Ford Contour Complaints
3,154 consumer complaints on file.
- #10260197February 27, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING WERE MELTED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,688. 4/01/09 *NJ FORD STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BEFORE IT LEFT THE FACTORY AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10259334February 19, 2009AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER A WEEK OF THE AIR BAG ILLUMINATING, HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CRASH IMPACT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V243000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,815 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257729February 6, 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I CURRENTLY AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. RECENTLY THE PARKING, AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS CEASED TO OPERATE. I CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH LASTED FOR A WEEK AND BURNED OUT.. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THERE WAS A SERVICE RECALL DATED 5/10/99 UNDER SERIAL #99V10300 FOR THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS WHICH WAS CAUSING THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD WHO STATED THEIR WAS NO OPEN RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED ADDITIONAL OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WERE INFORMED BY FORD THAT THEIR PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS IF SO MANY FORD CONTOUR MODELS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY ARE ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES COVERED WHEN MANY ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS THANKYOU *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256619January 28, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MALFUNCTIONING, WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ENGINE FAILURE, AND ELECTRICAL FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. HE HAS BEEN REPAIRING THE FAILURE HIMSELF, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10255608January 20, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS FILLING UP MY FUEL TANK AND JUST AS THE PUMP CLICKED OFF GASOLINE STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK AND IT STILL DOES IT EVERYTIME I FILL IT UP I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10254476January 10, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ITS 1995 FORD CONTOUR ALL WIRING UNDER HOOD HAS INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALL THE WAY TO HOT CABLES AT POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX. CHECKED SEVERAL CARS AT WRECKING YARD FOR GOOD HARNESS ALL WERE THE SAME CAR DOESN'T RUN NOW WIRES GOING TO CRANK SENSOR SHORTED OUT CAR HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10253579January 2, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT MAINTAINED THE SAME SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, IN WHICH THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT HAVE REPAIRED. THE RECALL DATE HAS CURRENTLY EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10248678November 13, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FILLER PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V203000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10248064November 9, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN CAR ON WHEN CAR REACHES TO NORMAL TEMP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STALLS MOST OF THE TIME AT A COMPLETE STOP SHUT ENGINE OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF TILL RUN FOR A MIN WHEN ENGINE IS CALLED LIGHT STAYS OFF TILL ENGINE IS WARM AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10247601November 3, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD GROUND IN THE MAIN LINE HARNESS, WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10246227October 21, 2008VISIBILITY
HAPPENED AROUND OCT 15, 2008 AT NIGHT, BETWEEN MARSHALL AND OLIVET MI. FAILURE WAS WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE, CAUSING WIPERS TO BLOW OFF THE VEHICLE. PART IS HARD TO FIND, LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED FOR SAFETY OBVIOUSLY. WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE WELL, SINCE NEXT EXIT WAS STILL MILES AWAY. NO EASY WAY TO FIX THIS IN AN EMERGENCY, LIKE THIS. THIS TYPE OF LINKAGE IS UNSAFE, AND I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLES WITH IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10246022October 19, 2008STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. DEAL PUT SOME TYPE OF GLUE ON IT BUT ITS NOT STAYING DOWN. NOW ALMOST THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS CURLING UP. I READ THERE WAS A RECALL. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED? NOT HAPPY WITH FORD *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10245264October 13, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD CONTOUR TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND SURGES UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION. DOES NOT SEEM TO STAY IN GEAR BASED UPON THE BUCKING MOTION. FORD TECHNICIAN INSPECTED IT AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE WEAK MOUNTS THAT AFFECT PROPER OPERATION. HE SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE MOUNTS, ALTHOUGH UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE MOUNTS LOOKED NORMAL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10245131October 11, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2 MAJOR POWERTRAIN FAILURES. TIMING BELT PULLEY BROKE AT 68,000 MILES. $600 TO REPAIR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE AT 85,000 MILES. BOTH OCCURRED OUT OF THE BLUE. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN TREATED GENTLY, ALL FLUIDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED CONSISTENTLY, AND ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON TIME. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED OR REBUILT WITH A PRICE TAG OF $2K-$3K. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10243822September 28, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR ACCELERATION WAS SLUGGISH WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED,A WEEK LATER ENGINE WOULD KILL WHEN DRIVING. CHANGED AIR FILTER,OIL,AND FUEL LINE WAS CLEARED. A MONTH LATER SAME THING IS HAPPENING. MECHANIC SAYS MAY NEED NEW FUEL PUMP,BUT NOT SURE THAT WILL CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242759September 18, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1998 FORD CONTOUR LX WITH ONLY APPROX. 53,000 MILES ON IT. I AM ON THE 4TH (FOURTH) ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT: AUGUST 2004, OCTOBER 2005, AUGUST 2006 AND NOW, SEPTEMBER 2008. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF FORD VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241637September 9, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD CONTOUR, UPON INSPECTION, WE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. SO WE DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEM. SAYING THAT THE SHIFT MAY NOT PUT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR WHICH CAN OR WILL CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IN WHICH ARE HAVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241261September 8, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY REAR BRAKES WILL NOT STAY ON MY CAR AND KEEP FALLING OFF INTO THE DRUMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241528September 8, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
LTR FROM REGARDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN HIS 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS WAS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION COATING WAS PEELING OFF EXPOSING THE WIRE HARNESS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241345September 8, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR MOUNTED ON MY FLOOR CONSOLE HAS DISINTEGRATED OVER TIME, AND NO LONGER EXISTS. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED PREVIOUSLY, AND IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE, POOR QUALITY, PLASTIC MATERIAL THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR IS MADE OF. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT ONE CANNOT DETERMINE WHICH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING IN, AND CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR ENGINE, AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN AUTO ACCIDENT, OR FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN A RECOGNIZED DEFECT FAILURE AND WAS REPORTED AS A SAFETY RECALL AS EARLY AS 1998. HOWEVER UPON CONTACT WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, THEY DENY THAT MY 1995 CONTOUR IS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 1995 CONTOUR VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON THIS DENIAL OF SAFETY RECALL APPLICATION BY OTHER 1995 FORD CONTOUR OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT SAME LACK OF SUPPORT THROUGH THE FORD MOTOR CO REPRESENTATIVES. THIS MATERIAL DEFECT IS A GENERIC PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL 1995 CONTOURS, HOWEVER THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES DENY THAT MY VIN IS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0