2000 Ford Contour

VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH 2000 FORD CONTOUR. *MR THE DEFECT INVOLVED THE SEPARATION OF THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD AND UPWARD CURL OF THE SEPARATED PIECE. ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE DEFECT WAS A DEFLECTION OF ALL AIR OUTPUT FROM THE DRIVER-SIDE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT AWAY FROM THE GLASS WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER UTILITY WAS INOPERATIVE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *SC *JB THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FORD WAS UNWILLING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FILED A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR ON AUGUST 23 AFTER TRYING TO ATTEMPT DIALOGUE WITH THEM ON VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECTS OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC *JB

ON 09/09/2004 THE WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME IN OUR 2000 FORD CONTOUR 2.0 LITER WHEN THE AC AND RADIO SHUT OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND ELECTRIC WINDOWS OPERATED SLOW. SHE MADE IT TO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SET FOR A FEW HOURS. NEXT MORNING SHE MADE ALL BUT 100 FEET OF 1 MILE TO A LOCAL GARAGE, WHO SAID ALT IS PUTTING OUT 12 VOLTS WHEN IT SHOULD BE AT 14, BUT ALT MAY BE OK. THE IDIOT LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL NOT LIGHT UP WHILE STARTING THE CAR. GARAGE THINKS A SHORT TO THE IDIOT DASH LIGHTS IS WHERE THE MISSING 2 VOLTS IS GOING, BUT THEIR NOT SURE. THEY NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ALL FUSES AND CONNECTIONS SEEM OK. GARAGE CHARGED UP BATTERY TO DRIVE 1 MILE BACK HOME. ELECTRIC SHOP WILL LOOK AT IT MONDAY. ELECTRIC SHOP SAID THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS OF CONNECTIONS IN BACK OF THE FUSE BOX BURNING OPEN. I LOOKED; NO BURNT CONNECTIONS, AND METER SAID ALT CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING,THE DASHBOARD PANEL FAILED TO STAY IN PLACE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD NEEDED REPLACING. *JB FORD PROGRAM 01B78-52, INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE REPAIR, AFFECTED VEHICLES: ALL 1999-2000 MODEL YEAR CONTOUR'S AND MYSTIQUE'S. *NM

FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR SE WHEN THE GAS TANK GETS BELOW 1/2 TANK. I T BEGINS SPUTTERING AND STALLING BELOW THAT. IT DIES OUT ENTIRE.LY AT 1/4 TANK. I THOUGHT IT WAS WATER IN THE FUEL AT FIRST. AND KEPT MY TANK FILLED AND UTILIZED A "HEET" TYPE PRODUCT. IT BEGAME APPEARANT DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT WATER ICING UP IN THE FUEL.*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