1996 Ford Contour complaints

I RECEIVED A CARD THAT SAID: DANGER, THE FORD THAT YOU ARE DRIVING IS INVOLVED IN A PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN #99525 AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. WHAT IS THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN ABOUT? WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND THE ORIGINAL CAR DEALER IS IN ANOTHER STATE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR?*AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE NEW AND HAD ONLY 47,000 MILE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. THESE COMPONENTS ARE NOT MOVING PARTS AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE UNLESS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY OR POORLY DESIGNED. *AK

ALSO THE TIMING BELT IS BROKEN AND THERE'S NOTHING ON OWNER'S GUIDE THAT TELLS YOU TO CHANGE TIMING BELT AFTER 60,000 MILES. ENGINE LIGHT ON AFTER ONE MONTH OF BUYING THIS CAR I CALL THE DEALER MADE APPOINTMENTS FEW TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY, FEW TIMES I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO CHECK ON THE WAY HOME THE LIGHT IS BACK ON , I CALL THEM BACK AND ASK WHAT'S THE PROBLEM , WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ME TAKING A DAY OFF TO BRING THE CAR TO BE FIX AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST., THEIR REMARK WAS THERE'S 23 SENSOR AND THEY COULD'NT TELL WHICH ONE IT WAS. NOW I'M STUCK PAYING 1 1/2 YRS ON A CAR THAT I DON'T HAVE , STILL HAVE TO CAME UP WITH MONEY TO GET A NEW ENGINE IN WHICH I DON'T HAVE , BUMPING RIDE TO AND FROM WORK, CANCEL ALL MY APPTS. AND BEGGING PEOPLE FOR RIDES SO I CAN PICK UP KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND FOOD SHOPPING, I CAN'T TAKE THE KIDS TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I HAVE NO CAR THAT'S NOT FARE. THANK-YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP ,THANK-YOU AGAIN.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. TOOK TO KINSEL FORD IN JUNE 2001...TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING OUT. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF...STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND CAR HAD ALOT OF EXHAUST AND RUNNING ROUGH. TOOK TO SILSBEE FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS OUT DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLING FAN NOT COMING ON LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO SO IT ALSO FRIED THE WIRES. FORD IS WILLING TO PAY FOR PARTS BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY SAY IT WAS OUT OF THE 100,000 WARRENTY FOR THE REPAIR. I EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS GOING ON WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN IN JUNE AND THEY DIDN'T CORRECT IT THEN, ACCORDING TO THE CHECK OUT SHEET THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHECK IT FOR THAT AND I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THAT RECALL TO BE CHECKED. I HAD EVEN BEEN IN IN MARCH OF 2000 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY CAR HAD NO RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING FAN. JUST EXTREMELY UPSET THAT YOU CAN HAVE A RECALL, TAKE YOUR CAR IN AND IT NOT BE CHECKED FOR IT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT DUE TO THE RECALL THAT THE COMPANY PENALIZES THE CONSUMER.*AK

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY TIME I HAVE HAD TO COME TO THIS SITE ABOUT THIS CAR. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND NOW STILL OWING MONEY ON THIS CAR I AM LOOKING AT $2000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY WHILE IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, CONSUMER SENT COPIES OF BILLS TO DEALER, BUT NO RESPONSE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE FORD CONTOUR ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MATERIALS USED ARE BEND, CRACK, AND BREAK CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO EITHER FALL INTO THE DOOR, OR TO BECOME STUCK WHEN BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR REGULATOR 16 MONTHS AGO THINKING THIS WAS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE BUT NOW FIND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ADMITTED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN MY POSITION AND ON INSPECTION IT IS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE MANUFACTURING OF THE MATERIAL IS FAULTY, UNDER EXTREME STRESS WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS OF COURSE WOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN IF THE WINDOW WOULD COLLAPSE INTO THE DOOR FRAME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

STALLS OUT IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, SURGES BETWEEN 1-4 RMPS, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, ALL STARTED AFTER I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH REPLACED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED RECALL 99V103000 NOTIFICATION. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED OTHER RECALLS, BUT INFORMED CONSUMER PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR HEADLIGHT SWITCH RECALL, AND HE SHOULD RETURN IN 7 DAYS. WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP HE WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL, AND ANY WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

DOORS ARE HARD TO CLOSE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP SENT CONSUMER MANUFACTURERS RECALL 99S25. BUT, THIS RECALL WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCHES GET STUCK, RIGHT REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, LEFT REAR DOOR IS FINE.*AK

WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED TO PARK LIGHTS, NONE OF THE PARK LIGHTS WORK--FRONT OR BACK, LEFT OR RIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASH LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED TO HEAD LIGHTS, ONLY THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS WORK--THERE ARE NOT TAIL LIGHTS OR DASH LIGHTS. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK, SUCH AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. THIS OCCURED DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING THROUGH KANSAS CITY. WE COULD NOT SEE OUR SPEEDOMETER, AND CARS APPROACHING FROM THE REAR COULD NOT SEE US UNTIL THEY APPROACHED AND THEIR LIGHTS SHOWN ON OUR CAR--VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

WATER PUMP FAILURE @ 78000 MILES - REPORT EARLY FAILURE. *AK

STALLING IN TRAFFIC WITH HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT FLASHES, VERY ROUGH SHIFTING, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SLIPPING, TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED.

WHEN FILLLING GAS TANK UP GASOLINE COME OUT UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE INOPERATIVE, CONSUMER'S RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL 99S14 REGARDING INSTRUMENT LIGHT FAILURE, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE AND RECALL NOTICE TO DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP WAS RELUCTANT TO HONOR RECALL, AFTER SPEAKING WITH MANAGEMENT,DEALERSHIP FINALLY HONORED RECALL, WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED HOME WITH VEHICLE, THEY NOTICED A LEAK WHICH RESULTED IN RECALL REPAIR. *TT

SEAT BELTS REAR HAVE COMPLETELY FALLEN A PART. THERE WERE NO ATTACHMENT T0 CLICK ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

ABS FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING UP AFTER ABS LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. BEEN TO MECHANIC 4 TIMES, MASTER CYLINDER PROPRTIONAL VALVE WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, WHICH STILL WAS PRESENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS HAS BEEN AN REOCURRING PROBLEM.*SLC

BRAKES HAVE LITTLE RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, FEELS "MUSHY. ALSO, ABS LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND RESET ABS LIGHT. AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP, ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALERSHIP THEN DETERMINED THEY HAVE TO PERFORM REWIRING WORK TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

RECALL 98 V 233 000/SHIFT LEVEL DAMAGE: SHIFT LEVEL IS NOT CORRECTLY INDICATING ACTUAL GEAR, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YD

FORD FIXED BLOWER SWITCH AND RESISTER UNDER WARRANTY YEARS AGO. DO I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALL? I THINK IT'S ALL FIXED. *AK

REAR CALIPERS LOCKED UO, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF BRAKE ROTORS, ODOR AND POTENTIAL TO BOIL HYDRALIC FLUID LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT SHOW THE PROPER GEAR THAT THE CAR IS IN. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL 98V233000 DOES NOT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES . THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ACCESSORY OUTLET DEVELOPED A SHORT WITH FUSE BLOWOUT . THE INTERIOR LEVER TO THE LEFT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT FUNCTION TO OPEN THE OUTSIDE LID COVERING THE GAS CAP . THE CAR IS IN ALMOST NEW CONDITION WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES SINCE 1996 . CAR IS ALSO IN FOR MANDATORY RECALL SERVICING DUE TO NOTICE FROM FORD .HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORTING IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ACCESSORY OUTLET SYSTEM ? HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE INTERIOR GAS CAP LID LEVER NOT FUNCTIONING ? I AM BEING CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR OF THESE ITEMS . I WONDER WHETHER THERE WAS A BASIC DESIGN DEFICIENCY THAT LED TO SUCH MALFUNCTIONING AFTER LESS THAN 5,000 MILES .*AK

PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE SERVICING DEPT AT THE FORD DEALER AND OTHER AUTO SERVICING CENTER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY TO THIS DAY IT IS ON. AT ONE TIME THE ENTIRE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND REAR BRAKES LIGHTS WENT OUT. IT CURRENTLY SHUT ITS SELF OFF ( STALLS) AND GET HOT. THE ENGINE SOUNDS REVVED UP AND SHORTLY AFTER THE AC UNIT WENT OUT.EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT/ THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED SOME WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED ALL THE FLUIDS ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AND IT STILL STALLS AND OVERHEATS FOR NO REASON. BOTH FRONT WINDOWS ELECTRICAL MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT.

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 00V367000. OVERHEATING OF ENGINE COOLING FAN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 00V367000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44 CONCERNING ENGINE COOLING FAN. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP, SAME DAY, CONSUMER FOUND AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WERE NOT WORKING. ONLY DEFROSTER WORKED. DEALER OPENED HOOD AND STATED NOTHING WAS DONE TO AFFECT AIR CONDITIONING UNIT/HEATER. ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL BACK NEXT WEEK TO SPEAK TO SERVICE MANAGER. *AK

WORK WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FOR RECALL 99V247000. CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING THE PROBLEM OF FUEL LEAKING WHEN HE FILLS FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT RECALL WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ALREADY, AND IT WAS NOW CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

MY 1996 CONTOUR HAS LITERALLY BROKEN DOWN. I HAVE 99,000 MILES AND HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, AND THE CAR STILL IS NOT DEPENDABLE, AND THE SAME PROBLEMS RE-OCCUR. I HPAY MORE IN REPAIRS THAN I DO FOR MY MONTHLY PAYMENT.

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. DEALER SAID ENGINE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL 00V367000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR IS WORN. CAN NO LONGER SEE WHAT GEAR IS BEING USED. THERE IS RECALL 98V233000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK

EVER SINCE BUYING OUR 1996 2.5L CONTOUR IN AUG. OF 1999 WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT. OUR FIRST PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS A LOUD HOWLING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LATER TO DISCOVER THE FACTORY INSTALLED MASS AIR FLOW INTAKE HOSE KIT HAD BEEN REVISED THUS LEAVING US TO HAVE TO PURCHASE THE NEW AT A TOTAL PRICE OF $97.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THIS ONE PROBLEM FIXED ANOTHER AROSE. THIS TIME BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COOLING SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOSLY DESPITE HAVING PROPER FLUID LEVELS. ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING OR ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS COLD IT IDLES ROUGHLY FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND THEN QUITS AND NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN THIS WEIRD PHENOMENA BUT IS SURE SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO THE MAJORITY OF THESE CARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH FORD'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO THESE MATTERS NOT JUST MINE BUT ALL OF THEM THIS WILL BE MY LAST AUTO BEARING THE FORD NAME.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATLEY 60 MPH ENGINE STARTED RUNNING AND RPMS WENT TO 8000. CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. UPON START UP AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE HAD NO POWER CAUSING CONSUMER TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. VEHICLE WOULDN'T WORK WITH NEW BATTERY BECAUSE CONSUMER NOTICED WIRES WERE NOT ATTACHED. DEALER STATED " FORD HAS A PROGRAM WHICH IS 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES, BUT CAN ONLY BE FIXED IF A PROBLEM OCCURS." CONSUMERS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS.*AK

ASKED DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM RECALL 00V-367000 AND THEY SAID FORD HAS NO SUCH RECALL.*AK

TIE ROD BROKE JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. LUCKY IT WAS'NT ON THE FREEWAY.*AK

THE VEHICLES OVERDRIVE FAILED RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER STOPPED TO ADD ANTI-FREEZE, A LITTLE WHILE LATER VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHILE SHIFTER WAS STILL IN DRIVE. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NLM

BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT BRAKE DRUM. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER WILL ONLY WORK ON LOW, IF TURNING IT UP HIGH, IT DOES NOT WORK.*AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND OVERHEATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES HER PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY WHAT RECALL 00V367 WAS FOR. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A BRIDGE AND A SUDDENTLY STOPPED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM. DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF, AND HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

IGNITION FAILS TO COMPLETELY SHUT VEHICLE OFF WHEN TURNED TO OFF POSITION, AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT ALSO TAKES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO INSERT OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS GOING TO REPLACE IGNITION. *AK

CONSUMER FILLED TANK WITH GAS AND AFTER PAYING AND COMING BACK OU NOTICED GAS WAS SPILLING ALL OVER THE GROUND. IT CONTINUED TO LEAK FOR 3 HOURS. DEALER FOUND A CRACK IN FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAD TO GET REPLACE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AT HIS COST.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH,ODOMETER GAUGE DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND ODOMETER LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR. *AK *SLC

WAS DRIVING 20MPH WHEN FRONT END BROKE LOOSE. STRUTS HAD BROKEN. VEHCLE HIT GROUND, ANDTHEN WAS THROWN ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC. IT FINALLY HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN WET CONDITIONS, WATER IS BACKSPLASHED BY FRONT RIGHT TIRE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE MAIN DRIVE BELTS ARE. THIS CAUSES THE POWER STEERING PULLEY TO SLIP AND SIEZE, THEREBY CAUSING A LOCK UP ON THE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND CREATES A HAZARDOUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE MOMENTARILY. WE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE RECENTLY IN THE EXPRESSWAY, WHILE TRAVELING ON WET PAVEMENT AND PUDDLES. STEERING SIEZED AND CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY WE BROUGHT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL BEFORE CAUSING MAJOR ACCIDENT.

THROTTLE BODY HOSE ASSEMBLY : LOUD HOWLING SOUND, ENGINE SURGING. ENGINE: STALLS WHEN FIRST STARTED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK