Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting The dash kit

Well I called customer relations and they said that the kit "is" Fords fix. And that they have to stand behind it. So I contacted Ford Motor Credit. They wanted before and after pics. I e-mailed them the pics. They were not happy. They said when I go to trade in my car some day, that other car companies and maybe even Ford would most likely mark down on it. So in a nut shell, FMC said it would hurt my resail value. Now I'm really pissed. I'm going to print the e-mail from FMC and tke it in to the service dept. So if it will hamper my resail value then they need to reasses the situation. I would love it if they would install something like roadrunners. By the way roadrunner I love the gage cluster looks very nice. Well I'll get off the soap box now.
....Brad

That is sad Brad. I geuss Ford has decided to screw everybody now. Pursue further action with the finance co. I'll check on some other avenues of action for you and see what I can find out. I'll let you know. Brad could I ask you did you buy the car new? What model year is the car?

I think I'm in the same boat as Brad. My car has been at the dealer for the dash recall since July 3. I thought I would get it today, but still no (I do have a nice loaner, though). The service rep said mine was by far the worst one they've seen, and that they attacked it with a heat gun yesterday but could not get it down far enough to put the kit on. Today they took the dash out of the car to try some more (blowtorch, perhaps?). But I was told the same thing, no new dashes no matter what, even though the recall letter says we have until August 31 to have the work done. The dealer has been very cooperative and sympathetic, but I will be "interested" to see the car tomorrow. I think the service rep will too.... I have visions of 1/2 inch studs sticking up out of the dash with lug nuts to hold it down--and maybe a few C-clamps thrown in....

Well, I got my car back Friday, and the dealer put in the same kit that Brad has. My interior is grey rather than tan, and the kit doesn't look that bad with the black metal against the grey dash cover. (Maybe it's just that it's nice to be able to see the wipers from the driver's seat again) My dealer experience was different than Brad's in that my car came back spotless inside--I had expected foam bits and fingerprints everywhere, but they cleaned it up and everything (radio, hvac switches, etc.) works. So, all in all, I'm relieved. I think the service people at Ted Britt Ford are relieved that it's over with too...I get the impression that they spent far more time on installing the kit than they expected or thought reasonable, but couldn't get a new dash for me.

Went to Ford Friday and they ordered the center pice they broke. Yea. Sorry you got the same kit but atleast it matches better. Bolts and c-clamps would sux. And the question. I bought the car used in March of 2000 it had 23000 miles and it is a 1999 Mercury Mystique.
....Brad

I must try to remember these words of wisdom ... bought my 99 countour SE last July and mid winter it began..first one end of the dash vent kept popping out, then both ends, until finally it was
curved up and out and vibrating against windshield all the time. Had to take it out...then
the REAL fun began. The dashboard itself pretty much disassociated itself from the frame -- when you look at the car thru the windshield, it is popped up about eight inches, really disgusting.
I never got notice, since I bought the car used and was not registered with Ford or whatever.

I finally began investigating this in June after I went online and found all these folks saying there was a recall on these cars for this problem.
Called local dealer and asked them about it and was brushed right off told that Ford *was* repairing these but was no longer doing so, they even went so far as to say furhter along into the conversation that "only this very morning" on the Ford website they informed us that this repair was on hold until further notice, and they were supposed to come up with new plan by June 15, call back then.

Took it to another Ford dealer locally who supposedly looked up the VID at least and gave my son the same song and dance, Ford not fixing these anymore.

I began researching and found the TSB stating that this was in effect until Aug 2002 and began wondering if both were giving me the runaround to avoid the job, until the TSB expired, whatever.

Went back to the second dealer last Friday and was not even allowed to talk to the service manager who had supposedly been looking into this for me....but was told that I "was not the only one with the problem", that other people were waiting for Ford to decide what to do as well, and the best they could suggest was that I keep checking back every month or so to see if there was any news yet....! The service guy even went so far as to state that this was a "structual design flaw" that Ford was aware of.....

Today I called Ford Customer service and lo and behold got a lovely, helpful woman who told me that my car was certainly under this recall, and that she couldn't understand why they would say that at either place! She confirmed what I had in front of me that this was in effect until Aug 31, 2002, regardless of mileage. Before we were done, she had contacted one of them, and they told her that they just couldn't understand "why it didn't come up in their system" when they looked at it, but she assured me that they were going to replace the dashboard which is mightily destroyed, to just go ahead and make an appointment for the work.

You don't suppose they will be pissed and destroy a few other parts while they are at it, do you? Maybe *this* is the time to do as my mom suggests and mention my family relationship to a company that has done a HECK of a lot of business with this dealership over the years....

Wish me luck, wish I could send the photos of this
poor baby, but I do Have them for anyone who would like to see, I am new as of today and just trying to find my way thru here.....Sorry to be so long winded !

Well, today's the day that my Contour is having dash repair kit #2 installed. In addition to warping around the defroster vent, the dashpad is pulling away from around the rim of the glovebox, and also, it is pulling away from the bottom corners closest to the doors. I pointed that out to the service "advisor". It'll be interesting to see how it turns out...

I am getting my mystique back from the dealership today after having the dsh kit put in. They gave me the exact same ugly ass one that was put into Brad's. I told them I would not accept that kind of repair, and they told me that is the only way ford has of fixing it. So I called customer relations and the guy there told me it was a dealer problem, and to go back to them. I had to schedule a meeting with the service manager because he is doing some kind of radio thing today. This is bull****...the guy from ford relations told me that all ford replacement parts are made to be original equipment specifications, and that I should not be able to tell a difference between the new piece and the old. Well I can! What do you guys suggest I do, and has anyone had any luck at getting these people to take out the god awful dash kits like brad's and put in something that looks pleasant?

Well Jon I got a NEW dash and I know that Ford customer relations told me they were still replacing dash's. However a few people have said they were told Ford no longer replaced dash's. I do know this, a friend of mine with a 99 SVT is having his replaced at my dealer he also bought his there. They are just waiting on the parts to come in. Maybe its time to take Ford to small claims court, after all most people have a letter from Ford stating the problem and that it will be taken care of and giving you a deadline date[which has NOT come to pass yet] to have it fixed. I really think the problem lies with the dealerships. Maybe if Ford gets hit with a mass flood of these lawsuites they will stop allowing the slimeball dealerships from getting away with what they are doing.