1995 FORD CONTOUR Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood Problems

LTR FROM REGARDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN HIS 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS WAS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION COATING WAS PEELING OFF EXPOSING THE WIRE HARNESS. *JB

FORD'S CONTOUR AND ITS SISTER CAR THE MERCURY MYSTIQUE HAVE DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESSES. THE WIRE SHIELDS CRACK CAUSING SHORTS, WHICH LEAD TO MECHANICAL BREAK DOWNS AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES. FORD ISSUED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM #99M03, WHICH ADMITS TO THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDS COVERAGE TO NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALS BUT LIMITS THE TERM OF COVERAGE. WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT A NORMAL WEAR COMPONENT AND SHOULD NOT FALL APART FOR NO REASON. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. FORD HAS EXPRESSED NO INTEREST IN HELPING NOTIFY CONSUMERS. FURTHER, FORD'S DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE REPLACEMENT HARNESSES. *TR

UNDER HOOD WIRING HARNESS GOT HOT AND MELTED THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRES,CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNT SMELL OF PLASTIC AND ON SOME OF THE SENSORS THAT CONTROL THE ENGINE,RESULTING IN HIGH ENGINE SPEED,LACK OF STOPPING POWER AND STEERING,I PARKED THE CAR AT HOME AND NOW WILL NOT START. *TR

EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES, WITH INTERMITTENT ROUGH SHIFTING AND INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT MYSTERIOUSLY STARTED TO RUN FINE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ONE MORNING I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE FOR AN APPOINTMENT. UPON RETURNING AND STARTING THE CAR I NOTICED SMOKE EXITING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED OF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND I COULD STILL SEE SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT-REAR PART OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED, INCLUDING PARK/BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK, HEATER FAN, BACKUP LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL FLASHERS. FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES HAVE RESUMED. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED SEVERAL WIRES HAD CRACKING INSULATION, AND SOME EVEN HAD BARE WIRE EXPOSED. *TR

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND I PAID OVER $16,000.00 FOR IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I GOT THIS CAR. I HAVE 50,888 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND WORKED ON 4 TIMES. WATER PUMP WENT OUT, AIR WENT OUT ALL WIRING COVERS HAS CRUMBLED OFF LEAVING EXPOSED WIRES TO START A FIRE AND MUCH MORE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE I WAS A CHILD AND DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. I WANT SOMETHING DONE TO MY SATISFACTION. I KNOW THEY QUIT MAKING THE 1995 FORD CONTOUR BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. I AM NOW TOLD THEY CAN'T GET PARTS TO FIX THE CAR AND I CAN'T TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER ONE. I AM A FEMALE AND I...

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ON THE 1995 FORD CONTOUR'S ENGINE BECAME BRITTLE AND CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FORD RECALL NUMBER 99M03 WHICH STATED THAT THE REASON FOR THIS WAS DUE TO HEAT AND MOISTURE. THE CONTACT STATED MOST OF THE INSULATION HAS FALLEN OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 18,8000 MILES. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR

CONSUMER 1995 CONTOUR DIED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD WIRING PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD. *JB

WIRING ON 95 FORD CONTOUR, WE DID A VALVE JOB TO THIS CAR AND AT THIS TIME WE NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A MESS THE COATING WAS COMING OFF THE WIRES, WHAT COATING THAT IS THERE IS DRY AND BRITTLE EXPOSING THE WIRES, THE BARE WIRES TOUCHING AT PLACES, WENT AND GOT ONE FROM THE RECYCLE PARTS YARD AND IT WAS THE SAME WAY NOW WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD ONE TO PUT BACK ON THE CAR A NEW ONE IS SO EXPENSIVE I BELIEVE I WAS QUOTED AROUND $1300.00 . *NM

FORD "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" 99M03 DESCRIBES, AND OFFERS TO FIX FOR FREE, A PROBLEM IN WHICH ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ROTS DUE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. PROGRAM INVOLVES A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS BEYOND ORIGINAL WARRANTY, OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM VARY WIDELY. IN MY CASE, THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WHILE THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF ON A SIDE ROAD, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM, FORD ISSUED 99M03, WHICH THEY CALL AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM". THE PROBLEM IS THAT, ACCORDING TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AND ACCORDING TO THE PERSONNEL AT MY LOCAL DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED UNLESS THEY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SOMETHING THAT TURNED OUT TO BE CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THIS PROGRAM NEEDS...

DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, FORD CONTOUR 95 WERE MADE WITH A DEFICIENT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ISOLATION SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS ! SHORT CIRCUITS! THEY JUST EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, MY CAR HAS ONLY 45,000 AND THE WIRING HARNESS IS IN SUCH BAD CONDITIONS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, AS RECOMMENDED BY MECHANICS. THE FORD AND DEALER SAYS IT HAS TO BE CHANGED OUTSIDE OF THE ALREADY EXPIRED WARRANTY, ABOUT 3,500 DOLLARS (BY TROPICAL FORD IN ORLANDO) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, THE CAR PRICE IS 3,500 D. ( TOTAL LOST) IT IS FABRICATION DEFECT , THE CAR HAS ONLY 45,000. WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL ? THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS WERE NOT TOLD THE CAR WILL EXPIRE IN 2005! BECAUSE NOBODY WILL PAY THE CAR VALUE TO FIX IT! I SHOULD KEEP DRIVING UNTIL THE SHORT CIRCUIT COMES ! WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR...

DT: CONTACT STATES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE HARNESS WIRING MELTED. . RECALL CAMPAIGN 011009000 WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CONSUMER WITH RECALL 00S44, CONCERNING ELECTRICAL FUSE CONNECTORS AND RECALL 99M03 REGARDING UNDERHOOD WIRE HARNESS. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS EXPIRED. *AK

1995 FORD CONTOUR. RECALL 99M03 (UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS) WAS COMPLETED BY FORD DEALERSHIP OCTOBER 2000. IN 2003 AND SINCE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, BLOWS FUSES RANDOMLY, FINALLY THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING AND THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER INSPECTION, IT APPEARS FORD ONLY REPLACED PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE RECALL, NOT THE ENTIRE HARNESS AS THE INVOICE SHOWS. PART OF THE WIRING APPEARS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, WHILE SOME SECTIONS OF THE HARNESS ARE FRAYED, INSULATION IS FALLING OFF, AND BARE WIRE IS EXPOSED. IF THIS IS THE NORM AND NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL INCIDENT, IT IS A VERY MISLEADING AND DANGEROUS DECEPTION. IT WOULD APPEAR THEY ONLY PATCHED A PROBLEM THAT WAS, FOR SAFETY'S SAKE SUPPOSE TO BE REPLACED. THE INVOICE THAT WAS PROVIDED WHEN REPAIRS WERE DONE, DOES INDICATE THAT THE ENTIRE HARNESS WAS, IN FACT REPLACED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS,...

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGH. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND TOWED IT TO A MECHANIC. THE <A " WIRE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AC AND HEATING CONTROLS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER CONTROL BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *TC

SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I FOUND OUT THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY USED THE WRONG WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE WIRING THAT WAS USED CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT IT IS EXPOSED TO HEAT. FORD MOTOR IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ENGINEERING DEFICIENCY AND ISSUED A "CAMPAIGN", NOT A RECALL ON THE WIRING, THAT WILL COVER CONSUMERS FOR 10 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL OWNERS PURCHASE OR 100000 MILES. FORD INFORMED ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WIRING OR RELATED SYMPTONS ARE MADE. THIS IS MALICIOUS ACT ON BEHALF OF THE FORD CO TO THEIR CONSUMERS. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ISSUING A TRUE RECALL COULD RESULT IN BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING BRIEF LISTING: 1) FIRE RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH OF OCCUPANTS FROM ARCING WIRES DUES...

AFTER GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND NO INSULATION ON THE WIRES WHICH CAUSED A SHORT. *AK

DEFECTIVE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1995 FORD INSULATION EVIDENTLY DOES NOT MEETS THE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS NEEDED TO SURVIVE THE ENVIRONMANTAL CONDITIONS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL WIRES ARE SHOWING EVIDENCE OF CRACKING AND BARE WIRES ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING THROUGH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. FORD WILL NOT HONOR RECALL AS THEY SAY ONE OF THEIR DEALERS DID THE INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN BLIND NOT TO SEE THIS CRACKING. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON YOUR SITE, SUGGEST YOU INSTITUTE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.*AK

1995 FORD CONTOUR WAS PULLED OUT OF ONE OF OUR GARAGES AND INTO ANOTHER ONE. GOT OUT OF CAR WENT INSIDE - SOMEONE WALKING BY SAW A FIRE IN THE GARAGE. THIS BLAZE ALMOST BURNED DOWN OUR BUILDING. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS.FORD WONT BACK THEIR PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS. WE ARE TOTALLY GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM FORDS SO CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY WONT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON THE CAR ARE OVER 100,00. QUALITY IS JOB 1 WITH FORD IS A JOKE. THEY KNEW THESE CARS ARE STARTING FIRES. LUCKY IT DIDNT KILL SOMEONE IN THE FIRE. IT TOOK 4 MEN TO PUT OUT THIS FIRE. I HAVE SEEN ALL OVER INTERNET AND NATIONAL NEWS STORIES ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I GUESS CAUSE THERE HAS NOT...

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND RECENTLY HAD IT IN THE GARAGE TO HAVE SOME TRANSMISSION WORK DONE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AS MOST OF THE UNDER HOOD WIRING HARNESSES WERE FAULTY. THE INSULATION OM THE WIRES WERE CRACKING AND IN SOME CASES BARE WIRES WERE EXPOSED. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL'S ON THE CONDITION HAVE I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

MY CAR STALLED ON ME BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND WHEN IT WAS LOOKED AT A GARAGE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR. I LOOKED AROUND ON THE INTERNET, AND SAW THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON THIS SAME HARNESS. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT IT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON IT, AND TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, I WENT BACK TO CHECK ON IT, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT, BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE THOUSAND MILES OVER THEIR "RECALL WARRANTY". I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK HOME, AND CALLED FORD THEMSELVES. I GOT THE SAME...

THE PROBLEM IS IN THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. THE OUTER COATING CRACKED CAUSING THE WIRES TO MELT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY DID A RECALL ON IT --THE RECALL NUMBER IS 99M03. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR WAS LISTED AS SALVAGE BUT THE REASONS FOR SALVAGE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL ISSUE. THE WIRES HAVE WORKED FINE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL WIRES AND HARNESS. *JB

MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY ARE GETTING SEVERAL VEHICLES WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS BEING COMPROMISED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST. THE HARNESS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE HEAT SIDE OF MOTOR. ALSO, THE WIRE COATING IS NOT MEETING SPECIFICATIONS AND IS CRUMBLING. TS

WQHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS. MR

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED WHAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE SERVICED, SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PERFORMING POORLY AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS THEN REPLACED ENTIRELY, AFTER LESS THAT 500 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY AND RELAY WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER THEN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS AND THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A SECRET WARRANTY REGARDING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD MISSED THE DEADLINE.*JB

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...

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

FORD HAS A RECALL FOR WIRING HARNESS UNDERHOOD...I HAVE TWICE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BUT THEY TELL ME THE WIRING WITH CRACKED INSULATION UNDER MY HOOD IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE WIRING TO SEVERAL VITAL COMPONENTS HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS WHICH COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF SAID COMPONENTS. *AK

WIRING UNDER HOOD BURNED OUT,CAUSING DAMAGE TO MAJOR SENSOR.ALSO, HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING ON AND OFF.*AK

WIRING HARNESS UNDER BRAKE BOOSTER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS MELTING TOGETHER. THIS CAUSING ERATIC BEHAVIER, POSSIBLY A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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...

THRE IS A CUURENT CAMPAIGN RECALL ON BOTH DEFECTS, BUT DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM OF WIRE OVERHEAT AND FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGINE WAS HOT, DEALER FOUND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AT WATER PUMP HAD A PINHOLE LEAK, ENGINE COOLING FAN WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT AT FAN RELAY AND FAN CONNECTORS, THEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01I009 AND HAD THESE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, ENGINE AND IN-DASH WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED, DEALER INSTALLED RECALL PARTS FOR BLOWER MOTOR AGAIN, CONSUMER LATER INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED DUE TO NO COMPRESSION DUE TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE. THIS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO VEHICLE...

MAIN WIRING HARNESS INSULATOR CRACKED AND FELL OFF INTO PIECES, EXPOSING BARE WIRE. FORD HAD A M PROGRAM WIRING. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF THIS PROGRAM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY STATED IF VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 100000 MILES THEY COULD FIX IT.*AK

MANUFACTURERS RECALL 99 M 03/WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD: VEHICLE WOULD NOT START/RUN. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED OF A RECALL CONCERNING WIRING HARNESS. NOTIFIED DEALER; GERRY FORD, LEEBURG; VA, PHONE# 703/777-0000, WHO REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED CAUSING STARTER, SOLENOID AND BATTERY TO BLOW UP. *YD

I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE LATEST IS THE INSULATING COATING ON THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD IS CRACKED AND BREAKING OFF. THIS IS CAUSING NUMEROUS ENGINE CODES. THESE SHORTS ARE CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE HIWAY AND NOT RESTART. I WAS NOTIFIED OF FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY AFTER THE CAR HAD ALREADY PASSED THE MILEAGE THAT THEY OFFERED. I CAN NOT DRIVE OR SELL THE CAR AS IS. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A NHTSA RECALL YET, I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OF THESE CARS EVEN CATCHING ON FIRE.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. DEALER STATED IT WAS WIRING HARNESS, BUT NO WARRANTY WILL COVER IT. CONSUMER INSISTED MORE INFORMATION THAT DEALER DIDN'T GIVE.*AK

THE CAR WAS GOING DOWN THE STREET, ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS ALOT OF SMOKE. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER.THAT IS WHEN THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED.THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER HAD QUIT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. DURING THIS REPAIR MECHANIC FOUND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL PLASTIC COATING WAS FALLING APART WHEN BEING TOUCHED. WIRES WERE EXPOSED, AND ONE CIRCUIT HAD SHORTED OUT. *AK

FIRST THE A/C STARTED FLOODING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. RESULT THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED BY PLANTATION FORD, WHO TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING IN REVERSE. RESULT $2000, AND AGAIN FORD TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CONTOUR. FINALLY THE ENGINE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. MUCH LATER FORD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE COOLING FAN FUSE, AAND THE WIRING HARNESS. BOTH OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT, BUT HAD TO LEARN FROM A MECHANIC. AND WHEN I DID TAKE THE CAR TO PLANTATION FORN THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL IF THE HEAD GAASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF THE COOLING FAN FUSE, AND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS RECALL HAD EXPIRED AT 100,000 MAKING MY VEHICLE INELIGIBLE SINCE IT HAD 106,000. I HAVE E:MAILED YOU PICTURES OF THE HARNESS, WHICH ARE...

CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ENGINE COOLING FAN RECALL 00V367000. CONSUMER MADE THREE APPOINTMENTS TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED; HOWEVER, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT APPOINTMENTS WERE NEVER PUT INTO COMPUTER AND SERVICE WAS DENIED. ON MAY 19TH, 2001 THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN UNDERHOOD WIRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

ENGINE SPUTTERED ALOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO FOUND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WIRES HAD MELTED. *AK

INSULATION OF WIRES IN WIRING HARNESS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE "SHAKEN" SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO START VEHICLE. ALSO, TURN SIGNAL CAME ON BY ITSELF, AND AFTER THAT WIRES STARTED SMOKING. CONSUMER THEN PULLED A FUSE WHICH STOPPED WIRES FROM SMOKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC: FAILURE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO THREE THINGS: PROBLEMS IN FUSE BOX BY BATTERY, BURNED WIRES IN SAME AREA, CORROSION OF CONNECTORS TO BATTERY -- FORD STORE DIAGNOSIS: NEED NEW WRAP AROUND BATTERY CABLE CONNECTORS -- DANGER OF FIRE -- WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TWICE BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THERE WAS SMOKE -- AND ONE OF THE WIRES BURNED THROUGH COMPLETELY> FIRE DANGER TO ENGINE

ACCESORY WIRE HARNESS INSULATION WORE OUT. THEREFORE BARE WIRES TOUCHED FRAME OF CAR AND SHORTED OUT. THEREFORE CAUSING FIRE. AFTER INSPECTION, ALL OTHER WIRES SEEM TO BE CRACKING AND WEARING OUT. *AK

ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC: FAILURE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO THREE THINGS: PROBLEMS IN FUSE BOX BY BATTERY, BURNED WIRES IN SAME AREA, CORROSION OF CONNECTORS TO BATTERY -- FORD STORE DIAGNOSIS: NEED NEW WRAP AROUND BATTERY CABLE CONNECTORS -- DANGER OF FIRE -- WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TWICE BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THERE WAS SMOKE -- AND ONE OF THE WIRES BURNED THROUGH COMPLETELY> FIRE DANGER TO ENGINE

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99MO3. VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING POOR TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ON CONSTANTLY. DEALER SAID WIRING HARNESS COULD CAUSE IT NOT TO WORK. DEALER WON'T DO RECALL BECAUSE TITLE WAS BRANDED. DEALER WAS WOOD HOUSE FORD IN BLAIR NE. PHONE NO. 402-926-4126. *AK *SLC

AFTER DRIVING PARKED THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INSIDE OF HOUSE, THEN CAME BACK OUT TO VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. BELIEVED THAT FIRE HAD STARTED FROM UNDERHOOD.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50-55MPH , AVEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AT A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN TAKING OFF. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. INSURANCE COMPANY NEVER SAID WHAT CAUSED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED

THIS VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD TO REPLACE WITH A NEW VEHICLE IN JUNE 2000. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, NOT ABLE TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. IN FOR REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. 2 CABLES UNDER HOOD HAD MELTED. ALSO SEAT BELT CASING ON REAR MIDDLE SEAT FELL APART. *AK