1999 Ford Contour

AUGUST 2001 FORD NOTIFIED US OF A DEFECT IN THE COVER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THAT THE PANEL MAY WARP AND COME UNDONE FIRST AROUND THE DEFROSTER GRILL OPENING. FORD IDENTIFIED PROGRAM #01B78 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WE BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AS INSTRUCTED BY LETTER AND SERVICE WAS DENIED AS THE GAP IN THE WARPAGE WAS ONLY 1.75 AND NEEDED TO BE 2 IN ORDER TO BE REPLACED. NOW, IN 2005 THE DASHBOARD PANEL HAS COMPLETELY WARPED UP AND OFF. IT OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. FORD REFUSES TO COVER KNOWN DEFECT NOW. *JB

THE DASHBOARD OF MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR IS WARPED BEYOND REPAIR. THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING BACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAS CAUSED MY DEFROST TO WORK IMPROPERLY, MAKING VISIBILITY POOR WHENEVER THE DEFROST WOULD BE NEEDED. FORD HAS REFUSED TO HELP FIX IT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" THAT EXPIRED AROUND THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL CONTOUR OWNERS AS WELL AS ALL ON THE ROAD. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS WARPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO USE THE DEFROSTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING THE WINTER BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER CAN NOT PROPERLY WORK. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT THE CONSUMER STATES THE DASHBOARD WAS DOING THIS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *JB

I ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY DASH BOARD PEELING BACK. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT THEY JUST REGLUED IT. A YEAR LATER IT CAME APART AGAIN AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT AGIN. I CALLED FORD THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED BUT SINCE I DID HAVE IT FIXED ONCE I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY AND FEEL AS IF THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1999 FORD CONTOUR LX , FOR THE DASHBOARD PEELS BACK. I NEVER RECIEVED A NOTICE WE HAD MOVED FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO GEORGIA. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HONOR THEIR RECALL NOTICE. I WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH 700.00 -850.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO INCUR PAYMENTS FOR A RENTAL, WHILE MY CAR IS BEING WORKED ON. PLEASE HELP.

MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED AND HAS WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LITERALLY FALLING OUT, DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF VISIBLE RUST OR DECAY. AGAIN, MY SAFETY IS AT RISK, AS MY VISIBILITY IS MINIMIZED BY THE INACCURACY OF THE AIMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL THAT OCCURRED IN 2001 ON 1995-1999 FORD CONTOURS, MERCURY MYSTIQUES, AND COUGARS. THE DASHBOARD IN MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR IS TEARING AND A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK THE RECALL INFORMATION ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE. INSTEAD I FOUND OTHER DISTURBING INFORMATION. ACCORDING TO A REPORT LISTED, THE BLOWER SWITCH / RESISTOR OVERHEATS AND STARTS OR COULD START A FIRE. IT ALSO STATES THAT "FAILURE OF THE BLOWER SWITCH CAUSES LOSS OF ONE OR MORE BLOWER SPEEDS". HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT NEITHER RECALL. IN JULY 2003, I HAD TO HAVE MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR (BOUGHT BRAND NEW) REPAIRED BECAUSE MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. THE REPAIRS INVOLVED THE WIRING IN THE FUSE PANEL (REPAIRED) AND THE BLOWER / RESISTOR WAS REPLACED. THE COST: $60.00 (TECHNICIAN HOOKED CAR TO A MACHINE TO DIAGNOSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON, PARTS & LABOR) AND $187.40 (A/C PROBLEM, PART $7.40 AND LABOR $180.00). I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP) THAT THERE HAD EVEN BEEN A RECALL. WILL I BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS MISHAP? *JB