3.5
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 36,570 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Cars dashboard got so hot that it curled up causing the front defrosters not to work and also partially obstructing my vision while driving that car.
- Victor, NY, USA
2000 Ford Contour svt, 71K miles the dashboard has been curling, from where the windshield meets the dashboard, for several years now. The process has been very slow, but has gotten to the point where it now severely interferes with defrost vent flow and vision. The defrost vent popped out a year ago and now does not fit. The curling of the dashboard does not provide for decent defrost and venting, which in addition to the 6 inches of dashboard that has curled up, interferes with adequate sight, especially for shorter drivers. I've had several others (strangers) stop me out-of-the-blue and inquire about my problem that they also have. Based on the many complaints that have been filed for this defect, a recall should be initiated by Ford!
- Manassas, VA, USA
In my wifes car the dashboard near the windshield is starting to come up its right near the vent in the car it makes drive the car more difficult due to the dash is now block part of the windshield I was told this has happened to some one before and I would like to have this looked into.
- Mentor, OH, USA
Dashboard began slowly warping over a year. It got to the point where visibility ahead was compromised, and the defroster vents were no longer functioning. Dealer would not cover a replacement, so I had the work done at a local body shop at my full cost. So far, the replacement dash is ok.
- New City, NY, USA
The dash board is curled up. The problem started in 2002 and has slowly continued to get worse. We contacted Ford and they said that there was a recall but that the time frame for making a claim had expired. We didn't proceed further because they told us it would cost us $1000 to fix. Our warranty said they wouldn't cover it because they considered it "upholstery." We have just left it. It is a safety issue because it makes it very difficult to see over the curled dash board. Plus, in the winter, the window doesn't defrost properly, again making it difficult to see. I just saw your website on line today, which is why we didn't contact you earlier.
- Davenport, IA, USA
I have a 2000 Ford Contour that I purchased in 2000 while I lived in nh. In early 2001, I moved out of nh and to MA. Last year, I started to pay attention to a very noticeable warping in my dashboard. The dashboard has started to pull away from the windshield. The black venting piece is no longer connected and could become lose and serve as a projectile in an accident. My front windshield no long defrosts properly which can cause problems with seeing while driving. I just found out that there was a recall in 2001, and I can only assume that the notice was somehow sent to my old address.
- Somerville, MA, USA
- the contact stated in an attemptto drive the 2000 Ford Contour she got in and saw that the dashboard was peeling. The contact stated that all types of weather made it peel more and more. Her vehicle could not pass inspection.
- Prince George, VA, USA
The dashboard is warped and is peeling away from the base causing limited visibility out of the front window as well as limiting the effectiveness of the front window defroster. Have not contacted a local Ford dealer as of yet and I am reluctant to given the growing number of dissatisfied consumers with the same problem. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Incident date is unknown, I used 1/1/05 because the defect began in early part of 2005. Car was purchased used in June 2004 and there was no defect at that time.
- Getzville, NY, USA
The dashboard adhesive is defective on my 2000 Ford Contour svt. The dash around the defroster vent and up to the windshield has warped so badly that the defroster vent actually popped out of the dash and hit the windshield while driving down the road. The dash eventually curled up high enough to touch the dash, making the defroster ineffective to clear fogging on the windshield. The passenger airbag is also separating from the dashboard due to the warping. Ford had originally had a service bulletin for this problem, but only left it open for a short period of time. The problem is a design flaw, so I am indicating the vehicle's build date as the incident date, even though the dash continues to get worse.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
Sudden warpage of the instrument panel cover attaching to the defroster vent underneath the windshield (originally manufacturer's defect, NHTSA 624125), causing blocking of view and heat ventilation. Ford dealership refused to repair according to the procedures stated on owner notification program 01B78-S2, instead wanted the owner to replace entire panel cover, which would cost 8-10 times more than the 01B78-S2 protocol.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
The dash board has been warping for the last 2 years more and more noticeably. It is now to the point that the defroster does not work properly, and I have to wipe down the inside of the windshield with a cloth and dawn dish soap (to help keep the fogging down).
- Federal Way, WA, USA
Foam cover on dashboard has warped. Edge nearest windshield has curled up and is now touching windshield at least 5 inches from base. Warped dashboard blocks air from defroster resulting in safety hazard as visibility is significantly reduced especially in cold weather. This is the result of a known defect (tsb 01B78). Ford had an owner notification program in place but I never received a letter despite owning the car and having it registered at the time. A supervisor at the Ford "customer relationship center" told me that "it must have been lost in the mail". I was told that the repair offer has now expired. This is no longer an aesthetic problem as the blockage of the defroster severely compromises safety.
- Brighton, MA, USA
: the contact stated the dashboard raised up creating an environment for air bags deploying without incident. When the manufacturer was alerted who referred the contact to NHTSA. Updated 10/2/2006 -
- Saint Louis, MO, USA
I own a 2000 Ford Contour that was bought in 2001. The dash panel around the defroster grill has peeled back. I recently found out there was a recall for this problem but I never received a notice. Ford wants me to pay $1600 to replace the dash. I feel that since I was never notified about this I shouldn't have to pay to have my dash replaced.
- Florence, MS, USA
Dashboard coming away from firewall which in turn disrupts the defrost duct also could make the airbags deploy, santa maria Ford, Ford corporate headquarters and my extended warranty inform me that it is not covered they state there is a fix which costs about 200 to 300 dollars (install yourself) bad idea could affect air bags, to fix properly Ford states the dash needs to be replaced $1300 dollars. This should be a defect for a recall.
- Santa Maria, CA, USA
Same as many other complaints. The dash board is coming apart and curling up so that the defroster vent is blocked causing a safety problem. Ford wants me to pay ($500) to fix an obvious defect in the car as manufactured. Ford needs to step up to the plate and take responsibility.
- Renton, WA, USA
I have a 2000 Ford Contour and the top of the dashboard is very warped. It is curling up on both sides of the defrost vent area. It would be obscuring the field of vision of the driver if I hadn't wedged something next to the windshield to hold it down.
- San Diego, CA, USA
I have a 2000 Ford Contour and the dashboard is warped. It is curling up at the defrost vent area.
- Tecumseh, MI, USA
Ford had customer satisfaction (not recall) on dashboard warping. This is safety issue, the dash rolls up so much it obscures cars or objects that are visible normally at the low angle of the wind screen. Such as going uphill or incline. Or even small children in front. The work to fasten the dash down to reduce obstruction only worked temporally.
- Co Springs, CO, USA
- Kansas City, MO, USA