1998 Ford Contour seats problems

“DT: THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARDS AND THE HINGE BROKE. THE SEAT FELT LOSE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BREAKAGE WAS DUE TO FATIGUE OF THE SEAT FRAME. THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM”

“BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR VIN [XXX] BROKE OFF EVENING OF 05/05/05 AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THIS IS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND/OR MATERIALS, AND THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE FREE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID FORD WOULD NOT. *JS”

“I OWN A 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE, RECENTLY ON 10-13-04 I WAS DRIVING AND THE BACK OF MY SEAT GAVE OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL BUT AVOID AN ACCIDENT. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE SEAT, I FOUND THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT WAS DISCONNECTED. THE METAL HAD SHEARED IN HALF, I COULDN''T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAD HAPPENED. THE BOLT WAS STILL INTACT, THE METAL HAD JUST SHEARED INTO TOP AND BOTTOM CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL IMMEDIATELY BACKWARDS. I SENT EMAILS TO FORD MOTOR CORPORATION AND THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM BRAND NEW, SEEING IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP. SO FAR I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY RESPONSE AND MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS, WITH NO USABLE SEAT BELT AND NO SUPPORT TO DRIVE. I AM A RECENT COLLEGE GRAD AND CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT WORK, SO I MUST STILL DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. *AK”

“I ACCELERATED LEAVING A STOP LIGHT AND THE DRIVER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. UPON FURTHER REVIEW A METAL BRACKET SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF. I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET AND IT APEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. HOWEVER, FORD SEEMS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ITAND THE PART IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. MR”

“SEATBACK COLLAPSED DUE TO A REAR END COLLISION FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE SITTING STILL. SPEED FROM OTHER VEHICLE WAS 55 MPH. TRUNK CRUMBLED, AND VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED FROM THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. DRIVER DID SUSTAIN A SEVERE HEAD INJURY.*AK”

“WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME LOOSE AND FELL INTO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT WAS CRTACKED. *AK THE RECALL (99B23) ON THE WATER PUMP EXPIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS BOOKED UP SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER. *YH”