1995 Ford Contour

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGINE WAS HOT, DEALER FOUND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AT WATER PUMP HAD A PINHOLE LEAK, ENGINE COOLING FAN WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT AT FAN RELAY AND FAN CONNECTORS, THEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01I009 AND HAD THESE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, ENGINE AND IN-DASH WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED, DEALER INSTALLED RECALL PARTS FOR BLOWER MOTOR AGAIN, CONSUMER LATER INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED DUE TO NO COMPRESSION DUE TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE. THIS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE. HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT LENSES REPLACED. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, SHIFT LEVER INTERNAL SLIDING BEZEL HAD A STRESS CRACK, AT TIMES IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS COLD. A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR AND WAS NOISY. FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT TIMES. SPEEDOMETER CABLE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A TICKING NOISE. *JB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF THE HEATER / AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER OVER THE PAST YEAR. LAST FALL AND WINTER, THE BLOWER WOULD OCCASIONALLY CEASE WORKING FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, BUT WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK ON IF THE SWITCH POSITION WAS CHANGED (OR OCCASSIONALLY IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON). AT THAT POINT, IT WAS CERTAINLY AN ANNOYANCE, BUT NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. AS TIME PROGRESSED, IT BEGAN TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT CHARLIE WATSON FORD IN LEBANON, OH ON 2/19/2001 (MILEAGE - 100,477), I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT IT. HE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY SAID THAT THE BLOWER OPERATED FINE WHENEVER THEY CHECKED IT AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WASN'T WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THEM ON 04/09/2001 (MILEAGE - 101,988) WHEN THE BLOWER STOPPED OPERATING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, I PAID A $70.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH FORD HAD AN UN-ANNOUNCED CAMPAIGN ON BLOWER FAILURES, MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE 1) THE CAMPAIGN DIDN'T COVER VEHICLES OVER 100,000 MILES AND 2) THE WIRING ON OUR CAR FAILED AT THE FUSE BLOCK, NOT AT THE SWITCH. WHEN I PRESSED THEM, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH FORD ABOUT THE MILEAGE BEING JUST OVER 100,000 AND FELT THEY COULD OVERCOME THAT ISSUE BUT FORD WOULD ONLY FIX IT IF THE WIRING FAILURE WAS AT THE SWITCH. THEY QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $800.00 TO REPAIR / REPLACE THE WIRING AND FUSE BLOCK. AMAZINGLY, WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, THE BLOWER WORKED FINE AND CONTINUED TO FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS BEFORE WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. OVER THE PAST 4 - 6 WEEKS, IT HASN'T OPERATED AT ALL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE NOW BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER (WORKS ON HIGH SPEED ONLY) ON MY 1998 CONTOUR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN (NO DEFROSTER IN WET/COLD WEATHER). WHY IS FORD NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE? THANKS.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED REGARDING HEATER SYSTEM. WHEN HE HAD HEATER ON HIGHEST SETTING, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL THAT CAME FROM DASHBOARD. SMOKE AND FUMES WERE SO BAD THAT HAD TO STICK HEAD OUT OF VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, HEATER SYSTEM CANNOT BE TURNED ON TO HIGHEST SETTINGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ON FEB1,2000. ON NOV 17 2000, I HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN AT MY OWN COST. ON JAN 24, 2001 I HAD IT FIXED AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUSE BOX JUNCTION PANEL AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED THREE TIME IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS A CONTOUR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT LIKE THIS. THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT UNDER THE RECALL THE LAST TWO TIMES BECAUSE I HAD OVER 72000 MILES ON IT AND I SPENT OVER 300.00 OF MY MONEY ON IT THE LAST TWO TIMES. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND VEHICLE COOLED DOWN. ABOUT 25 MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO, ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. RECALL # 00V-367. *YH

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, AIRCONDITIONER WENT OUT, SMELLED SOMETHING MELTING, SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD WHEN OPENED, TOLD IT WAS AIR, COULD DRIVE, BLEW 2 HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM NOT WORKING, COST OVER 600$. FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH AND LOW. HEATER MOTOR GOING OUT. MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. BACK DOORS SQUEAK REALLY LOUD, AND OIL DON'T WORK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ALWAYS. AIRBAG LIGHTS ON ALWAYS. BACK SEAT BELT BROKE. ALTONATOR GOING OUT. RADIATOR LEAKS THEN STOPS, LEAKS THEN STOPS. FAN MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN RUNNING.