Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting GRRRR.. Ford's lack of quality (heater switch)

Originally posted by Sandman333:

---

All those recalls just go to illustrate my point. Ford quality sucks. In addition, take a look at the 95 3.8L V6 issues (head gaskets). Ford did not bother to notify owners of these vehicles (Taurus, Windstar, and possibly Mustang) that there was a problem with the engine; rather Ford decided to quietly authorize repairs if the vehicle had less than 100,000 miles in order to appease complaints and avoid very bad press.

Well, my 95 Windstar started experiencing symptoms of a very slow coolant loss at 80,000 miles. Because I knew nothing of the problem at the time, and because I have through experience learned not to trust dealerships with my car, I tried to find the leak myself. I never could identify the source. Eventually, at 120,000 miles, the #4 cylinder let go. I was lucky to recognize the white clouds of smoke and burnt brown sugar smell as a blown head gasket and shut the engine down prior to major internal damage. Ford wanted $1700 to repair it. They refused to cover it, even though the parts used were clearly defective when they left the factory. I did it myself for about $400 parts and tools cost (was away from home, and hence my tools, at the time).

Additionally, my 95 had the transaxle replaced under warranty. It would shudder into 2nd gear about 30% of the time. Now my 2000 Windstar, with the same transmission, is doing the same thing. They can't fix this problem in 5 years????? Give me a break.

I am also a police officer. Every Crown Vic I have had as a patrol car has had engine pinging issues, getting worse with age. Eventually, as the car approaches 100,000 miles, it gets so loud as to be embarrassing. The transmission in my 2000 CV PI sucks too. Something is wrong whereby it lurches in first and second gear at anything over 2/3 throttle. It feels as if someone else is mashing the brakes every other second as the car accelerates. (no, it doesn't have traction control)

In short, Ford is becoming nothing but a big dissappointment to its customers. I suspect that Ford will soon have fewer customers to dissappoint, however.

---

One question: if you complained so much about your 95 Windstar, why the hell did you go and buy another one??

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:

---

well, if u want a cheap car that has a warranty that will be used often after a few years, and have a not so great car then a hyundai is for you,,, i'd rather have my 'tour though due to the fact that i see a lotta hyundais with smoke pouring from their tailpipes,etc. plus contour has more power, rides better, handles better, looks better, is better, smells better, even taste better (stupid korean paint, can't hang with american paint).

---

As the regular driver of my Contour and our new Sonata, I'll agree that the Contour handles better. Everything else is nonsense. The new Sonata is a first-class car with or without the warranty. Besides, you won't see mine with smoke pouring from the tailpipe because Hyundai has agreed to fix it for the next 12 years no questions asked. Compare that to the three visits and one angry phone call I had to make to get my Ford dealer to replace my serpentine belt tensioner on my Contour after it was out of warranty! Their first solution was to spray belt dressing on the serpentine . Don't get me wrong, I love my Contour and I have since the day I bought it. It's as comfortable as an easy chair and handles like an extension of my arms and legs. But Ford has been an absolute horses**t company to deal with. I have some mechanical skills and the Haines manual with which I hope to become somewhat self-sufficient with the 'Tour because I'd rather pull out my own fingernails than deal with my Ford dealer's service department. I hate to say it, but I'm guessing the Contour will have gone to the big garage in the sky long before we'll have to pay for a major repair on the Sonata.