While searching the internet I found two different websites that appear to identify safety recalls. On the site "AboutAutomobile.com", one of the identified safety recalls, #98V233000, created September 25, 1998, was applicable to the replacement of the console automatic transmission shift position indicator, ie, PRNDSL indictor. Seems this sliding indicator was made of a flimsy and poor quality plastic material that deterioriates over time, and totally disintegrates into nothing. This leaves the driver without any indication of what the transmission drive gear is, and can be a hazard while driving. This was identified in the above safety recall in 1998, and indicated that the Ford dealer would replace the shift indicator under the safety recall.
When the shift indicator on my 95 contour failed as described, I called the local dealership. They claimed that there was no such safety recall that pertained to my Contour VIN. I then contacted the FORD Motor Co about this, and they told me the very same thing - no such recall applies to my Contour VIN. This is very puzzling because the safety recall identifies a failure of material used in manufacture, or a manufacture's defect, that is of a generic nature applicable to all 95 contour's with the floor console automatic transmission shift lever. The failure is not of a peculiar nature such that it would only apply to some 95 contours and not others. However the Ford people told me that the only way they can check for Safety recalls is by using the vehicle's VIN number, and my 95 Contour's VIN did not show any such Safety Recall, and they further identified only two websites, genuineservice.com and customersaskford.com, as the only sites that have the valid Safety Recalls for Ford vehicles. When I checked those sites, the above Safety Recall is not shown for my Contour's VIN.
Has anyone experienced the came problem with safety recalls? How can the one site, aboutautomobile.com, and others provide a list of safety recalls that confilcts with safety recalls that the manufacturer claims are valid? Does anyone know what the reasons for such a disagreement would be? Why would AboutAutomobile.com provide such a misleading list of safety recalls?
When the shift indicator on my 95 contour failed as described, I called the local dealership. They claimed that there was no such safety recall that pertained to my Contour VIN. I then contacted the FORD Motor Co about this, and they told me the very same thing - no such recall applies to my Contour VIN. This is very puzzling because the safety recall identifies a failure of material used in manufacture, or a manufacture's defect, that is of a generic nature applicable to all 95 contour's with the floor console automatic transmission shift lever. The failure is not of a peculiar nature such that it would only apply to some 95 contours and not others. However the Ford people told me that the only way they can check for Safety recalls is by using the vehicle's VIN number, and my 95 Contour's VIN did not show any such Safety Recall, and they further identified only two websites, genuineservice.com and customersaskford.com, as the only sites that have the valid Safety Recalls for Ford vehicles. When I checked those sites, the above Safety Recall is not shown for my Contour's VIN.
Has anyone experienced the came problem with safety recalls? How can the one site, aboutautomobile.com, and others provide a list of safety recalls that confilcts with safety recalls that the manufacturer claims are valid? Does anyone know what the reasons for such a disagreement would be? Why would AboutAutomobile.com provide such a misleading list of safety recalls?
