NHTSA Complaint #749631 — 1995 FORD CONTOUR

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF THE HEATER / AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER OVER THE PAST YEAR. LAST FALL AND WINTER, THE BLOWER WOULD OCCASIONALLY CEASE WORKING FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, BUT WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK ON IF THE SWITCH POSITION WAS CHANGED (OR OCCASSIONALLY IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON). AT THAT POINT, IT WAS CERTAINLY AN ANNOYANCE, BUT NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. AS TIME PROGRESSED, IT BEGAN TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT CHARLIE WATSON FORD IN LEBANON, OH ON 2/19/2001 (MILEAGE - 100,477), I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT IT. HE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY SAID THAT THE BLOWER OPERATED FINE WHENEVER THEY CHECKED IT AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WASN'T WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THEM ON 04/09/2001 (MILEAGE - 101,988) WHEN THE BLOWER STOPPED OPERATING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, I PAID A $70.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH FORD HAD AN UN-ANNOUNCED CAMPAIGN ON BLOWER FAILURES, MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE 1) THE CAMPAIGN DIDN'T COVER VEHICLES OVER 100,000 MILES AND 2) THE WIRING ON OUR CAR FAILED AT THE FUSE BLOCK, NOT AT THE SWITCH. WHEN I PRESSED THEM, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH FORD ABOUT THE MILEAGE BEING JUST OVER 100,000 AND FELT THEY COULD OVERCOME THAT ISSUE BUT FORD WOULD ONLY FIX IT IF THE WIRING FAILURE WAS AT THE SWITCH. THEY QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $800.00 TO REPAIR / REPLACE THE WIRING AND FUSE BLOCK. AMAZINGLY, WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, THE BLOWER WORKED FINE AND CONTINUED TO FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS BEFORE WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. OVER THE PAST 4 - 6 WEEKS, IT HASN'T OPERATED AT ALL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE NOW BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER (WORKS ON HIGH SPEED ONLY) ON MY 1998 CONTOUR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN (NO DEFROSTER IN WET/COLD WEATHER). WHY IS FORD NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE? THANKS.*AK