1999 Ford Contour

MY VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLES STALLS AFTER SPLASHING THROUGH WATER. ONLY 1-2 INCHES ARE NECESSARY TO CAUSE A STALL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN TURNING IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE WILL SQUEAL, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP AND STEER DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFED IN FORD'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # TSB 97-11-2. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO AFFECT 1995-1998 CONTOURS. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE NOTED THAT MY CONTOUR IS AN EARLY 1999 (MANUFACTURED IN SEPTEMBER 1998). THE TSB DESCRIBES THAT THE VEHICLES NEEDS TO HAVE A SPLASH GUARD INSTALLED. REPEATED REQUESTS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE NOT LEAD TO ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THROUGH ANY AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED WATER. ITS TENDENCY TO STALL FORCES ME TO DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES VERY SLOWLY WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR VEHICLES AROUND ME. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE (LABOR AND PARTS). I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOUR AGENCY COULD PROVIDE.

I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD (DATED AUGUST 18) LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO PAY OVER $700 FOR AN ALTERNATOR (WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONLY 1 YEAR OLD) AND AN AIR FLOW SENSOR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JUNE 1999 AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REPLACING EITHER AFTER ONLY A YEAR. PLEASE SEE LETTER ATTACHED. THIS MORNING (10/17/00), MY CAR WOULDN'T START UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.*AK

SINCE 12-15-99 I HAD COUGAR IN SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR WATER LEAK/ 2 TIMES SHIFT LOCK ,LOCKED DOWN BECAUSE OF BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT REAR BRAKE ELCO NOISE WHEN BACKING UP/ CAR HESITATING AT 50+ MILES AN HOUR /PULLING TO RIGHT WHEN PASSING AND GIVING THE CAR MORE ACCELERATION/CAR IDLING REAL HIGH AND WANTING TO TAKE OFF WHEN YOU FIRST RELEASE THE BRAKE/ THE WINDOWS NOT GOING UP AND DOWN / THE BATTERY EXPLODED/ THE SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE AT GATEWAY THE NOISE IS STILL IN THE REAR WHEELS . THERE IS MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM THE COUGAR WILL FALL APART/ THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION IS A PROBLEM . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P/215/S0R1 )

I HAVE HAD CAR IN SHOP 4 DIFFERENT TIMES,THEY CHANGED TO ROTORS AND BRAKES THE FIRST TIME AT 3,000 MILES.THEY CLAIM THE ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. THE NEXT 2 TIMES THEY CLAIM THE CAR IS FINE,THE LAST TIME ( CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP SINCE 2/15/00 THIS IS WRITTEN TO YOU 3-09-00) THEY ARE REPLACING THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES AGAIN, THEY SAY THEY ARE REPLACING THE DEFROST SWITCH AND A WIRING HARNESS,THE ENGINE DRIVETRAIN THEY DON'T KNOW???. I HAVE LOST TIME AT WORK AND I DON'T FELL SAFE IN THE CAR. I REFUSE TO TAKE MY "FAMILY" ANYWHERE IN THIS CAR!!!!!.