1997 Ford Contour

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE DROVE UPHILL AND INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED BY EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 141,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HYDRAULIC VACUUM LINE WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON 3/19/07 THE DRIVER FELT SOMETHING HEAVY FALL ON HIS FOOT AND HE BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING COLUMN FELL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HE COULDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED TRUCK. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE DIDN'T DEPLOY. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR KNEES AND CHESTS. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED THAT HE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING COLUMN BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN INSURANCE WAS NOT REQUIRED AS SHE WAS UNINSURED. THE SERVICE MECHANIC ON 01/13/07 STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE HOSE BEING LOOSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS WITH 158,000. THE CONTACT DOESNT HAVE THE CURRENT MILEAGE. *AK

I BELIEVE ALL 1997 FORD CONTOURS SHOULD BE RECALLED, OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH, WATERPUMP, BLOWER MOTOR, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT & REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS(BOTH TWICE!!!!), AXLE, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, EGR VALVE, COIL SPRINGS, BATTERY, BALLJOINTS, DOOR LATCH, ALMOST ALL OF THE FULL FRONT SUSPENSION!!!! THERE ARE MORE PARTS THAT I HAD REPLACED BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES OF THE PARTS THERE ARE TOO MANY!! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW, THE ENGINE WILL (REV) UP BY ITSELF WHEN IT'S IN GEAR AND WHEN IT'S NOT, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEATS, WATER LEAKAGE IN THE TRUNK, A/C LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, ALL DOORS SQUEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, CARPET IS FALLING OUT, HORN WILL NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME, SAME FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER DOES NOT WORK, KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, ENDED UP IN VERY BAD DEBT BECAUSE OF THIS AND NO ONE WILL TAKE IT, I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE PIECE OF CRAP. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AT ONE TIME REGARDING ALL THE PARTS I REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT, THEY SAY IT'S NOT THERE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME SAYS IT WAS JUST FINE, BULL CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE TOO MANY ITEMS FOR A 1997 TO GO WRONG ON. *AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXHIBITS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END, THE SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, THE BEARINGS WERE BEING REPLACED ONE AFTER THE OTHER SO THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THEM BOTH REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME TO EVEN OUT THE WEAR, HOWEVER FORD DECLINED, NOW THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT END THAT CAN NOT BE REMEDIED, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL THINGS AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WILL NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR THE UNNECESSARY REPAIRS MADE TO TRY AND FIX THE NOISE. *SLC

WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED, THE CAR SPUN ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND HIT A BRIDGE.AIR BAGS BOTH DEPLOYED, I WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM IN APRIL 2000 BUT I WAS NOT SENT A RECALL NOTICE. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON 6-23-2000 AFTER COMPLAINING TO FORD; FORD DID NOT FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS SAFETY RECALL. MY COMPAINT IS TWO-FOLD: FIRST, FORD HAS PRODUCED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THIS PRODUCT, AND SECOND, FORD FAILED TO NOTIFY ME IN A TIMELY MANNER ABOUT THIS DEFECT SO THAT I COULD HAVE THE DEFECT CORRECTED. I HAVE SUFFERED MINOR PERSONAL INJURY, VEHICLE REPAIR EXPENSES, ADDED INSURANCE PREMIUMS (FUTURE), TRIP INTERUPTION, AND LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD BY TELEPHONE I WAS OFFERED KIND CONVERSATION BUT NO EXPLANATION FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE, NO OFFER TO COMPENSATE ME FOR DAMAGES, AND NO OTHER CONTACT AT FORD WHO COULD RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT.*AK

1. PARKING BRAKE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING IN WET WEATHER WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKING BRAKE WAS LEFT ENGAGED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHILE CAR WAS PARKED OUTDOORS. LEFT REAR WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND NEARLY CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS. ALSO MADE ASCENDING ICY HILLS FROM A STOP VERY DIFFICULT, AS BOTH REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK. THIS SOMETIMES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARD INTO PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. 2. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ONLY AT VERY LOW ENGINE SPEEDS (LESS THAN 2500 RPM), CAUSING MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL ACCELERATION, AND EXCESS USE OF BRAKES WHEN DESCENDING LONG, STEEP GRADES. DRIVING WITH KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM ALLOWED ME TO AVOID SITUATIONS WHERE RAPID ACCELERATION OR EXTENDED PERIODS OF BRAKE USE WERE NECESSARY, BUT PROBLEM STILL REDUCED MARGIN OF SAFETY. BOTH THESE PROBLEMS WERE EVENTUALLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER NUMEROUS DEALERSHIP DENIALS AND DELAYS. DATES AND MILEAGES OF COMPONENTS FAILURES ARE ESTIMATES, AND NOT EXACT. *AK