Four problems related to air bag have been reported for the 1999 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Several items first the dash bowed in from both sides,a month after picking the car up the air conditioner went out the dealership said my problem, the tires were bad we replaced them they are bad all the time have to be replaced more then a normal tire should , the car broke down last year on the highway again my problem the rotors and other things were bad somthing I as a consumer would not have known about , cannot get car inspected because the horn does not work and cannot be fixed due to airbag again my problem o yes was in a finder binder airbag did not work minor injries , the drivers seat rocks the rear seat belt will not work more problems this car is worth nothing I on;y drive to and from work in it and the way it is falling apart youd think I travel across country in it . . . This is not a good car to ever purchase will never buy from Ford again!!! srb this prblems have been on going from 2000-2003.
While another vehicle was backing out of a parking space, consumer attempted to use his horn, however it was inoperable, dealer stated the air bag assembly at the top of the steering column was the faulty part.
This is not an aesthetic complaint as classified by Ford motor corporation. Dashboard is peeling up from base of windshield and obstructing drivers view, defrost panel is now dislodged from dashboard and creating additional obstruction of driver's view and rendered non functional. The recession of the dashboard is now separating from the air bag deployment section of the dash. I purchased this vehicle new and have been the sole owner since its purchase in July 1999 and have been refused assistance. I contacted first the Ford dealership from which I purchased the vehicle and was told there was in fact a recall on this item and had since expired and was directed to call Ford motor corporation directly for further assistance. I was not notified of the recall. The three customer service representatives that I have spoken to over the past 24-30 months each confirmed the recall and noted 1) since it was classified as an aesthetic problem it had an expiration date attached it and 2) it was sent to the dealerships to expedite on vehicles that came in for scheduled maintenance visits. Again, I was not notified from either the dealership at the time of my service visits or Ford motor corporation when the recall was initiated. I have requested second opinions from outside sources that are Ford certified in body repair and each noted the ramifications of driving this vehicle without the manufacturer defect corrected is and not limited to a spontaneous deployment of the air bag and a result of a potentially fatal accident for the driver, passengers, and not excluding other drivers on the road that could inadvertently be involved. In my research of this situation I have found complaints of this nature with similar responses since 2001.
No deployment of air bag during vehicle collision, resulting in back injury to consumer. Mjs.