1999 Ford Contour: check engine light

Filed Jan 30, 2011 · Body, Fuel system · SC

Dash curling back. Strap for fuel tank rusted, going to break, rust on brake line, rust under both back doors and spreading to underneath car, radio speakers out, car hesitates while accelerating, trunk leaks defroster not working properly because of dash. Was not aware of a recall for dash. Should be recall for corrosion problem as it is unsafe to drive. I have no other means of transportation so I take a huge chance everytime I drive which is 3 or 4 times a week to work.. Fuel pump had to be replaced. Check engine light comes on for no reason. Piece of junk and I can't afford to buy another car. Ford should be ashamed of themselves. They should have to fix these cars or replace them. The mechanic told me the strap for fuel tank is going to break. The car only has 61,000 miles on it. What a joke!

Filed Apr 19, 2007 · Engine · 40,000 miles · WI

Check engine light comes on three times for different oxygen sensors. These greatly effect the gas mileage and timing of engine resulting in more expensive repairs. The mechanic stated he has seen a lot of ford contours in with this specific problem. Cost is minimum $250-$450 to replace.

Filed Apr 13, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · 99,098 miles · VA

Vibration when brakes applied. This problem started before I even pulled off the lot when I bought it used. The dealership had supposedly fixed it. Now, this was the second time that I needed to replace the rotors and brake pads. The first time I bought a set of tires, then got an alignment. Was told I needed different tires since the vibration did not stop. Bought more tires ,and was told that it had nothing to do with the alignment. Today, my car would not accelerate. The check engine light came on, and I immediately took it to a repair shop. It's going to cost $120 just to have diagnostics done. I also heard strange noises from the back of the car every time I brake. I'm shopping for a new car tomorrow. I have yet to meet someone who can tell me exactly what was wrong with my car and fix it!

Filed Apr 10, 2006 · Engine · 73,000 miles · GA

The check engine light in the consumer's vehicle continued to illuminate. The mechanic determined that the catalytic converter needed to be changed. *ts to date the catalytic converter has been changed 3 times.

Filed Nov 10, 2005 · Body, Brakes · IL

The federal safety agency website confirms 79 similar complaints of ford's known manufacture defects in dashboard assembly is a safety hazard that compromises the occupant/pedestrian saftey: warped dash panel and sprung out front defrost grill obstructs driver's view; loose grill strikes windshield while car in motion and could break it; deflects proper airbag deployment; proper airflow of defrost is deflected; ford knowingly manufactures and sells defective vehicles. Then immediately issues a "customer satisfaction program" notice (in this case cps # 01b78) that has an expiration date designed to preempt manifestation of the defects by the customer. On my 1999 ford contour se, the defroster grill has sprung out and juts out of alignment so that the airflow from defrost mechanism is obstructed. Dashboard warped and separated from windshield on the driver's side with the fissure spreading toward the passenger side. Ford customer service declined to do repairs/replacement at no charge, stating ford is no longer liable because the customer service program expired august 2002. Instead, the ford dealer service department offered me the loyal customer service deal of making the repair for cost of only $1638.12. I purchased the vehicle new in february 1999 for $18077.16 (financed price of $24318.40)!!! My car loan has been paid in full february 2004 with no late payments. My vehicle's routine maintenance was done by the ford dealer's service department. I am a second time ford owner; my previous vehicle was a 1992 ford tempo. However, lord willing, the 1999 contour will be my last. These are just some of the additional expenses I incurred seldom used A/C repair $275 faulty engine light 02 sensors replace $500 dealer cut brake roters too low $800.

Filed Apr 29, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 30,000 miles · OH

Well I had the worst experience ever in my life since I bought this car. I had this car repaired so many time I cant start to name off dates. I do know less than 6 months after I bought this car I drove to the beach less than 30 minutes always and it cut off. It started back up, but cut off 4 time before I got home. Next day I had to take it to the dealer to repair it. Since I had this car it has been nothing but a burden. I had to replace the ball joint once before, and as I write this letter it is being done again for a 2nd time. My heat and air stop working. Heat only works on high, and my defrost take for ever to clear my windows. My door just wont stay closed it pops open while driving. On my passengers side on the floor. It gets soaked with rain everything. If its rainy and im driving my car makes a loud scratching noise. My brakes have to be changed every 3-4 months. Shocks gave out less than a year after buying my car. My engine light wont go off. I took my car to over 3 ford dealers and many shops, and no can say why the light keep popping on. So today I dropped my car off to the shop to have brakes,door,engine light, ball joints and to see why the over drive off light keep blinking while im driving. This is the worst car ever made by ford. I know its nothing on my behalf why this car is so horrible because is know 4 other people who have or had the same problems as me. They were smart enough to get rid of this piece of '!@#$%, I just cant afford it. Well I know this summer if I do have the pleasure and jungian this car, im going to push it off a bridge myself, and never ever by a ford again. I think ford should be assumed for putting out such a bad model. How dare u try and make a quick buck instead of building a reliable car for families.

Filed Apr 9, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · MI

1999 v6 contour se. Rh rear spring made by visteon broke from corrosion @ 87k miles. Lh rear spring covered with rust visteon is also maker of front springs that had recall on 95-97my front springs. Poor spring coating design incl. Iron phosphate. Ignition switch failure at 75k miles. Had to be replaced. Top of dashboard was recalled with a kit. Kit did not fix problem -- excessive rattles still exist. I understand that was the intent of recall & ford has no additional kits or plans to replace faulty recall. Kit was replaced around 60k miles. Faulty dpfe sensor on this duratec engine. Dealer told me replacement sensors had a re-design that did not have exposed area that constantly triggers check engine light. Original sensors get contamination and will trigger the check light continuously. Ford did not recall and only replaced if complaints under warranty. I noticed problem around 60000 miles.

Filed Apr 1, 2005 · Engine · FL

1999 ford contour, check engine" light came on, car jerking/stalling, took it to local mechanic who could not diagnose problem, then had to have car towed to local ford delaership (key scales ford, lessburg, florida), they kept car for 2 days, charged over $800 to replace the timing belt, attempted to charge an additional $165 to replece spark plugs (service declined, spark plugs replaced by local mechanic for $50), "check engine" light still on, car still jerking/stalling. Afraid to drive car out of immediate neighborhood. Local mechanic suggested possibly catalytic converter problem but said it could not even be tested because of the position of the converter is in the middle of the manifold and is inaccessible. Local ford dealership has not replied to email requesting additional investigation.

Filed Dec 12, 2004 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · AL

I recently became aware of a recall that occurred in 2001 on 1995-1999 ford contours, mercury mystiques, and cougars. The dashboard in my 1999 ford contour is tearing and a friend of mine told me there was a recall on it. So I decided to check the recall information on the federal safety agency's website. Instead I found other disturbing information. According to a report listed, the blower switch / resistor overheats and starts or could start a fire. It also states that "failure of the blower switch causes loss of one or more blower speeds". However, I was never notified about neither recall. In july 2003, I had to have my 1999 ford contour (bought brand new) repaired because my A/C stopped working. The repairs involved the wiring in the fuse panel (repaired) and the blower / resistor was replaced. The cost: $60.00 (technician hooked car to a machine to diagnose check engine light staying on, parts & labor) and $187.40 (A/C problem, part $7.40 and labor $180.00). I was never informed by the service department (local ford dealership) that there had even been a recall. Will I be reimbursed for this mishap?

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · 64,645 miles · TX

Low coolant light has came on , coolant ok seceral months ago. Now the check engine light has came on. How can I get the fuse box checked without costing alot. Only have 64645 miles on car. Can't believe there is problems already.

Filed May 31, 2003 · Engine · AL

Engine light stays on; air conditioner will only work on high; will not work on low; relative has same car 2000 model - - having same problem.

Filed Jul 2, 2002 · Transmission · FL

I took car back the next morning after purchase, dealer claims there is nothing he can do, the engine light has been on since day one and I have taken it back twice, they replaced the differential sensor, it went off for about 10 mins and has been on ever since. Now everything else seems to be going wrong with this car.