NHTSA Complaint #759296 — 1995 FORD CONTOUR

THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS IN THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED BY FORD FOR REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER THE RECALL EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. IN ADDITION, A SUBSEQUENT RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. ALL INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IS EITHER OFF OR CRACKED AND COMING OFF. THIS LEAVES TOTALLY BARE AND EXPOSED WIRING WHICH CAN ARC, SHORT OUT (CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS). THERE ARE AREAS WHERE BARE WIRING IS ROUTED RIGHT NEXT TO GAS LINES AND SHOULD A LEAK OCCUR AND A SPARK THE RESULTS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. FORDS RESPONSE WAS THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS BEYOND THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND THIS WAS THEIR RECALL (NOT NHTSA'S) THEY WEREN'T REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. ONE HAS ONLY TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND SEE HOW DANGEROUS THIS SITUATION IS. *AK