1995 Ford Contour complaints

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DETACHED FROM STEERING WHEEL/WITHOUT CAUSE

NEIGHBOR HAS SAME CAR WITH IDENTICAL MILEAGE TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*AK

WHEN PUTTING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL WILL STICK. AT TIMES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBROAD, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. OWNER IS STILL EXPERINCEING THE PROBLEM AS LISTED IN RECALL 97V225000 FORD/THROTTLE CABLE. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. ALSO, NOTICED GAS PUDDLE ON DRIVEWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

EXHAUST LEAK AT THE FRONT END OF COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL DANGER. NLM

THE HEATER AND AC FAN FIRST FAILED AT 34,000 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAN MOTOR (UNDER HOOD) AND FAN CONTROLS (UNDER DASH) WERE BOTH "CHARED". THE SAME ROUTINE OCCURED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 60 AND 80 000 MILES. THAT TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A NEW REPAIR KIT FOR THIS DEFECT ONLY SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I DID.. THIS FALL THE FAN QUIT AGAIN. ALMOST THE SAME TIME WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ANNOUNCING A RECALL FOR THE HEATER WIRING. AFTER INSTALLING THE COMPONENTS THE DEALER SAID THE FAN STARTED THEN QUIT. CHECKING THEIR WORK THE DECIDED EVERYTHING WAS CORRECT SO THEY CHASED THE WIRES BACK TO THE FUSE BOX. THERE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THEY PULLED THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE WAS CHARRED. WHEN I THINK OF THE NUMBER OF TIME I BROUGHT GAS FOR MY LAWNMOWER HOME IN THE CAT IT FRIGHTENS ME. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL FIRE. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM JUST NOT FOUND UNTIL NOW.

REAR DOORS CREAK VERY LOUDLY - HAVE TO APPLY OIL MONTHLY, ENGINE CONSTANTLY RUNS HOT - HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED, OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR -VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS BOTH TIMES, WINDSHIELD MOLDING SHIFTING OUT OF PLACE, HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPEATEDLY, GAS SPILLS OUT OF NECK OF TANK WHEN REFUELING. SEATBELT COVER ON DOOR PANEL POPS OFF ON DRIVER SIDE AND BROKE OFF ON PASSENGER SIDE. OFF

1) THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH/ROLLER DIAL CAUSED A SHORT AT 45,000 MILES AND MY DASH BOARD LIGHTS IN TOTAL HAVE BEEN OUT EVER SINCE. 2) THE REAR/BACK SEAT RESTRAINT BELT ON THE RIGHT SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS INTO THE HOUSING. 3) THE BACKSEAT RESTRAINT HOUSING IN THE SEAT HAS COME APART MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FASTEN THE BELT 4) THE GAS CAP RELEASE LEVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR DOES NOT FUNCTION(DOES NOT OPEN GAS TANK)THE GAS CAP HAS TO BE OPENED BY OPENING THE TRUNK AND PULLING THE MANUAL CORD.

HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS W/ TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 120,000

CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END SPRINGS. HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPAIRS. TOK CAR IN TO FORD DEALER TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE. FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKE. WA SNOT INFORMED THAT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE ALIGNMENT THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. EVIDENTLY, WHEVEVER FRONT SPRINGS ARE REPLACED AN ALIGNMENT HAS TO BE DONE. DEALER INSISTED THAT ALIGNMENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

(1) DUAL ELECTRIC RADIATOR FANS COUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON - MAY (2) WATER PUMP FAILED. PLASTIC IMPELLER CRUMBLED AT FINGER PRESSURE (3) SMELLS OF GAS, WHEN LOW ON GAS (4) CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING RESTRICTION (5) POWER LOSS INCLUDING POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE OR IN HEAVY RAIN.

TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ALL WIRING WAS NOT INSULATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE DANGEROUS TO START. NLM

DRIVING THROUGH SMALL PUDDLES CAN THROW WATER ON THE DRIVE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP. A GAP IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELL LINER ALLOWS THE WATER TO BE THROWN ON THE BELT. THE PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE BELT SLIPS AND ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST. IF THE DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SOON ENOUGH, THE CAR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. OTHER CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR WOMEN AND OLDER PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE ARM STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR AFTER A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR SEAT BELTS AREN'T WORKING DUE TO SEAT BELT LOCK NOT LOCKING INTO PLACE. *AK

HORN MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG COVER FELL INTO CONSUMER'S LAP. *AK

FUEL IS LEAKING FORM THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK. THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ELECTRICAL COOLING FAN SEIZED UP, OVERHEATING/MELTING AND THEN CATCHING ON FIRE. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS THE GEAR BOX IS READING A DIFFERENT A STATUS OF WHAT THE CAR IS SUPPPOSE TO BE IN. GEAR INDICATOR DOES NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ABOUT 15 TO 20 FEET UP, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD ,AND THERE WAS A FIRE DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM OVEHEATING. *AK

DEFECT CORRECTED AT 28,000 MILES, AND RE-OCCURRED AT APPROX 45,000 MILES. DEFECT CORRECTED AGAIN AT 58,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED SEVERAL TSB'S TO DEALERS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM

FRONT SHIFT INDICATOR ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL IS DAMAGED. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR HAS DETERIORATED, AND DOES NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE GEARS TO JUMP BACK INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

BATTERY FAILED. MJS

WHEN VEHICLE IS SITTING IN PARKING LOT FUEL LEAKS EXCESSIVELY FROM TANK . DEALER SAYS TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

UNDER WET CONDITION POWER STEERING GOES OUT, CAUSING THE WHEE TOL HAVE TO TURN BACK TO THE NORMAL POSITION MANUALY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL (99V-103)NOTIFICATION. NLM

ENGINE COOLING FAN SEIZED UP/OVERHEATING, RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED FAN TO OVERHEAT. *AK

ON APR 8 1999 I TOOK MY CAR TO AMHERST MOTORS INC BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ONT HE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH THE FORD COMPANY FAILED TO INFORM ME ABOUT. WHEN QUESTIONED, THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ME. NOW THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE DPFE(REVISED DELTA PRESSURE FEEDBACK)VOLTA FAILED. THEY DID NOT TELL ME THIS WHEN THEY RELEASED MY CAR APR 15 1999. I ASKED TO HAVE THE SEATBELT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHARGE ME OVER $100. THERE IS A RECALL #95S31 FOR THAT SEATBELT

WHEN TRAVELING SPEEDOMETER READING IS INCORRECT,VEHICLE COULD BE GOING AS FAST AS 60 MPH, AND SPEEDOMETER READING STATES ZERO. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR FIVE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE FUEL TANK FILLER WOULD LEAK OUT FUEL. CAN NOT PUT OVER 1/4 TANK OF FUEL IN TANK WITHOUT IT SPILLING OUT ON GROUND. HAPPENS EVERY TIME TANK IS FILLED. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V233000 & CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON DATE. AFTER ARRIVING, THE MECHANIC FAILED TO LOOK AT OR REPAIR VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK. OWNER UPSET. *AK

PROTECTIVE COATING ON WIRE HARNESS IS FLAKING OFF ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS CAUSES BEAR WIRES TO BE TOUCHING. A HAZARD DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE, AND TRANSMISSION STILL WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

POSSIBLE DEFECT IN BRAKE DESIGN RESULTING IN REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES WITH MULTIPLE ROTOR, CALIPER, AND PAD REPLACEMENTS. *YC

I WAS DRIVING MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO CHECK MY POWER STEERING FLUID. THE FLUID CONTAINER WAS EMPTY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO FIRESTONE SERVICE TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC ASKING IF I HAD TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON THE CAR. I INDICATED I DID IN 9/97 WHEN THE FORD DEALER, RITTENHOUSE-KERR, REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANS UNDER FORD WARRANTY. I ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TRANS WHEN IT WAS THE POWER STEERING THAT WAS INOPERATIVE. HE INFORMED ME THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRANS TO THE MOTOR MOUNT WHERE MISSING AND THAT CAUSED THE TRANS TO DAMAGE THE AXLE WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING LINE TO BE CUT RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HE SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. RITTENHOUSE-KERR ACKNOWLEDGED THE BOLTS WHERE MISSING BUT COULD NOT GIVE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION WHY. I SUGGESTED THEY WERE DEFECTIVE OR NOT PUT IN PROPERLY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS. I THEN CALLED FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS AND THOUGH COURTEOUS, THEY ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO GET REPAIRED. I HAD THE POWER STEERING LINE AND AXLE REPLACED BUT COULD NOT GET THE TRANS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THERE ARE THREE BOLTS (FORD PART NUMBER W500034-S303) THAT HOLD THE TRANS TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. IN TWO OF THE THREE OPENINGS WHERE THE BOLTS THREAD INTO THE

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. FRONT ONE DID TOO, BUT WAS RECALLED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE REAR ALSO.

MY THROTTLE CABLES WERE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998 PURSUANT TO A RECALL. IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR, THE THROTTLE CABLES COMPLETELY SEVERED. BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS BEYOND THE 12000 MILES FORD ALLOWS UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY $225 TO HAVE MY THROTTLE CABLES REPLACED, AGAIN, AND INCURRED $150 TOWING BILL. THE RECALL ON MY THROTTLE CABLES WAS FOR THE 1995-1996 CONTOUR. THIS MONTH, ANOTHER RECALL OF THE 1997-98 CONTOUR (NHTSA-99V194000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAS NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM - THEIR SOLUTION TO THE 1995-96 RECALL WAS TO PUT ANOTHER DEFECTIVE SET OF THROTTLE CABLES ON MY CAR, WHICH DIDN'T EVEN LAST A QUARTER OF THE MILES THAT THE FIRST DEFECTIVE CABLES DID! I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE NHTSA'S STANDARD IS FOR FIXING A DEFECT UNDER A RECALL, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE THAT FORD IS ALLOWED TO REPLACE ONE DEFECTIVE PART WITH A PART THAT IS EVEN MORE DEFECTIVE - THAT IS SIMPLY NOT A FIX AND THAT SHOULD SIMPLY NOT BE PERMITTED. THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, FORD AND ITS DEALERS HAVE REPEATEDLY DISPLAYED THEIR COMPLETE APATHY AND LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THE PROBLEMS THEY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY PLACE INTO THE MARKET AND THAT THEY MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS ESSENTIALLY TOLD THAT FORD COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD SIMPLY PUT ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART ON MY CAR AND PLACED MY LIFE IN DANGER BY DOING SO. THE KIND OF DISREGARD OF ETHI

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THROUGH A RATHER BUSY INTERSECTION THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN 5 TO 10 SECONDS LATER MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE, BUT SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR WRITTEN CONFIRMATION AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T "DO THAT". I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MY PROBLEM WAS AN ISOLATED CASE.

REGARDING NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB039188, IT IS NOT THE SPARE TIRE. BOTH MY CAR AND MY MOTHERS CAR HAVE THE SAME THUNKING SOUND AND WE COMPLETELY EMPTIED THE TRUNKS TRYING TO LOCATE THE SOURCE. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS NEAR THE REAR FUEL FILLER AREA.

THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ONCE, BUT THE CABLE IS STILL DEFECTIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY THIS TIME. *AK

SPEEDOMETER CABLE BROKE, EMERGENCY BRAKE FROZE UP. MJS

RECALL CAMPAIGN 96E60 10/97 REPLACED CATALYST ON THIS VEHICLE, PRESENT CARBON BUILD UP IN INTAKE EGR RUNNERS BELIEVED STEMMED FROM THIS CATALYST FAILURE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY RECALL IN 10/97. BECAUSE CARBON BUILD UP NOT REMOVED AT RECALL, EMISSION SYSTEMS COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED NOW

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WIRING MELTED AND BURNED, CAUSING A SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 08-AUG-99, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. METAL IS IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

SINCE I PURCHASED THE 95 FORD CONTOUR I HAVE HAD ABOUT ONE GOOD YEAR OF USE. LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE MAIN CENSOR AND NOW THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING FROM FIRST TO SECOND ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THIS CAR IS USED I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE I HAVE TO MANUALLY SHIFT IT AND IF I LET IT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN IT HESITATES WHICH COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE CAR COLLISION. IT UNEXPECTEDLY BURSTS INTO TRAFFIC AND DRAGS AT TIMES. I HAVE PROBABLY HAD THIS CAR LAYED UP AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT. I CAN GET HELP FROM NOONE BECAUSE I'M A SECOND OWNER AND OVER THE WARRANTY LIMIT EVEN THOUGH 22,000 MILES OF THE WARRANTYWAS PUT ON BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I MAY HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD GREAT HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS OF THIS CAR.

THE TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FRONT KNUCKLE , RESULTING IN HITTING OTHER PARKED VEHICLE, DAMAGES TO VEHICLES COSTED $3,564.03 *AK

DASH BOARD SWITCH FOR AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AIR (REGULAR OR MAX) DOES NOT BLOW OUT THE DASH BOARD VENTS NOR THE FLOOR VENT - ALL AIR BLOWS OUT OF THE DEFROST VENTS UNDERNEATH FRONT WINDOW. THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALERSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH,FL FOR EXTENSIVE SERVICE JUNE 1998 - THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND APPEARS TO HAVE NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH IN WEST PALM AND NASHVILLE HAVE RECHECKED AND ADVISE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SWITCH (?). BOTTOM LINE - IT DOESN'T WORK.