2000 FORD CONTOUR Structure Problems

DASHBOARD IS DELAMINATING AND PEELING UPWARD INTERFERING WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, DEFROSTERS AND VISIBILITY. FORD HAS ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND QUALITY ISSUE. *TR

CARS DASHBOARD GOT SO HOT THAT IT CURLED UP CAUSING THE FRONT DEFROSTERS NOT TO WORK AND ALSO PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR. *TR

2000 FORD CONTOUR SVT, 71K MILES THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CURLING, FROM WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MEETS THE DASHBOARD, FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY SLOW, BUT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT NOW SEVERELY INTERFERES WITH DEFROST VENT FLOW AND VISION. THE DEFROST VENT POPPED OUT A YEAR AGO AND NOW DOES NOT FIT. THE CURLING OF THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR DECENT DEFROST AND VENTING, WHICH IN ADDITION TO THE 6 INCHES OF DASHBOARD THAT HAS CURLED UP, INTERFERES WITH ADEQUATE SIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. I'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS (STRANGERS) STOP ME OUT-OF-THE-BLUE AND INQUIRE ABOUT MY PROBLEM THAT THEY ALSO HAVE. BASED ON THE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THIS DEFECT, A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED BY FORD! *TR

IN MY WIFES CAR THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD IS STARTING TO COME UP ITS RIGHT NEAR THE VENT IN THE CAR IT MAKES DRIVE THE CAR MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE DASH IS NOW BLOCK PART OF THE WINDSHIELD I WAS TOLD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOME ONE BEFORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO. *TR

DASHBOARD BEGAN SLOWLY WARPING OVER A YEAR. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY AHEAD WAS COMPROMISED, AND THE DEFROSTER VENTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT, SO I HAD THE WORK DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP AT MY FULL COST. SO FAR, THE REPLACEMENT DASH IS OK. *TR

THE DASH BOARD IS CURLED UP. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 2002 AND HAS SLOWLY CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THAT THE TIME FRAME FOR MAKING A CLAIM HAD EXPIRED. WE DIDN'T PROCEED FURTHER BECAUSE THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST US $1000 TO FIX. OUR WARRANTY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED IT "UPHOLSTERY." WE HAVE JUST LEFT IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE CURLED DASH BOARD. PLUS, IN THE WINTER, THE WINDOW DOESN'T DEFROST PROPERLY, AGAIN MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. I JUST SAW YOUR WEBSITE ON LINE TODAY, WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T CONTACT YOU EARLIER. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR THAT I PURCHASED IN 2000 WHILE I LIVED IN NH. IN EARLY 2001, I MOVED OUT OF NH AND TO MA. LAST YEAR, I STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO A VERY NOTICEABLE WARPING IN MY DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE BLACK VENTING PIECE IS NO LONGER CONNECTED AND COULD BECOME LOSE AND SERVE AS A PROJECTILE IN AN ACCIDENT. MY FRONT WINDSHIELD NO LONG DEFROSTS PROPERLY WHICH CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH SEEING WHILE DRIVING. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2001, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE NOTICE WAS SOMEHOW SENT TO MY OLD ADDRESS. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPTTO DRIVE THE 2000 FORD CONTOUR SHE GOT IN AND SAW THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS PEELING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL TYPES OF WEATHER MADE IT PEEL MORE AND MORE. HER VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. *AK

THE DASHBOARD IS WARPED AND IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE BASE CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW AS WELL AS LIMITING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER. HAVE NOT CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AS OF YET AND I AM RELUCTANT TO GIVEN THE GROWING NUMBER OF DISSATISFIED CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. INCIDENT DATE IS UNKNOWN, I USED 1/1/05 BECAUSE THE DEFECT BEGAN IN EARLY PART OF 2005. CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN JUNE 2004 AND THERE WAS NO DEFECT AT THAT TIME. *NM

THE DASHBOARD ADHESIVE IS DEFECTIVE ON MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR SVT. THE DASH AROUND THE DEFROSTER VENT AND UP TO THE WINDSHIELD HAS WARPED SO BADLY THAT THE DEFROSTER VENT ACTUALLY POPPED OUT OF THE DASH AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DASH EVENTUALLY CURLED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO TOUCH THE DASH, MAKING THE DEFROSTER INEFFECTIVE TO CLEAR FOGGING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALSO SEPARATING FROM THE DASHBOARD DUE TO THE WARPING. FORD HAD ORIGINALLY HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY LEFT IT OPEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN FLAW, SO I AM INDICATING THE VEHICLE'S BUILD DATE AS THE INCIDENT DATE, EVEN THOUGH THE DASH CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. *NM

SUDDEN WARPAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER ATTACHING TO THE DEFROSTER VENT UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD (ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, NHTSA 624125), CAUSING BLOCKING OF VIEW AND HEAT VENTILATION. FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES STATED ON OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01B78-S2, INSTEAD WANTED THE OWNER TO REPLACE ENTIRE PANEL COVER, WHICH WOULD COST 8-10 TIMES MORE THAN THE 01B78-S2 PROTOCOL. *NM

THE DASH BOARD HAS BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS MORE AND MORE NOTICEABLY. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND I HAVE TO WIPE DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A CLOTH AND DAWN DISH SOAP (TO HELP KEEP THE FOGGING DOWN). *NM

FOAM COVER ON DASHBOARD HAS WARPED. EDGE NEAREST WINDSHIELD HAS CURLED UP AND IS NOW TOUCHING WINDSHIELD AT LEAST 5 INCHES FROM BASE. WARPED DASHBOARD BLOCKS AIR FROM DEFROSTER RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD AS VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A KNOWN DEFECT (TSB 01B78). FORD HAD AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PLACE BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER DESPITE OWNING THE CAR AND HAVING IT REGISTERED AT THE TIME. A SUPERVISOR AT THE FORD "CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER" TOLD ME THAT "IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE MAIL". I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED. THIS IS NO LONGER AN AESTHETIC PROBLEM AS THE BLOCKAGE OF THE DEFROSTER SEVERELY COMPROMISES SAFETY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD RAISED UP CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. UPDATED 10/2/2006 - *NM

I OWN A 2000 FORD CONTOUR THAT WAS BOUGHT IN 2001. THE DASH PANEL AROUND THE DEFROSTER GRILL HAS PEELED BACK. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY $1600 TO REPLACE THE DASH. I FEEL THAT SINCE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY DASH REPLACED. *NM

DASHBOARD COMING AWAY FROM FIREWALL WHICH IN TURN DISRUPTS THE DEFROST DUCT ALSO COULD MAKE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, SANTA MARIA FORD, FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORM ME THAT IT IS NOT COVERED THEY STATE THERE IS A FIX WHICH COSTS ABOUT 200 TO 300 DOLLARS (INSTALL YOURSELF) BAD IDEA COULD AFFECT AIR BAGS, TO FIX PROPERLY FORD STATES THE DASH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED 1300.00 DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A DEFECT FOR A RECALL. *NM

SAME AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE DASH BOARD IS COMING APART AND CURLING UP SO THAT THE DEFROSTER VENT IS BLOCKED CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY ($500.00) TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR AS MANUFACTURED. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR AND THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS VERY WARPED. IT IS CURLING UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEFROST VENT AREA. IT WOULD BE OBSCURING THE FIELD OF VISION OF THE DRIVER IF I HADN'T WEDGED SOMETHING NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD TO HOLD IT DOWN. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 FORD CONTOUR AND THE DASHBOARD IS WARPED. IT IS CURLING UP AT THE DEFROST VENT AREA. *JB

FORD HAD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION (NOT RECALL) ON DASHBOARD WARPING. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE, THE DASH ROLLS UP SO MUCH IT OBSCURES CARS OR OBJECTS THAT ARE VISIBLE NORMALLY AT THE LOW ANGLE OF THE WIND SCREEN. SUCH AS GOING UPHILL OR INCLINE. OR EVEN SMALL CHILDREN IN FRONT. THE WORK TO FASTEN THE DASH DOWN TO REDUCE OBSTRUCTION ONLY WORKED TEMPORALLY. *AK

MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR IS PLAGUED WITH THE "DASHBOARD CURL" PROBLEM WHICH, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1998-2000 MODEL YEAR FORD CONTOURS. BASICALLY, AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD (AROUND THE DEFROSTER VENT), THE DASHBOARD HAS COME LOOSE AND IS CURLING UP. BESIDE THE FACT THAT THIS IS ANNOYING AS I LIKE TO KEEP MY VEHICLE IN GOOD SHAPE, IT COULD ALSO POSE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM OF BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I AM TRULY SURPRISED THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED BY A MANUFACTURER RECALL, AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *NM

THE DASH IN MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR HAS WARPED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS NOW ~4 INCHES HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE, AND IS BLOCKING THE HEATER VENT IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE WINDOW CAN NO LONGER BE DEFROSTED BECAUSE THE WARPPING HAS BLOCKED THE HEAT. *NM

FAX FM CONSUMER WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO GET ASSISTANCE RE A WARPED DASHBOARD ON HIS WIFE'S 2000 FORD CONTOUR, DISSATISFIED W/NHTSA'S PREV. RESPONSES, REPLY EAST GEORGIA REG. OFC., DOT/I#2005-6046 *TS *NM

FORD CONTOUR SVT DASH WARPAGE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD DELAMINATED FROM THE FOAM. THE DASHBOARD LAMINATE WAS PUSHING UPWARD, THUS HINDERING THE CONTACT'S VISION THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOW. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER REVIEW, AND THAT IT WAS COSMETIC. ALSO, HE IS ALSO EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP AND WATER PUMP PROBLEMS. UNDER HARD ACCELERATION THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE BEARINGS ON THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK.

1) NO EVENT YET. 2) THE DASH IS CURLED AND PULLED AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD TO THE POINT THE DEFROSTERS CAN'T WORK. THE ENTIRE FRONT DASH ASSEMBLY HAS TWISTED UNTIL THERE IS TENSION ON THE AIRBAGS, STEERING WHEEL, STEREO HAS FALLEN OUT, NO VENTING WORKS. SO MUCH DISTORTION THAT WE ARE FEARFUL OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASING ANY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. 3) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE ISSUES THE FIRST YEAR AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE DASH, WHY IT WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CAR. HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. THREE TIMES THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE MENTIONED A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE DASHBOARD, BUT STATED "IT'S TOO LATE NOW, IT ENDED IN OCTOBER". I WENT TO THE OWNER OF THE COMMUNITY FORD WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE TOLD ME I HAD TO "GO...

LTR FM DOUGLAS HOLT (GA) 2ND ATTEMPT W/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO GET NHTSA TO REQUIRE FORD TO REPLACE HIS DEFECTIVE WARPED DASHBOARD THAT NOW CAUSES THE WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE.*MR *JB

DT: THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL CURLED UP. IT PUSHED THE VENTS UP AND THEY WERE COMING LOOSE. IT WAS BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS SIDE. *AK *TT

THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED AND CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE VENTING SYSTEM. THE DEFROSTER AIR FLOW IS DIVERTED AND ESSENTIALLY USELESS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. I ALSO DID NOT GET THE RECALL, FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TOO LATE. LOCAL DEALER SAID CALL FORD. CUSTOMER SERVICE SUGGESTED I GET IT REPAIRED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO HELP AT THIS TIME. SHE SAID REPORTS LIKE THESE ARE WHAT GET THE ENGINEERS TO CONSIDER RECALLS---WHEN?

MY DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSES A VISIBILITY PROBLEM AND THE VENT CAME DETACHED FROM THE DASH

THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AFTER BEING REPAIRED ON A RECALL. WINDSHIELD IS VERY HARD TO DEFROST BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. *AK

MY 2000 FORD CONTOUR DASH CAP IS LIFTING FROM HEAT ITS GETTING WORSE I FIND IT AS A DISTRACTION I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF FORUMS STATING THAT THE DASHES ARE BEING WARPED THE YEARS ARE 96 AND UP. *JB

DASH IS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AND IS CURLING UP. THE DEFROST VENT HAS POPPED OUT AND VISIBILITY IS NOW POOR. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT AN ADVISORY WAS PUT OUT WITH I NEVER RECEIVED. THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT. *JB

WE OWN A 2000 FORD CONTOUR SE. THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD SEPARATED AND CURLED UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. I HAVE CHECK FOR A RECALL OR REPORTED OTHER PROBLEMS AN FOUND ONLY A HANDFUL OF COMPLIANTS. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. VISUALLY THE GLUE USED TO SECURE THE DASHBOARD FAILED. WHAT IS OUR NEXT STEP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *AK

DASHBOARD CRACKED OPEN AND WAS BLOCKING THE VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER, THE TIME EXPIRED. CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD AT THE TIME.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER DEFROSTERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY DUE TO THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE VENT IS OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHEILD PROPERLY. *TC

THE DASH PANEL PAD CURLED UP CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *NM *TC

THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMERS VIEW. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO BUCKLE UP. AS A RESULT, THE DEFROSTER IS BLOCKED AND VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED. *JB

VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH 2000 FORD CONTOUR. *MR THE DEFECT INVOLVED THE SEPARATION OF THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD AND UPWARD CURL OF THE SEPARATED PIECE. ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE DEFECT WAS A DEFLECTION OF ALL AIR OUTPUT FROM THE DRIVER-SIDE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT AWAY FROM THE GLASS WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER UTILITY WAS INOPERATIVE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *SC *JB THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FORD WAS UNWILLING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FILED A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR ON AUGUST 23 AFTER TRYING TO ATTEMPT DIALOGUE WITH THEM ON VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECTS OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC *JB

WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE CONSOLE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE DASHBOARD UNRAVELED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY WAS VALID. *AK

2002 FORD CONTOUR, DASHBOARD STARTED PEELING UP. IT GETS WORSE EVERY MONTH. *JB

THE DASHBOARD WAS PEELING AND IT WAS ROLLING INTO THE WINDSHIELD COVERING UP THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS DISCOVERED AND THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM AT THE TIME OF THE BULLETIN. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CURLING AND LIFTING UP FROM THE FRAME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE VINYL COVERING ON THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AWAY FROM THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE. IT HAS, OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 5 MONTHS, PEELED BACK FAR ENOUGH THAT IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST VENT TRIM NO LONGER FITS INTO PLACE. THE DEFROSTER NO LONGER WORKS PROPERLY, AS THE VINYL NOW OBSTRUCTS THE AIR FLOW. THE VINYL IS ALSO IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO POTENTIALLY IMPEDE THE FUNCTON OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. FORD HAS ISSUED A COUPLE OF 'CAMPAIGNS', AS THEY CALL IT, BUT BOTH HAVE EXPIRED. MY DASH WAS NOT WARPED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND SO WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME. SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE DASH, FORD WILL NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT (~$1200). THE DASH ON A 3.5 YEAR CAR SHOULD NOT WARP SO BADLY IT LOOKS LIKE A PRINGLES CHIP. THIS...

WHILE DRIVING,THE DASHBOARD PANEL FAILED TO STAY IN PLACE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD NEEDED REPLACING. *JB FORD PROGRAM 01B78-52, INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE REPAIR, AFFECTED VEHICLES: ALL 1999-2000 MODEL YEAR CONTOUR'S AND MYSTIQUE'S. *NM

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS PEELING AND THE HEAT/AIR DOES NOT CIRCULATE PROPERLY. IT IS BEGINNING TO COVER THE VENTS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE CLEARED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY HAVE SEEN VEHICLES WORST THAN HIS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK *SC *JB

LTR FROM DOUG HOLT (GA) RE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD IN HIS 2000 FORD CONTOUR, DASHBOARD HAS CURLED UPWARDS 2 INCHES IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING WIFE'S VIEW WHEN DRIVING CAR, REPLY ATTN SHANNON BOWEN/TOCCOA DIST. OFC. DOT/I/#2004-511. *PH THIS OCCURRED DURING THE SUMMER HEAT. FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD A REPAIR PROGRAM WHICH ENDED THE MONTH THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS CLASSIFIED AS A NON-RECALL ISSUE AND WOULD POSSIBLY DENY THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIRS. *SC *JB

2000 FORD CONTOUR-SERVICE BULLETIN 01B78 WAS ISSUED FOR WARPED DASHBOARD. THE WARPING OCCURS NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND VENTS FOR THE DEFROSTER. THE WARPED DASHBOARD OBSCURES THE DRIVER'S VIEW. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. FORD HAS DISCONTINUED REPAIRS.*AK

PANEL NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WARPED IN TWO PLACES. *PH SINCE THE PANEL WAS WARPED, IT CAUSED THE HEAT VENT TO BECOME PARTIALLY BLOCKED AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE WINDOWS DID NOT DEFROST. *JB