2000 Ford Contour

THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION, WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE A FUEL ODOR WAS COMING INSIDE THE VENTS. GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

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

Y FUEL PUMP FAILED ON MAY 21, 2003. CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (MILEAGE 41,711). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, TOTAL COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $463.80. DEALERSHIP THAT COMPLETED REPAIRS ADVISED THAT FUEL FILTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED OR WARRANTY ON NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE VOIDED. THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP FAILED ON JUNE 6, 2001 (MILEAGE:8,884). MANUFACTURER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL NEW FUEL FILTER. MARCH 28, 2003 ALTERNATOR FAILED (MILEAGE: 38,307). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $377.36. (ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 31, 2003 (MILEAGE 35,290) CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED DUE TO BATTERY LIGHT HAVING COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. FORD TSB 15830 ADVISES THAT THE LIGHTING OF THE BATTERY LAMP MAY INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN FACT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN MAY HAVE LEAD THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT CONSIDER THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A MORE COSTLY PROBLEM (I.E. ALTERNATOR FAILURE).)*AK

DASH IS WARPING, RECEIVED RECALL BUT AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT WARPING SO I DIDNT FEEL IT NEEDED REPLACING. ALSO FUEL PUMP HAD TO PE REPLACED AT 70,000 MILE. DEALER CHARGE $800. WHICH IS UNBELIEVEABLE FOR A VEHICLE IN THE PRICE RANGE. DEALER SOLD ME AN AFTERMARKET EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2001. THEY DIDNT INFORM ME IT WAS NOT A FORD WARRANTY. WHEN I TRIED TO FILE A CLAIM I WAS INFORMED THEY WERE IN BANKRUPCY AND WOULD NOT PAY. THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD I WILL OWN. *AK

STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN FUEL GETS DOWN TO APPROX. 1/2 TANK, IT WILL STALL OUT AT ANY TIME. FILL TANK AND IT WILL BE OKAY. CHAPMAN FORD IN COLUMBIA PA. SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 TO FIX. I ASKED WHY AND THEY SAID THATS THE WAY FORD MADE IT. HE ALSO SAID THE FOCUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, WE HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS. VARIOUS INCIDENT DATES FOR PAST SIX MONTHS. EVEN IF ITS FIXED, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. I THINK IT'S A LOUSY ANSWER. *AK

BOUGHT A 2000 FORD CONTOUR TWO YEARS AGO AND HAVE HAD CONTINUAL FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE WILL RUN FINE FOR AWHILE...SOMETIMES DAYS OR WEEKS....THEN JUST SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. TWO FUEL PUMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO NO AVAIL AND THEY GO OUT IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. THE MECHANICS I HAVE TAKEN THIS CART TO ARE PUZZLED AND DON'T NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS...I PAY TOP HAVE IT FIXED...THEY THINK THEY HAVE IT FIXED AND IT WILL RUN OK FOR A WEEK OR TWO THEN STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED A YEAR AND A HALF OF THE TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN PAYING ON IT. WE HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CURRENTLY WE TAKE THE CAR NO MORE THAN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE WHEN IT IS RUNNING.*JB