1996 Ford Contour complaints

WHILE NORMALLY DRIVING AT 35 MILE'S PER HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. 10 MINUTES LATER STARTED NORMALLY. JUST IN CASE I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC BECAUSE 20 MINUTES LATER I STARTED TO NOTICED AN ODOR, LIKE BURNED PLASTIC. THIS MORNING THE MECHANIC CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO STOP BY THE SHOP, HE SHOWED ME THE FUSE BOX AND THE ELECTRICAL CABLES (HARNESS) THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE BOX, 75% OR MORE ARE WITHOUT INSULATION (CRACKED OR THE INSULATION IS GONE). ACCORDING TO HIM I WAS JUST LUCKY, FORD DO NOT OFFER A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AS A PART, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SEARCH FOR ONE IN A JUNK YARD, BESIDES IS A COSTLY ELECTRICAL JOB REPLACING THE WIRES. I AM GOING TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE AS A CONSUMER I THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE MENTIONED VEHICLE.*JB

HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW REPAIRED TODAY, AS WELL AS PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED IN JULY 2002. BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR BOTH. THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SHOW A MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE PURSUE A RECALL REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE SO CUSTOMERS CAN BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED.*JB

WET/LEAKING TRUNK. ALSO LEAKING FROM TRUNK TO BACK SEAT. CAN'T LOCATE WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM. *JB

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 01-V-230-0000. RECALL DEESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. *NLM

THE REAR SAFETY BELTS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE LEFT REAR BELT BUCKLE DID NOT LOCK INTO THE LATCH PLATE WHEN CONNECTED AND THE RIGHT REAR BELT ONLY PULLED FAR ENOUGH FROM HOUSING TO COVER A SMALL CHILD. *JB

THE PAINT ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK. * MR THE CONSUMER FELT THE WINDOW MAY SEPARATE FROM THE STRUCTURE AND THE ROOF MAY RUST. SCC *JB

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING. *NLM

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT TO GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALL ONCE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCURRED. MANUFACTURER STATED SINCE THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED ONCE, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE. *PH *NLM

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON

THE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT DISK BRAKE SYSTEM TEND TO WANT TO ROLL INWARD OFF OF THE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO DATE. VEHICLE: 1996 FORD CONTOUR

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER COMPLETE REBUILD. HAVE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION IN TIRES ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS

HEADLIGHT SWITCH TERMINALS AND WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS EXPERIENCED HEAT DAMAGE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS FAILED. ROBIN FORD DEALER, 100 N. MCDADE BLVD, GLENOLDEN, PA INDICATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 96 FORD CONTOUR BUT MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. MY VIN IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS TO MY CONTOUR HAVE CLOUDED OVER (ON THE INSIDE) AND DO NOT ALLOW THE LAMPS TO PUT OUT MUCH LIGHT. THIS IS A PRETTY BAD SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENING. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO - TO WHERE I NEED TO REPLACE THEM. THE DEALER NOTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A HEAD LAMP SEAL FAILURE, BUT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY OR RECALL ISSUE. COST IS $250 FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR. IF THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE FOR FORD SERVICE STAFF, WHY IS IT IGNORED BY FORD? YOUR DATABASE SHOWS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE. DT

BRAKES & ROTORS. DT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH ENGINE STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AS PER CONVERSATION. MR

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER NOTICE, THE DASH BOARD DEFROSTER DUCT AIR VENT IS CRACKED AND INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL, CHANGE ALTERNATOR-AND THIS IS NOT PROBLEM. DT

THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FLASH AND THE STEARING WHEEL COLUMN SMOKES WHEN THE FLASHER IS IN PLACE. MR

MR

WIRING TO COOLING SYSTEM MELTED. ALSO, EACH TIME CONSUMER TAKES VEHICLE TO DEALER SHE IS TOLD THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONER SERVICED, AND THE PRODUCT THAT WAS USED CAUSED A LARGE PROBLEM IN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. A LEAK HAS DEVELOPED. *AK *YH

ALL POWER WINDOWS ARE OFF TRACK, CONSUMER UNABLE TO PUT WINDOWS DOWN. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *JG

TEMPERATURE GAUGE CONSTANTLY SHOWS VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING, WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT.*AK

WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION, HORN WILL SOUND ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS DISCONNECTED FUSE.*AK JLG

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ENGINE WENT FROM NORMAL TO RED HOT IN TEMPERATURE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND PLASTIC WATER PUMP FAN HAD BROKEN INTO PIECES. *TT

WIRES FROM THE COOLING FAN ARE MELTING TOGETHER AND CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WENT BACK TO NORMAL. CONSUMER FEELS IT IS DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP ON THIS ENGINE HAS A PLASTIC IMPELLER WHICH IS PRONE TO FAILURE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR WHO EXPERIENCED THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE WATER PUMP DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. HAS HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IN 2000. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 87,750 MILES, 1,250 MILES AGO. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THIS DEFECT. I WAS HOPING YOU COULD HELP.

A FAILURE IN WIRING HARNESS RESULTED IN WIRES OVERHEATING, DAMAGING WIRING HARNESS. FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS ARE NEGLECTING SERVICE BASED ON A LETTER FROM THEM WITH A MILEAGE RESTRICTION OF 100,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, REPLACED O2 SENSOR WITH LIGHT RETURNING ON. *AK

THIS CAR IS A LEMON - IT IS NOT SAFE. *AK

THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A DRAGGING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *YH THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND CAUSED BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE PART # IS: SW-5042.*AK

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO EXTEND OUTWARD WITH ONE OF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS TRAPPING A CHILD AT ONE POINT. SECOND FAILURE WAS THAT SEAT BELT BUCKLES/LATCHES HAVE FALLEN APART. REAR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT USABLE AT ALL EXCEPT MIDDLE LAP BELT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED IN JANUARY, 2001, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $2,600. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACED WITH FORD PARTS. NOW IN APRIL, 2002, THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING IN TRAFFIC, OVERDIRVE LIGHT FLASHING, VERY ROUGH SHIFTING. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APART AND DAMAGED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AGAIN. REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE $2,400.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL # 99 V 103 000 FOR THE HEAD LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS AND WIRING HARNESS WERE REPLACED. A MONTH LATER , HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS AND ALL DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE PROBLEMS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE IN PROCESS.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS ITS RELATED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL VENT HOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, THERE WAS NO WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE ALTERNATORS WITHIN THREE MONTHS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE CONSTANTLY VIBRATED, WHEN COMING TO A STOP IT VIBRATED SO HARD AS IF IT WAS GOING THROW CONSUMER OUT OF THE CAR. MECHANIC INDICATED THIS WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS OPERATING. *AK

UPON SHUTTING DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE IT OPENED BACK UP. DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH OR LOCK. HAD TO HOLD DOOR TO DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT

SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE, NO LONGER ABLE TO TELL WHAT GEAR IS SHIFTED TO, THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THEIR COMPUTER TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE, CONSUMER HAS PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. (99V10300) *YH

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES.TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; REPAIRED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

ALL FOUR STUDS ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE, SHEARED OFF. RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TIRE TRAVELING LOOSE THROUGH TRAFFIC. TIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED FRONT FENDER AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN WHEN CAR CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO IT. STUDS SHOWED NO SIGNS THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECS. (ROUNDED OUT STUD HOLES ON RIMS OR ROUNDED OUT THREADS.) COMPLETE SIMUALTANOUS STUD FAILURE ON ALL FOUR STUDS. *AK