2000 Ford Contour

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.

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

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