When the driver applied the brakes they locked up and caused the vehicle to experience extended stopping distance.
1998 Ford Contour brakes complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 91, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My compliant is that I was backing my car up and the front brakes locked up specifically the right front. The car would not move. You could smell burning and see smoke from the right front wheel. I had to have the car towed to my mechanic. After extensive work on the car we found out that the brake caliper piston would not retract into the caliper, after the mechanic reassembled the car, he found out the right caliper would not bleed out, after extensive testing the conclusion was reached no fluid would come out of the port on the hydraulic control unit to that wheel. Replacement of the hcu and module assembly was necessary. My car was towed to the mechanics on 2-06-2003 and was finally finished on 2-20-2003. The delay in getting the car finished was because it was the contour svt model 1998, changes in the brake parts had been made and were not easy to obtain. The ford dealer did not have the parts needed to complete the job they had to be ordered. I have all the parts that were pulled off the car. Also letter from my mechanic.
Rotors have warped, and consumer had them replaced several thousand miles later. New rotors also warped. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak the origional rotors warped due to excessive heat build up and was replaced, but the problem occurred again.
Consumer states that the vehicle popped out of gear and went into neutral while making a left hand turn, consumer also states that there are intermittent problems with getting vehicle into gear, vehicle experienced shift and clutch problems.
After recall was completed problem reccurred and caused damage to other parts of vehicle.
Consumer was traveling on highway, and without prior warning water pump shut down, and transmission vibrated when applying brakes. Dealership was aware of problem.
Rear brakes were assembled backwards causing brakes to partially fail at higher speeds, dealer was notified.
Engine check light remained illuminated on dash,and brake fluid was leaking. Dealer has replaced rear brake pressure control valve. *ak the consumer stated that the breaks were fine now since replacing the defective brake valve. The blower motor had no 3rd speed due to blower motor switch failure. It was replaced by the dealer. The vehicle takes fuel very slow due to fuel pipe flapper valve failure.
Power steering unit makes a loud noise if brake pedal is depressed on ice and snow. A noise can be heard once the car is started. Power steering fluid has been changed, but that did not remedy the problem. Please provide further details.
I have spoken to several people at ford ABS lst recall supr simon id 3082 laughed at my situation and I am completely dissastified with the lack of help especially since there is a safety recall that cld endanger my familieslife.
Was driving and applied tbrakes, and brakes locked up. Vehicle slid into a ditch. This caused front end to be damaged. Vehicle was drivable. An independent mechanic checked vehicle and indicated that brake pads were the problem.
Consumer had just put on new brakes. But, 2 days earlier brakes failed while wife was driving, resulting in a head-on collision. Driver and passenger of other vehicle were injured. *ak consumer states a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of them and when the brakes were applied the vehicle pulled to the left and hit another vehicle head on.
While driving at about 5mph and making a right turn right front wheel came off due to loose lugs: nuts. Dealer has seen vehicle. *ak consumer states the vehicle has experienced problems with the following: fuel filter, spark plugs, transmission, cv boot, brakes, air filter, wire, rotors need turning, timing gear, timing belt, and vehicle will not start.
Transmission has a defect, there is a slip when you applying gears. Also, brake pedal goes all the way down to the floor, and grabs a little bit. Dealership is aware of problem. Brakes have failed, on one occasion consumer almost hit a child, brake pedal slips from under foot. Emergency brake is only effective 50 percent of the time. Transmission intermittently changes gears roughly, at times jarring occupants in the vehicle. Possible electrical problem: light of the clock has burned out twice, consumer states there are shorts in the dashboard, causing the heater or A/C to only have one speed working, dome lights work intermittently, light under dash works intermittently, warning bell does not chime all the times it should, consumer states a sensor causes heater to act as the AC and vice versa. Hinges not made properly, causing door movement while opening/closing, does not stop when it should. Seat blet retarction does not have enough elast, causing it not to retract properly, has gotten caught in the door jam. Alarm system has failed. Wheel cover cracked when a tire was being changed and another one fell off, consumer was not aware of the time or place it fell off.
When applying brake pedal to make a gradual stop front brakes grind. Vehicle was taken into repair shop, were mechanic stated that front brake pads were too soft, and rotors have wornout. Please give any further details.
Traveling approximately 20mph consumer was preparing to stop, when it almost lost control. Consumer will be contacting dealer to determine cause.
Rear brake lock up on panic stop, loss of control spin out and hit center divider.
There is a vibration when brakes are applied before making a full stop. This occurs at any given speed. *ak the vehicle's vibration becomes scarey when applying brakes at higher speeds.
Vehicle was parked. In middle of night consumer heard a loud noise. Next morning he started vehicle, put it in gear ,but vehicle did not move forward or reverse. Consumer then noticed that wheel well on left front was laying on top tire, vehicle still at dealer, coil spring broke or strut. *ak consumer also had front brake pads replaced,
"mod pump" for ABS brake system has stopped functioning. No reason given for possible cause of defect. *ak prior to breaking of the pump, check the engine light came on and stayed on.
Had to slam on brakes suddenly/ABS light came on, and fuse between blower and heater popped out. This happened every time brakes were applied suddenly. Would have no codes. Would put 80 amps fuse in & same thing happened. Heater motor wold still be running & ABS light on. Front end brakes would lock up. Back brakes did not work.
Consumer states a noise can be heard when the wheels are turned left or right, wheels were replaced once by the dealer, when driving, sometimes vehicle will shake very bad. Vehicle has bad brakes.
While driving about any speed would step on brakes pedal to stop or to slow down, but brakes would not operate as before and pull to side.*ak the dealer replaced wheels but the vehicle makes loud noise also.
When appyling ABS brakes system failed. This was caused by a malfunction within blower switch and wiring harness. *ak when brakes are released the lights and the blower motor worked normal. The dealer indicated that water intrusion caused wire damage requiring complete wire harness. The consumer had to skip the repair due to a very high cost of repair.
Consumer heard a squeaking and grinding noise coming from brakes. Took vehicle to dealer, and they said rotors needed to be changed, and 60% braking power was left on rear. Consumer had brakes changed at 26,212 miles, and at another 25,00 miles they need to be changed again.
Abs did not work in snow. Dealer said wire harness had moisture in it. Have to replace harness. Cost: $3000+
When the ABS failed, there was no braking action at all. Luckily, I was going slowly on a local city street, and used the parking brake to stop the car without hitting anyone. The ABS warning light came on no more than 15 seconds before I had to use the brakes to prevent hitting a car that pulled out ahead of me. When the ABS light came on, I slowed the car slowly with the standard brakes, which is probably why the other car pulled out. It took 3 weeks for the brakes to be repaired, at a cost of $2399, not including cost of rental cars, etc. Ford has declined any reimbursment, as the warranty expired at 36, 000 miles.
A/c not cold enough due to faulty seal o-rings at the evaporator top and lower line outlet. Nlm
Recently my 1998 contour svt's anti-lock brakes have on several occasions locked up when applied causing the car to swerve. In some cases the brakes have remained locked and only released after being tapped and pressed several times after the car has been caused to come to a halt in traffic. Available avenues of addressing this serious braking problem in the vehicle with ford motor company are exhausted. Ford's standard policy requires the dealer's service facility to replicate the problem. The problem in this case is intermittent and dealer cannot replicate it. Ford refuses to be involved or to discuss the problem beyond the clerical area that answers at customer relationship center. I purchased the above vehicle new from borgman ford in grandville, michigan in 1998. I currently reside in birmingham, michigan. The vehicle was taken to huntington ford in rochester hills on two occasions. In the first instance I paid to have the rear brake pads replaced and also a fee to have the car inspected for the lockup problem. The problem could not be replicated and no source was identified. After the latest incident huntington provided a "loaner" vehicle for two or three days, but was again unable to replicate or identify the source of the problem. Internal ford procedures block efforts to bring the situation to the attention of a higher level of ford management. I have contacted ford through their customer relationship center, 800‑392‑3673--a higher level of authority is not available by calling this number. My father also called ford's headquarters, 313‑322‑3000, and asked for ceo jacques nasser. He was connected to mr. Colin richard, executive contact manager, again no higher level of management is reachable. Richard refused to send a written statement confirming ford's policy and their refusal to respond. My car was returned to me with this serious braking problem unresolved. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, daniel j. Osterhart
Speed sensor broke causing the speedometer to not work, confusing the car's computer, the engine reved on high and the vehicle suddenly bucked like it was downshifting.
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