NHTSA Complaint #763061 — 1995 FORD CONTOUR

WAS DRIVING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. 30 SECONDS LATER, I HEARD NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE BICYCLE CHAIN SWITCHING GEARS. 90 SECONDS AFTER THAT, THE OIL LIGHT LIT , TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTERED HOT SUDDENLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGINE DIED. FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPT. DIAGNOSED "WATER PUMP FAILURE". REMOVED WATER PUMP. THE PLASTIC IMPELLER HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND NO LONGER SPINS WITH SHAFT. FORD DEALER HAS SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING PROBLEMS WITH WATER PUMPS ON MY TYPE VEHICLE, AND EXTENDS WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS/75,000 MILES. MY CAR IS "TOO OLD" TO QUALIFY FOR COVERAGE, ALTHOUGH IT IS UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT, AND I THINK IT IS UNFAIR. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS I PURCHASED THIS CAR WAS THE 2.5L ENGINE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE A TUNE-UP UNTIL IT REACHES 100,000 MILES. THIS ENGINE BLEW AT 70,381 MILES BECAUSE OF A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP IT FROM OVERHEATING. IN MY OPINION, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE MANUFACTURER TO USE PLASTIC IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT FAIL-SAFE WARNING SYSTEMS THAT ALLOWS VEHICLE OPERATOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SLOW DOWN, GET OFF THE ROAD AND PREVENT TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF A VERY EXPENSIVE MOTOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS OF $6,700.00 EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE CAR WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN $6,435 (KELLY BLUE BOOK DEALER RETAIL) BEFORE THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR ACCORDING TO REGIONAL SALVAGE YARDS, WHOLESALERS AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS A GENEROUS $250.00. THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING MY COMPLAINT. ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE YOU COULD PROVIDE ME REGARDING THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK