NHTSA Complaint #743978 — 1997 FORD CONTOUR

WE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YRS AND DURING THOSE YEARS WE HAVE COME ACROSS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH IT.AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR, IT WOULD GET STUCK ON PARK AND WE WERE UNABLE A DRIVE IT A NUMBER OF TIMES.WE THEN PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES IN WHICH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRE SPLIT , WE THEN REPLACE ALL FOUR. WE THEN HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER AND FRONT LIGHTS. AFTER SEEING ALL THE NEGATIVE REPORTS OTHERS HAVE GIVEN ON THIS PARTICURLAR VEHICLE ONLINE WE FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE.WE HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD EVEN PUT THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING AN INVESTIGATION DONE.WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WE COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR ATTITUDE, THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN TO OUR PROBLEM AND PROCEEDED TO GIVE US A QUOTE FOR 2200. TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THEY STATED NO. WE THEN SAW A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ONLINE, SO WE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SVC IN WHICH THEY THEN SAID THAT OUR VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED ON THIS RECALL. WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THIS RECALL STATED. THEY IN TURN CALLED THE MANAGER AT CROWELL'S WHO STATED THAT HE DIDN'T OFFER ANY DISCOUNT BECAUSE OF OUR ATTITUDES.HE THEN OFFER TO CHARGE 495.FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION PLUS 200.FOR ANY SERVICE CHARGE, ALSO A 28. PER DAY RENTAL. WHEN WE ASKED WHY HE LOWERED HIS PRICE SO DRASTICALLY THEY STATED THAT IF THE WORK WAS OVER 2200. THAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE DISCOUNT(1500.) HOWEVER, SHE ALSO STATED THAT IF OUR VEHICLE WAS OVER 75,000 MILES IT DID NOT APPLY TO US. SO WE ARE LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE NO WAY OF PAYING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TO OUR SURPRISE A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY RECALLS IT SHOULDN'T TO BE ALLOW ON THE ROAD.I FEEL WE SHOULD GET OUR MONEY BACK BEING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS TOO UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN.*AK