NHTSA Complaint #768890 — 1998 FORD CONTOUR

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP 4 TIMES ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR. DEC. 28, 2001 - 1ST INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THE RADIATOR HAD ZERO WATER IN IT. MARCH 26, 2002 - 2ND INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. MAY 24, 2002 - 3RD INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. OCTOBER 24, 2002 - 4TH INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO HAVE A BELT ON THE PUMP REPLACED. I CALLED NORMA AT THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER (1-800-392-3673) AND SHE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT FORD CAN DO SINCE THE PARTS WARRANTY (12 MONTH/12,000 MILES) IS OVER THE MILEAGE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A WATER PUMP AND IF THERE ARE FUTURE FAILURES UNDER THE WARRANTY ONCE I'VE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS IT WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I INFORMED NORMA THAT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMP FAILURE/DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS GRACIOUSLY PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR ALL 4 REPLACEMENTS AND HAS GIVEN ME A DISCOUNT ON LABOR FOR THIS 4TH REPLACEMENT. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS ON EVEN AFTER BEING "SERVICED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. DT