1995 Ford Contour complaints

FUEL PUMP AND WATER PUMP LEAKAGE CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP 5-17-99 NOT FIXED UNTIL 5-21-99. REPLACED MODULE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 6-11-99 AND PRESENTED CAR TO THE SARASOTA FORD DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM THIS DEALERSHIP WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY CALLED PHOENIX AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP. DEALERSHIP STATES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY WILL CONTACT PHOENIX AMERICAN FOR AUTHORIZATION. PHOENIX AMERICAN REQUESTED THE FORD COMPANY SHARE IN THIS EXPENSE. THE FORD COMPANY HAS DENIED THIS REQUEST. NEITHER THE FORD COMPANY NOR PHOENIX AMERICAN WILL NOW COVER THE TOTAL REWIRING OF THE VEHICLE. PHOENIX AMERICAN WILL ONLY COVER "ONE" WIRE TO BE REPLACED. SARASOTA FORD STATES ALL WIRING MUST BE REPLACED AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE COST IS $6,000. ALL REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMPLETED BY SARASOTA. I FEEL THAT NO CAR WITH LESS THAN 37,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE TOTAL REWIRING. I PURCHASED AN INSURANCE POLICY TO COVER MY EXPENSES FOR REPAIRS THROUGH SARASOTA FORD. NEITHER COMPANY HAS RETURNED NUMEROUS CALLS AND I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 40 DAYS AS IT IS STILL AT SARASOTA FORD FOR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE ASSIST AS THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND PERSONAL HARM. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT REALLY HARD, AND I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. I ADDED FLUID AND THE PROBLEM LESSENED, BUT WAS STILL THERE. ALSO THERE WAS A STRANGE HIGH PITCHED SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AS IT TURNED OUT, WE HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AS WELL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER FIXING THE BRAKES (APX $600) THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION, SO I PAID FOR THE BRAKES AND LEFT. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND DESTROYED ITSELF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSEST PLACE WHICH WAS AAMCO RESULTING IN A $2,500 BILL AND A CAR THAT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. *AK

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 1997 WITH 36000 MILES ON IT ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER I AM APPROACHING 60000 MILES AND IT SEEMS THE CAR IS BREAKING DOWN SURELY THE CAR WAS MADE TO LAST LONGER THAN THIS THE DRIVING THAT HAS BEEN DONE HAS BEEN EASY DRIVING MOSTLY INTERSTATE I AM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR WILL LAST PAST THE YEAR 2000 I HAVENT RCVD ANY INFO FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON WHETHER I NEED A NEW COMPUTER FOR THE CAR THIS CAR WAS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME AND I STILL OWE 8000.00 DOLLARS ON IT DO I NEED TO LOOK INTO GETTING ANOTHER CAR WITH ALL THE RECALLS ON THE WEB AND THE ONES I HAVE RECVD IN THE MAIL NOT TO MENTION THE CONSTANT ROUGH IDLE ETC. I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THIS CAR IS WORTH FIXING. *AK

THE POWER STEERING LINE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE RIGHT DRIVESHAFT, CAUSING THEM TO RUB AND ULTIMATELY CAUSING A SERIOUS LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING LINE. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SMOKE AND SQUEL AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL.

DURING RAINY WEATHER THE POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED. REPAIRS WERE DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YCS

FAN SPEED KNOB STOPPED WORKING, SHORTED OUT BURNED WIRE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN POSSIBLE FIRE. *YC

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A GROUP OF TREES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

"DURATEC" ENGINE ADVERTISED TO GO 100,000 MILES - REQUIRED TUNE UP AT 44,000.

CONSUMER HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPAIRED, BUT IT BECAME ONCE AGAIN DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BUT OF NO AVAIL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 50 MPH. THE CAR SLIPPED IN AND OUT OF DRIVE. THIS RESULTED IN A RAPID DECELLERATION, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATLY BEHIND ME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE CAR IN THAT DAY AS THERE REGULAR TRANSMISSION PERSON WAS OFF. I CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR AND MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT THE CAR SEEMED TO SKIP FAR LESS IF I ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SHIFT CHANGING WOULD ONLY HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS,IE 50 MPH. MY CONCERN IS I WAS NOT OFFERED A CLEAR EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE, JUST CHARGED AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT TO OVERHAUL THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION! PLEASE ADVISE.

THE BREK EPADS AND DISCS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. HAD TO REPLACE THEM EVERY 10K MILES. *AK

THE STABILIZER BAR AND PINS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE AFTER IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. ALSO DEALER STATES THAT THEY SALE MANY STABILIZER BARS FOR THIS CAR YEAR PARTICULARLY. *AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A GAS LEAK AT THE JOINT OF THE FUEL PIPE AND GAS TANK CREATING A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON MANY 95 CONTOURS DUE TO DEFECTIVE GAS TANK ASSEMBLIES. I TOOK OUR VEHICLE DOWN TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE CALLED ME WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $578 TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO HELP AND THAT I WOULD HERE FROM THE DEALER WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS. I RECEIVED NO CALL. I THEN CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE A SECOND TIME ONLY TO BE TOLD BY ANOTHER PERSON THERE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL 36000 WARRANTY AND THAT IT WAS "BLACK AND WHITE" THAT I HAVE NO COVERAGE UNDER FORD AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY!! THIS WAS NOT VERY REASSURING AN I EXPLAINED WHAT A SAFETY ISSUE A LEAKING GAS TANK POSSESSED NOT ONLY TO MY FAMILY BUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A WHOLE. I ALSO ASSERTED THAT A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL ESPECIALLY ON A WELL MAINTANED CAR WITH UNDER 50000 MILES ON IT. I ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS HAD TO BE A FAULTY COMPONENT AND THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT EVEN IF IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AFTER ALL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT FORD WOULD WANT TO COVER THIS AS A SAFETY AND LOYAL CUSTOMER ISSUE. INSTEAD I RAN INTO A VIRTUAL BRICK WALL AFTER CONTACTING FORD THE SECOND TIME. THE PERSON SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE DEALER DIRECTLY AND SEE W

RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS DOES NOT COVER BACK COIL SPRINGS WHICH WERE RUSTED AND BROKEN (INADEQUATE RECALL)(98M04). MJS

THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE, WHICH MAY CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRING, BUT NOT FOR THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. *AK

SWAY BAR BROKE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, MAKING IT UNSAFE WHEN TURNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE COOLING FAN CAUGHT FIRE AND IGNITED WIRES IN THE ENGINE AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER LESS THAN 10 MILES OF DRIVING

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND KEPT GOING FORWARD UNTIL OCCUPANT PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. REPLACED PARTS IN VEHICLE. BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING FAN BELT MADE CONTACT WITH WATER, FAN BELT SLIPPED OFF, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, AN D ISSUED A TSB. ALSO, FRONT END ASSEMBLY DRIVE BELT NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT INDICATOR HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. VEHICLE NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL #98V233000 DUE TO VIN #. *AK

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING 2MI AND TURNING ENGINE OFF. THE CAR ENGINE THEN STARTED UP AUTMATICALLY AND BEGAN INTO OTHER CARS WHILE ON FIRE WITH OUT KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR HAD NO PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. *AK

SWAY BARS FRONT AND REAR FAILED. *ET

BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS FAILED. *ET

AFTER THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS, MY CAR IS NOW FULL OF ELECTRICAL BUGS THAT THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY. ENGINE STALLS, ETC.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION - SHOULD BE ON A RECALL. DUE TO MY PHYSICAL DISABILITY I DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STEER THE CAR WHEN POWER ASSIST FAILS. *AK

THEY DON'T KNOW WHY MY ENGINE CUTS OUT. I BELIEVE PROBLEM IS LEFT OVER FROM ALL THE WORK THEY DID ON ABS AND CAT. CONVERTER CHANGEOVER. THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY CAR NOW THAT FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. REFUSED TO INSTALL "FLIGHT RECORDER" TO TROUBLESHOOT. DEALER REFUSED TO OFFER EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE SINCE THEY ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE LH WIRING HARNESS WHEN REPAIRING ABS, LEFT MANY "LOOSE ENDS" ALL OVER THE CAR. *AK

EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES, & ELECTRICAL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN WET CONDITIONS. *AK

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH, AND ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. ALSO, DEALER HAD TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESS. IT IS COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO BE IN A ACCIDENT,WOBBLED AT 55,DEALER CAN NOT/WILL NOT FIX IT.

INTERMITENT/ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SURGING AND BUCKING DURING HIGHWAY SPEED WITHIN 10-45 SECONDS. VEHICLE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

RECALL FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRING ONLY EXTENDS WARRANTY COVERAGE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE FRONT SPRING REPLACEMENT CAUSED BY CORROSION, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH WARRANTY AND FEELS THAT REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE SPRING SHOULD BE THE REPAIR. MJS (98V-094)

VEHICLE SLAMS INTO GEAR AND JERKS SLIGHTLY AT A CONSTANT SPEED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULDN'T TURN IT OFF. *AK

BRAKES: WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING & BRAKES ARE IN USE,THEY WOULD MAKE SCRUBBING NOISES. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK WHEN CHANGING GEARS. GEAR PLACEMENT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHEN IT HAPPENS. HAD REBUILT TRANSMISSION REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE RUNS HOT. RADIATOR MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. *AK

THE PLASTIC LENSES IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE FROSTED BADLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

RIGHT REAR RIM DEVELOPED A CRACK APPROX. 4 " LONG. CAUSED A VBRATION WHILE BRAKING. DEALER SAID THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH FORD CONTOURS ONLY.

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE GAS TANK. *AK

MY BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES FOR 2-3 SECOND INTERVALS TRAVELING ANYWHERE FROM 30-60 MPH. FORD HAS TOLD ME THAT BOTH COMPONENTS NEED REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME THAT THIS IS A PREMATURE DEFECT. I AGREE AND ALSO BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE WANT TO CHARGE ME $2200-$2400 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS THEIR FAULT. *AK

RACK & PINION & POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *AK

ACCELERATOR STUCK , COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. *AK

LOSS OF ALL POWER ASSIST WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, HAD A CLOSE CALL. ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK WHEN TURNING A CORNER. TOOK BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL TO COMPLETE TURN. SOMEONE LESS STRONGER AND/OR UNAWARE WILL HAVE A WRECK SOME DAY.

I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND IN PARK WHILE I WENT IN THE HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING. I HEARD AN EXPLOSION. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND MY CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE HOOD WAS BLOWN OFF AND NOW THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF MY CAR. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE AND ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE FIREWALL AREA. I WAS TI SHAKEN UP TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING. NOW I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS IN FACT A DEFECT IN THE CAR OR WHAT. CAN YOU HELP?

FEMALE PART OF SEATBELT IS PRONE TO FALL APART MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FASTEN SEATBELT

RECALL 98V233000/98S26. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT LEVER LEVER WILL SHIFT, BUT DRIVER CANNOT NOTICE IN WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. VEHICLE DEFECT IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FORD RECALLED FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT NOT THE BACK COIL SPRINGS.

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH VIBRATION IN MY CAR FROM WHEN I PICKED IT UP. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL WHILE STOPPED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SHAKING TERRIBLY. AFTER HAVING IT IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH CONTOURS AND DID NOT PURSUE IT ANY FURTHER. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ALONG WITH A REBUILT ENGINE. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF ALL THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR WEAKENED THE SEAL CAUSING LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 65,000 MILES, IS MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND HAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, FORD MOTORS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR AUTO COMPLAINTS, WBZ CALL FOR ACTION, AND THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY IN WASHINGTON, DC ON THIS MATTER. THE ONLY RECOURSE I HAVE SHORT OF HIRING AN ATTORNEY, IS TO FILE COMPLAINT FORMS, WHICH I HAVE DONE. I'M BEGINNING TO SEE A PATTERN BY FORD TO MAKE AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND THEN NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTS. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS FAIR TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS LITTLE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $3000 (OF WHICH I DON'T HAVE) TO GET MY CAR BACK IN WORKING ORDER. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FOR CUSTOMERS LIKE ME OR IS IT "TOO BAD. YOU'RE STUCK WITH IT"?