THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SHOW A MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE PURSUE A RECALL REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE SO CUSTOMERS CAN BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED.*JB

Mileage: 141,998

ALL POWER WINDOWS ARE OFF TRACK, CONSUMER UNABLE TO PUT WINDOWS DOWN. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *JG

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE FORD CONTOUR ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MATERIALS USED ARE BEND, CRACK, AND BREAK CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO EITHER FALL INTO THE DOOR, OR TO BECOME STUCK WHEN BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR REGULATOR 16 MONTHS AGO THINKING THIS WAS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE BUT NOW FIND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ADMITTED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN MY POSITION AND ON INSPECTION IT IS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE MANUFACTURING OF THE MATERIAL IS FAULTY, UNDER EXTREME STRESS WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS OF COURSE WOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN IF THE WINDOW WOULD COLLAPSE INTO THE DOOR FRAME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

STALLS OUT IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, SURGES BETWEEN 1-4 RMPS, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, ALL STARTED AFTER I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 00V367000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44 CONCERNING ENGINE COOLING FAN. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP, SAME DAY, CONSUMER FOUND AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WERE NOT WORKING. ONLY DEFROSTER WORKED. DEALER OPENED HOOD AND STATED NOTHING WAS DONE TO AFFECT AIR CONDITIONING UNIT/HEATER. ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL BACK NEXT WEEK TO SPEAK TO SERVICE MANAGER. *AK

IN OCTOBER 1999 I HAD MY HEATER FAN FIXED BECAUSE OF A RECALL. WITHIN 12 MONTHS IT BROKE AGAIN AND THE COMPANY FIXED AGAIN ON 8/30/00. IN DECEMBER IT BROKE AGAIN WHICH IS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. I CALLED BRUNSWICK FORD AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE FORD MOTOR WOULDN'T COVER ONLY ONCE TO FIX THE ITEM. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND COMPLAINED BECAUSE IT KEEPS BREAKING AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED AND DIDN'T CARE THAT IT HAD BROKEN 2 TIMES AND LESS TIME BETWEEN EACH. THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER AND SO MANY MILES THAT THAT PROBABLY WAS WHY IT KEPT BREAKING. I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND FELT THERE WAS NO WHERE TO TURN. ONCE THE RECALL IS FIXED IS THERE A TIME LIMIT OR MILEAGE LIMIT THAT SHOULD PERTAIN?

HEAT/AC PROBLEM THE SAME, MY LAST BILL WAS $500. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW FELL OUT OF THE HOUSING ONTO THE ROADWAY, THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE WINDOW IN JULY 2000, THE OFFICER INSPECTED THE WINDOW AND FOUND THAT THE WINDOW SEAL APPEARED OLD AND RUSTY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS

WHENEVER STARTING VEHICLE OR EVEN DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD START ACTING UP. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO ON BY THEMSELVES, HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED ON. LIGHTS, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, WOULD GO OUT. IGNITION WILL NOT START VEHICLE SOMETIMES.ALSO, WOULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. DID NOT HAVE A BATTERY PROBLEMS. HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO WORK. NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

FAN BLOWER SWITCH ONLY OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER IS INOPERATIVE. *MJS

I CAN TELL BY THE MARKS ON THE PASSANGER SIDE DOOR THAT THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO MY BUYING THE CAR. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW GOT STUCK DOWN AND SEEING THE COST OF THE PART AND LABOR I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED SO THE GUY JUST PUT THE WINDOW IN THE UP POSSISION FOR ME. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS SO LOOSE THAT I CAN'T ROLL IT DOWN BECAUSE IT RATTLES TOO MUCH. THE GAS PEDEL STICKS ALL THE TIME. I CAN BE GOING WHATEVER SPEED L;IMIT AND HAVE TO HIT THE GAS REAL QUICK TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN AND WHEN I GET READY TO GO THE PEDEL IS STUCK AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PUSH HARD AND THEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN GOES WITH A JERK. THIS HAS BEEN THE CAR FROM HELL.*AK

THE BLOWER FAN WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A RECALL. IT LASTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND PROCEEDED TO BREAK AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUSE PANEL IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REAFFIRM THE DEFECT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY RARELY HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE PANEL. IN ADDITION TO THIS REPAIR, BOTH POWER WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SIDES OF THE CAR. THE COMPANY THAT DID THE REPAIR SAID THIS IS VERY COMMON IN FORD VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF FORD AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY RESTITUTION ON THESE REPAIRS.

I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS, FRONT LEFT SIDE, THIS CAR HAS HAD 5 PREVIOUS OWNER'S

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BEST BUY FOR MY MONEY AND SEEING I AM A SINGLE MOM I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE CAR AND THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE CAR OF MY NIGHTMARES. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS DISHONEST ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD KNOW THAT I HAD LITTLE MONEY TO PAY FOR A CAR LET ALONE TO KEEP TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I ASKED NORTHGATE FORD TO HELP ME OUT ON BUYING A CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE THIS ON MY OWN BEFORE AND TO KEEP IN MIND THE FACT THAT I COULD BE ONE OF THERE SISTERS AND REALLY NEED THEM TO HELP ME TO BUY A CAR THAT WASN'T GONNA HAVE A BUNCH OF TROUBLES. THEY AGREED WITH HELPING ME OUT AND COME TO FIND OUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCREWED IN MY LIFE. MY GOAL IS TO BUY A BRAND NEW CAR IN 5 YEARS OR SO AND I WILL STILL BUY FORD BUT IT WON'T BE THROUGH NORTHGATE FORD. I THINK NORTHGATE MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN THE RULE OF THUMB "ONE UNSATISFIED PERSON TELLS 10". NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

WINDOW STUCK DOWN, AND STRUTS NEEDED.....4 YEARS OLD???

MY AC/HEATER SWITCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE. THERES SEEMS TO BE A SHORT IN WHICH THE PLASTIC IS MELTED BEHIND THE SWITCH, WHERE THE SWITCH CANNOT BE TURNED.

THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE . NLM

DUAL FAN ON AIR CONDITIONER WAS CONSTANTLY ON. CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL LETTER FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. BUT, THEN OTHER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING. *AK

AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER THIS RECALL THE A/C COMPRESSOR, WHICH FAILED PREMATURELY. CHRIS EARLY, AT JOE MACHENS FORD, COLUMBIA, MO, INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER, AND SO, WILL NOT COVER THE WORK UNDER THIS RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER AND ITS PROBLEM (BLOWING AIR QUITE HARD, BUT WITH NONE COMING OUT THE VENTS, AND NOT HEATING OR COOLING THE CAR/DEFROSTING THE WINDOW). THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN 9 OR 10 TIMES TO HAVE THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PROBLEM FIXED, I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT FROM TIME TO TIME. SURELY THIS KIND OF STRAIN CAUSED THE A/C COMPRESSOR TO WORK HARDER, AND BE SUBJECT TO UNDUE STRESS AND THEREFORE IMMATURE WEAR AND TEAR AND ULTIMATELY FAILURE. (EVEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE EARLINESS OF THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ANYWHERE WITH FORD IN THE PAST -- I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SORT OF REPLY FROM FORD AS TO MY INQUIRIES TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH I REGISTERED IN WRITING TO THEM IN AUGUST 1998. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK! *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK, CAUSING WINDOW TO FAIL TO OPERATE, LEAVING WINDOW OPEN FOR BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALER / MANUFACTYRER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS: INTERIOR/BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT. REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. FUEL FILLER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH LATCH INSIDE. NEVER WORKED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER FAILED. POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED. CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY. MECHANIC COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR THIS RELATED TO ALTERNATOR/CHARGING SYSTEM OF CAR. NEVER ABLE TO FIX THIS. TRUNK LEAKS WATER AROUND SEAL. ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON . MECHANIC COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH ABS. AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT DEFROST SETTING. ALSO BAD SMELL COMES FROM AC WHEN ON. REAR SEAT BELTS KEEP JAMMING; NOT ABLE TO USE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY WON'T COME OUT. WORST PROBLEM SO FAR: TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. NOT YET FIXED. I LOVED THIS CAR ONCE, NOW I HATE IT! THE WHOLE THING SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

HEATER HOSE HAD A LEAK DUE TO BRACKET ABOVE RUBBING INTO IT. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. HAD PART REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON HIGH, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTS. WHEN TURNING OFF THE A/C, THERE WAS MELTING BEHIND THE SWITCH FOR THE BLOWER. *AK

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS W/ MY 96 FORD CONTOUR SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2/23/96. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I GET TOLD IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHY WORRY ABOUT IT. THE SRV.MNGR.AT MY DEALER SUPPOSEDLY TALKED TO A "TONY" AT FORD & TOLD HIM TO TELL ME AS LONG AS IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN IT IS NO MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. THAT IS UNSATISFACTORY -I BELIEVE MY CAR TO BE A DEFECT IN THAT YEARS LINE OF CONTOURS & I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. MY CAR RUNS WORSE THAN ANY USED CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED! ALL I EVER WANTED DONE WAS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION,THEY COULD HAVE EASILY REPLACED MY CAR WITH ONE SIMILIAR TO THAT YEAR & MODEL & I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY. I REALLY WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER. I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL CONTACT A LAWYER TO SEEK HELP DEALING WITH FORD & KENNEDY FORD , IF I CAN NOT GET A FAIR & AGGREEABLE OUTCOME TO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU.

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT, AND THE CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER/LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. *AK

THE REAR POWER WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. THE MOULDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOWS HAS BEEN LOOSE EVER SINCE THE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CARPETING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOSE/ HASN'T FIT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BLOWER NO LONGER BLOWS THROUGH THE PANEL VENTS--ONLY THROUGH THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER VENTS. *AK

THE REAR POWER WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. THE MOULDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOWS HAS BEEN LOOSE EVER SINCE THE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CARPETING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOSE/ HASN'T FIT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BLOWER NO LONGER BLOWS THROUGH THE PANEL VENTS--ONLY THROUGH THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER VENTS. *AK

FORD NEED TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A SAFE ONE! COME ON 6 ELECTRICAL FAILURES? WHEN WILL THE FIRE START FROM THE FAILURES?..DATELINE NBC NEXT!

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A POWER SURGE THAT SHORTED OUT THE SWITCH TO THE HEATER FAN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

POWER STEERING BECOMES DISABLES WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. SAFETY SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD MOTOR CORP

POWER STEERING BECOMES DISABLES WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. SAFETY SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD MOTOR CORP

DUE TO SLANTED WINDSHIELD, VISION AT NIGHT IS DISTORTED.

REFLECTION/DISTORTION OF WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY ON-COMING HEADLIGHTS.

RUBBER WINDOW MOLDING ON DRIVER'S SIDE LOOSE, WINDSHIELD TRIM FAILED ALSO.

REAR DEFROST BUTTON FAILED.

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK