Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Anyone Else

After all of you just DAWGED Ford lemme go on 'head here and lift it back up. Keep in mind that all car companies make lemons. Ford just makes a few more.

A Few more, very funny. Let me give you a history of the Ford Cars we've owned in the past 12 years.

1992 Taurus LX, had the crappiest firerocks I've ever seen, battery kept going bad. AC failed twice

1994 Aerostar 4.0L EXT. The roof had no paint on it, the side windows leaked, the transmission shifted like crap.

1994 Thunderbird 4.6L V8 It ate brakes like they were bon bons. It went through a set every 20K, and the automatic climate control failed.

1995 Windstar The transmission failed at 1200 miles, it blew numerous fuses, master cylinder cracked and ABS failed

1995 F-150 5.0L 4x4 The push button four wheel drive froze in the 4x4 mode, the cruise didn't work right, and the vent windows leaked.

1997 Expedition 5.4L 4x4 The brakes failed twice, the ABS failed once, it blew numerous fuses. The dash squeaked so bad it had to be replaced

1997 Lincoln Continental The self dimming rearview mirror stopped working, one of the battery cells ruptured and kept the car from starting. This car has had 6 pages of warranty work done to it.

1998 Mystique 2.5L CD4E The flywheel warped and the car wouldn't start. The pass side cupholder sucked. The dome light broke and hung by the wires. The ABS failed, and the trunk release broke.

1998.5 Contour SVT Monroof motor failed, power seat failed, radio failed, trunk stoped opening.

1999 Windstar Van from hell, had numerous electrical problems, refused to start several times, fit and finish was so poor that sliding doors didn't close properly, keyless entry unit died. Plus the tires were so crappy that it wouldn't go at all in the snow. Was in the shop so many times for recall work.

2000 Explorer 4.0L 4x4 The autolamps and self dimming mirror failed. The driver's side rear door wouldn't close right. The keypad on the drivers door would randomly lose its programmed code, locking you out of the car. The rear audio controls stopped working, and the rear defroster stopped working. Did I mention it had firerocks on it?

My contour, problems listed above. In "Anyone Else"

Now let me finish by saying that all of these cars with the exception of the 1997 Lincoln Continental, the 1998 Mercury Mystique, and my Contour were purchased new. All the cars had less than 12K a year put on them. They were all leased, and the dealer did all scheduled mantiance. They were kept clean, inside and out. All of them with the exception of the F-150 were in a heated garage. The used cars were also mantained by the dealer, and taken excellent care of. Before anyone blasts me for b$%ching about Ford products and continuing to buy more, the reason we owned so many Fords is because my Dad worked for Ford. He felt that because he worked at Ford we should all drive Fords. I did not want the Contour in the first place, but he bought it for me, and I wasn't about to complain about a free car.

I can say that after actually looking at the Fords we've had, that I am disgusted with their reliability and quality, and will never buy another one again. My mom recently purchased a Toyota, and in the 8 months we've had it it has had no problems. No Ford we ever had went more that a month without serious problems. I need something dependable, and if anyone looks at my experience with Ford they could see why I won't buy another.

99 Contour SVT. Bought it Jan of 2001 with 32K miles. Not one single problem and it now has 89K miles.

My family members have had better luck with their Ford Escorts and Windstars than I have. My mom was lucky, after she traded in her Sable wagon, the tranny died!

I had a '94 Stang V6 that was a dog after 36K miles, and I was leasing it (still had to pay to fix it). The 1991 Mercury Tracer I had before it was a good car, but I just HAD to get a new Mustang, :P

My 97 Contour was fine, just two problems after 60K miles, alternator and MAP sensor. The 2000 I have is OK, but my problem is plumetting resale value. My Focus is fine, but I can't afford the payments, so it's for sale.

I'm looking to get other brands next time. When Ford and GM finally get better quality, maybe I'll "look again".

yeah.... i have similar problems, and i lost my full time job, so i don't have $$$ to fix them...

rear wheel cylinders leak, now rear brakes grind

ate 4 alternators, it's on #5 (1 month old now...)

ate a mega fuse

shorted out parking light fusible link (my fault, but they should have picked a better spot for it instead of with the wiper motor wiring...)

runs like sh*t. has a misfire. hesitates at take off (unless CEL is on), can't idle right (stalls all the time). can't run right, hold gas steady and car feels like you're tapping gas.

engine ticks real loud now. sounds like it's low on oil, everyone comes up to me and is like "dude, put some oil in it" and it's full.

alignment is wierd, car drives straight, wheel is cocked to right.

rear tires basketball down road due to bad struts.

sway bar link is broken, makes loud bang sometimes when i make a corner or hit a bump.

dash vents are broken in middle, not a big deal.

cupholders are totally missing, obviously broken before and someone just took them out.

latch for console is broken, not a big deal also.

front doors can't open from outside unless you push in while pulling up on handle.

if my car has them, both keyhole lights are burned out on front doors.

power locks didn't work when i got the car, no blown fuses, put power to the driver switch and they work fine, but they jam, not allowing entry/exit in rear without forcing lock open.

passenger window is gonna stop working, goes up real slow and falls forward about 1/2 inch.

spring loaded flap on glovebox is pissing me off, no obvious use for it, but it won't stay closed.

door handle light burned out on passenger side, has an intermittant short on driver side, unable to find the green bulbs to replace, might replace with blue LEDs sometime.

driver headlight keeps falling, have to get out and re aim it every now and then.

pcv valve allows oil to flow into air cleaner.


other than those problems, i love the car. i would buy another contour (possibly an SVT), but only when i can afford to prepare to fix it a lot.

bought my tour with 65K in june 2002, now it got 87K, ive had to replace 2 02 sensors, UIM gaskets, brakes (that one is my fault), the back doors squal very badly, the tranny is pretty much shot (atx), and the precats are shot too.

oh well, i got a new atx to put in it very soon, MSDS headers, and a 3L !

i can honestly say, even with 87K, the engine runs like a beast

whaw. i feel lucky. i bought my ztec in oct of 2001 with 88k, i had to get a new motor, pads, rotors, drums and shoes, but thats about it.. now its 127 k and runs like a tiger..

I've had great experience with my Fords.

1981 Lincoln Town Car - 137,000 miles with NO problems. Mother wrecked it.

1981 Mercury Grand Marquis - Water pump at 87,000 miles & again at 160,000. Rebuilt carb at 85,000 miles (4.2L/255cid with variable venturi carb - got 27 mpg highway after the rebuild). Trade in for a 1989 Tracer at 161,000.

1988 Mercury Grand Marquis - Alternator at 95,000 (engine ran on 1Q of oil towing trailer to the Keys). Power steering hose at 107,000. Engine finally died at 180,000 from the low oil abuse in early life. I think I could have taken this car to 500,000 miles. Loved it!

1989 Tracer - Drove the %*&* outa that car for 78,000 miles & never had a single problem - not even a flat tire.

Now I've got a 1999 SE V-6 and a 1999 ZX-2 2.0 (not a Ztec) both with about 50,000 miles.

No problems with the ZX-2.
Minor problems with the SE - TB clean, resistor pack, plugs (probably my fault), 1-2 bang shift. Starting to have paint problems - non critical. No biggie.

I've always been quite particular about where I buy. If a salesman gives me one hint that he's selling me a car instead of me choosing a car for my needs, then I go elsewhere. That's why I don't own a late model BMW now, pushy-ass salesmen. Nobody tells me what I want/need. I decide that for myself, thank you.

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I can say that after actually looking at the Fords we've had, that I am disgusted with their reliability and quality, and will never buy another one again. My mom recently purchased a Toyota, and in the 8 months we've had it it has had no problems. No Ford we ever had went more that a month without serious problems. I need something dependable, and if anyone looks at my experience with Ford they could see why I won't buy another.

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Amen brother!

Since I seem to be one of the few in defense of Ford, I've had my Mystique for almost 130,000 miles (bought it new), ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS, nothing replaced other than regular maintenance items. Still running the original waterpump. Original Goodyear tires lasted 40,000 miles, replaced with Michelin, and they lasted 67,000 miles. Front brake pads replaced at 105,000 miles, still got the original rear pads. Still got the original hoses and belts. I have the dealer do routine service religiously, even oil changes (the deal the dealer gives me is cheaper than doing it myself). In all honesty, this is the most troublefree car I've ever owned. Yeah, I know I don't hot-rod it, and that helps its longevity.