1996 Ford Contour complaints

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. RAN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES UP, AND SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE KEPT DIGGING INTO THE DIRT.THE REAR WAS IN THE AIR . *AK

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE, ALSO RESULTING IN DAMAGES TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT INIDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER I ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

FORD NEED TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A SAFE ONE! COME ON 6 ELECTRICAL FAILURES? WHEN WILL THE FIRE START FROM THE FAILURES?..DATELINE NBC NEXT!

THE PLASTIC INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNED OFF, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HEATING SYSTEM, HEAT REMAINS ON HIGH. *AK.ET.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A POWER SURGE THAT SHORTED OUT THE SWITCH TO THE HEATER FAN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM PULLING OFF ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC

CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING OIL WHILE DRIVING, PULLED OVER AND NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM WHICH IS CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO SMOKE. *AK

THE FIRST NOTICABLE SYMPTOM WAS THAT MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. I THEN LEARNED THAT, ALTHOUGH MY HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND EMEMGENCY FLASHERS STILL FUNCTIONED, MY RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ALSO OUT. UPON TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD SHORTED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR WIRING HARNESS. TO ADD FURTHER INSULT TO INJURY, I HAD TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT I WISHED TO HAVE THE DAMAGE HARNESS REPAIRED OR REPLACED BECAUSE THE NEEDED PARTS COULD NOT BE OBTAINED SEPARATELY. THIS HAS ALL BEEN REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER. I HAVE ONLY REPORTED MY CASE TO THE NHTSA AFTER FINDING A LISTING IN YOUR ONLINE INVESTIGATIONS DATABASE FOR ACTION NUMBER PE98063 AND THOUGHT THAT MY STORY MAY PERTAIN TO THIS INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

POWER STEERING BECOMES DISABLES WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. SAFETY SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD MOTOR CORP

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: ??? )

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING LOSS OF INSTRUMENT AND TAIL LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED MALFUNCTION AT THE COST TO CONSUMER, REPLACED HEADLAMP SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. *AK

DEALER UNABLE TO FIX HESATATION- THEN WHEN SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED VIBRATION OCCURRED

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE INSTRUMENT AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. LEARNED THAT THE SWITCH WAS BURNT OUT AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS & SWITCH. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING BELT SLIPPING. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN THE WET CONDITION ROAD THE WATER WOULD COME UNDERNEATH ONTO THE POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP, AND STEERING TO FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WA SUNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SOLD BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANY ITEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK IN PARK POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY ARE NOT HARD BUT MEDIUM. WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY SPEED BUMP THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE BY THE FUEL TANK. *AK

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR ROLLED OVER AND HIT NUMEROUS TREES. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN AND THE SEAT BELT BROKE AWAY... MIRACOUSLY MY SON ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT WITH ONLY A MODEST BUMP ON HIS HEAD. .... WITNESSESS AS WELL AS THE TOWING/WRECKING YARD COULD NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE... WHEN PURCHASING THE AUTO I RECALL THAT SAFETY REPORTS WERE GENERALLY FAVORABLE... GIVEN THE IMPACT OF THIS ACCIDENT IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT OPEN AND THAT THE SEAT BELT BROKE AWAY...

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

HAD HEADLIGHTS ON & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASHBOARD. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD SHORTED OUT. TOOK TO DEALER & CALLED MANUFACTURER INFORMED OWNER'S FAULT FOR ELECTRICAL SHORT & FIRE. WILL NOT REPAIR DEFECT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 295,NEW JERSEY, I SLOWED DOWN TO GET OFF AT EXIT 4, SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION (WHICH I THOUGHT WAS MY CAR EXPLODING) AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED (PASSENGER & DRIVERS SIDE). THE FORCE AND POWER OF THE EXPLOSION CAUSED MY WINDSHIELD TO CRACK ON THE PASSENGER. I DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER CAR OR OBJECT,I WAS TRAVELING NO MORE THAN ABOUT 35,BECAUSE I WAS PREPARING TO GET OFF AT EXIT,AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS SMOOTH. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER,MURPHY FORD,CHESTER,PA, WHO OFFERED LITTLE OR NO ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING THE EXACT CAUSE OF WHY TWO AIR BAGS WOULD EXPLODE OTHER THAN TO TELL ME I HAD TOO MUCH AIR IN ONE TIRE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM.

FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED DASH AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.

WHEN TURNING COULD HEAR A BUMPING SOUND IN STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. NOTHING WAS FOUND. NOISE WAS LOUDER. COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE DURING RAIN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW & STOP VEHICLE. HAD CRACKED FRONT END. THE FRONT SUSPENSION SWAY BAR ALSO BROKE. *AK

TWICE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS 1 AND 3 MONTHS OLD. THE DEALER WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND I PROMISE I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN AND NEITHER WILL ANYBODY THAT HAS HEARD MY STORY.

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE GROUND WHENEVER CONSUMER FILLED THE TANK UP WITH FUEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUEL FILLER NECK HAD A CRACK AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS NORMAL FOR THIS PART TO BE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE HAVE ONLY 46,000 MILES OF WEAR. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN HIGH GEARS.

HEADLIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT IS SEVERELY OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE SWITCH HARNESS TO BURN AND THE SWITCH TO FAIL. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE TAIL LIGHTS/DASH LIGHTS FAILED.

HEADLIGHTS AND DASHLIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHEN SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS BURNT OUT, WIRES AND THE CONNECTOR WERE ALL BURNT OUT ALSO, VEHCILE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO A FIRE HAZARD.

EXCESSIVE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION ASSEMPLY WAS REPLACED, DUE TO LEAKAGE, WITH FORD PARTS. THE REPLACED PARTS ALSO LEAKED. AFTER SECOND REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED. AT LEAST TWO POWER STEERING HOSES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, BOTH HAVE LEAKED. ALL REPAIRS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERS UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY.

GAS TANK FAILED.

THE STEERING BELT ON VEHICLE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. WHEN IT'S RAINING IT GETS WET & CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN MAKING TURNS. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CANNOT DO ANYTING. IT WAS DESIGNED LIKE THAT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE AT 20MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANUEVER VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPOT. DEALER BELIEVES THE POWER STEERING BELT SLIPPED.

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE CAUSED SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH, RESULTING IN POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

GASKETS AND OIL PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN OIL LEAKS.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A SPLASH SHIELD KIT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING GEAR WOULD SLIP FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WITH NO WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD REV THEN POP BACK INTO (AUTOMATIC) GEAR. WOULD START SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE UNTIL FOOT IS PRESSING ACCELERATOR. THEN SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. ITS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

WHEN USING REAR SEAT BELTS, BELTS PULL HALF WAY OUT, WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. BELTS ARE TWISTED OR WRAPPED AROUND MECHANISM INSIDE DOOR PANEL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, HESITATES ON TAKE OFF AND OCCASIONALLY STALLS.

EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE FAILED.

DRIVING ON WET SURFACES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE DRIVER RECEIVES NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN RAINNING, CONSUMER DROVE OVER A POT OF WATER. HE LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP TO ONE SIDE, MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE. *AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP FOR NO REASON & THEN SHOT FORWARD. APPLYING BRAKES, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. IT WENT OVER SMALL EMBANKMENT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

FRONT WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY RUSTING ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE.

HEAD LIGHTS VERY DIM.

TURN SIGNAL BURNED OUT.

INDADEQUATE HEADLIGHTS.

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. BUT WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING LIKE A BURNING OIL. CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE WHERE HE SAW THE FRONT SHOCK ASORBER RUSTED FOR NO REASON BECAUSE HE LEFT VEHICLE IN ON INDOOR GARAGE. *AK