NHTSA Complaint #765606 — 1995 FORD CONTOUR

THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS ON THIS VEHICLE DISPLAYS AREAS WHERE THE INSULATION IS COMPLETELY GONE AND/OR FLAKING OFF. THIS LEAVES BARE WIRES THAT ARE SHORTING OUT. THIS INCLUDES THE NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO EXPLODE WHEN SHORTED. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE WIRING TO THE CRASH SENSORS FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS MEANS THAT IF THE WIRING TO THE SAFING SENSOR (UNDER THE DASH) IS ALSO SHORTED OUT AND THE WIRING TO ONE OF THE CRASH MODULES SHORTS OUT, THEN THE AIRBAG(S) COULD DEPLOY. NOT VERY WELCOME IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 70 MPH. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAD ISSUES THEIR OWN RECALL, BUT IT EXPIRED AT 100000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, ALTHOUGH THEY DID RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS NOTICE. FORDS CURRENT RESPONSE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET A WIRING HARNESS FROM A JUNKYARD AS THEY NO LONGER HAVE THEM AVAILABLE, HOWEVER THEY HAVE A PRICE OF 2500.00 FOR ONE. THE PROBLEM WITH GETTING ONE FROM A JUNKYARD IS THAT THEY ARE ALL DISPLAYING THIS PROBLEM.*AK