1998 Ford Contour seat belts problems

Filed Feb 19, 2004 · Seat belts · 80,000 miles · NY

The passenger side seat belt would not release and had to be cut. The cause of the failure has not been determined. The vehicle is currently at a mechanic. *jb

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Airbags, Seat belts · 95,463 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

I was rear ended into another car on oct.29 2002 and niether the air bag worked as well as the seatbelt did not lock. I had head, neck, and back injuries at that time. I did't question these things not working because I was not hit hard. Oct. 27,2003 I was involved in the exact same type of accident only this time I was hit hard from behind and hit the car infront of me hard. Again nothing worked and this time the police even questioned the air bag. Again I have injuries to my face, head, neck, shoulder, and back but to what extent I do not know yet. I was at a complete stop in both accidents and hit straight on in the rear. In 2002 I hit the car in front straight on and now in 2003 I hit the front can with the center to passenger side. My car is said to be totaled.

Filed Nov 20, 2003 · Seat belts · DC · crash · 1 injury

1998 ford contour seat belt jammed when vehicle landed upside down in a creek resulting in a fatality.*mr the consumer's two year old daughter drowned because the driver was unable to release the seat belt. The driver of the vehicle received two lacerations. *jb

Filed Nov 16, 2003 · Seat belts · AR · crash · 2 injuries

Car turned over upside down in small creek. Safety belt of driver and rear passenger failed to release after multiple attempts by driver. The rear passenger was my two year old daughter and she died, because the safety belts failed to release and jammed. She drowned and my sister in law was the driver and almost died due to the safety belts jamming and not releasing, so she was unable to get to my daughter. The first people on the scene had to cut the safety belts for them to get them both out of the car and it was to late for my daughter. The creek was less than 18 inches deep. Car only turned over one time to upside down position and approximate speed was twenty miles an hour. My daughter had no other injuries from the accident except for drowning (I have read her medical records thoroughly). My sister in law had no other injuries except for near drowning and 2 small cut's. My daughter lost her life because the safety belts jammed and failed to release.

Filed Aug 5, 2002 · Body, Brakes · CA

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.

Filed Jul 1, 2002 · Seat belts · VA

While stalling a car seat in the rear of the vehicle was not tight. Consumer was pulling on seat belt to tight up,and in doing so, seat belt ripped. Contacted dealer.

Filed May 8, 2002 · Seat belts · IL · 2 injuries

I have experience defects with the seat belt buckles as well as the seat belts. The seat belts are constantly jamming. Therefore, I am unable to safely secure my children or myself when driving. Also the buckle does not fasten. Sometimes they would work and sometimes they would not. On this particular day the belt jammed for my six year old and the buckle would not lock for my three year old. I proceeded to turn left (after two cars gave my the right of way) into a parking lot while traffic was at a stand still. All of a sudden a car speeds by and forced me to brake suddenly. When I did this both my children heads hit the front passenger car seats. I began to wonder what would have happened to my children if I would have been involved in the accident. I have contacted a dealer to get them check out and fixed and I am contacting the manufacture.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Body, Brakes · IL

Rear brakes were assembled backwards causing brakes to partially fail at higher speeds, dealer was notified.

Filed Jun 28, 2001 · Body, Brakes · CA

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.

Filed Mar 12, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · MO

First day car was bought engine died, took to dealer, and they gave consumer another contour. Currently, vehcile will shut off in middle of intersection. Dealer replaced transmission, and engine was acting up. *ak consumer states vehicle has been in 3 times for transmission problems, it jerks and vibrates, consumer does not think that dealer replaced transmission like they said. 1 time for engine problems. Consumer has been in 2 accidents due to sudden acceleration. Front sway bar replaced, steering would shimmy and rattle. Blower motor assembly replaced, due to rattling noise in air conditioner, also cycling switch replaced due to air conditioner not cooling. Left front seat belt buckle assembly replaced, belt would not buckle. Starter failed and was replaced. Engine light illuminated, dealer found loose connection at act. Rear struts replaced, noisy.