1996 Ford Contour complaints

PAINT ON THE VEHICLE LOOKS AS IF THERE ARE SPIDAR WEBS EVERYWHERE IN THE PAINT - CLEARCOAT. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND HAS SPREAD ALL OVER THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

WINDOW STUCK DOWN, AND STRUTS NEEDED.....4 YEARS OLD???

WHILE DRIVING TAIL LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM DUE TO WATER CONDENSATION IN THE FUSE BOX. *AK *ML

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS

CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT, ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILT $2600. *AK

ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AFTER I HAD MY CAR I TRIED TO TRADE IT IN FOR ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF THE DEFFECTS ON IT, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT HELP ME OUT THEN. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT NOW? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY.

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO THIRD GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

PISTONS AND RINGS WERE BOTH SHOT IN THE MOTOR, BUT THE MOTOR HAD OIL AND FULL COMPRESSION. *AK

MY AC/HEATER SWITCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE. THERES SEEMS TO BE A SHORT IN WHICH THE PLASTIC IS MELTED BEHIND THE SWITCH, WHERE THE SWITCH CANNOT BE TURNED.

WHILE DRIVING EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURRED WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, ENGINE IDLED VERY FAST, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED., DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 00V075000/ REAR BRAKE VALVE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE . NLM

IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN ONE THING STARTED TO SHORT ON MY CONTOUR EVERYTHING STARTED TO GO...FIRST THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF THEN ..THE A/C STARTED SHORTING THEN IT COMPLETELY FROZE CAUSING TIMING TO JUMP AND NOEW ..I'M TOLD THE CAR NEEDS NEW COMPUTER ..IT DIES IN MIDDLE OF ROAD THE SENSORS ARE BAD ...PLEASE HELP ME REGARDING THIS MATTER ..

WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR THERE IS A GRINDING/CLASHING NOISE= TSB # 96248; CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED FORD DOES NOT COVER ANYTHING, CAR NEEDS A NEW SHIFT FORK AND REBUILT INPUT SHAFT; COST $1000. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ANY GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER & DEALER HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VECHICLE IS ALSO IDLEING VERY HIGH. *AK

CONSUMER HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS , SUCH AS. HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TICKING NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE OUT. *AK

THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-103 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. NLM

CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR 4TH RECALL REPAIRS. THIS ONE WAS FOR THE ENGINE WIRES. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. CONSUMER PICKED UP CAR, AND ON THAT SAME EVENING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. COULDN'T TELL HOW FAST CAR WAS GOING. ALSO OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON/OFF.

CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER. SHE WENT OUTSIDE THAT MORNING TO START IT UP HER VEHICLE AND SHE NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER REPLACED STARTER AND WATER PUMP BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO MIDAS AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT TWO BOLTS HAVE SHEARED OFF THE TRANSAXLE .*AK

RECALLS 99V103000/99S14/99M03/99M04, AND 99M07: ALL OF THESE RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN REMEDIED. DEALER DOBBS FORD, 2515 MT MORIAH, MEMPHIS, TN 38115 901-367-4976, HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS NOT READING THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION ,CAUSING INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. ALSO, THER EIS RECALL 98V233000 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RECALL 99V-247 FILLER NECK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. YH

WATER PUMP IMPELLER BROKE INTO TWO PIECES IMEEDIATELY PARALIZING THE ENTIRE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS DEFECT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE IS COMMON FOR FORD CONTOURS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 DURATEC ENGINES. ALTHOUGH NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO PASSENGER SAFETY IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, THIS DEFECT IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THE PART GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. *AK

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL APPEAR, WITH THE ENGINE ALMOST STALLING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR GOING AS FAST AS 35 MPH AND AS SLOW AS 5 MPH. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE DEALER HAS REPORTEDLY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, THE SERVICE PERSONNEL WAS AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE SPECIFIC MODEL. AFTER REPEATED RETURNS TO THE DEALER (AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE COMPLAINTS), THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND THAT THE CAR WAS EVEN "DRIVEN THROUGH SEVERAL PUDDLES" WITHOUT ANY STEERING FAILURE. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN WAS APPROXIMATELY AUGUST, 1999. THE WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ON 02/13/00, THE VEHICLE AGAIN EXPERIENCED STEERING FAILURE.

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF GEAR ,CAUSING LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 99V103/MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS 99M07, 99M03 AND 99S14 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT FAILURE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 99V103000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S14 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE RECALL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A REFUND. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HIM HAD SLOWED DOWN, BUT THE CAR BEHIND DIDN'T COMPLY. CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, AND SMASHED IT IN. SEA TBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK

BATTERY NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE CURRENT. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP HAD CAR OVER TWENTY TWO DAYS, AND VEHICLE STILL HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

DUAL FAN ON AIR CONDITIONER WAS CONSTANTLY ON. CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL LETTER FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. BUT, THEN OTHER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING. *AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS AND DRIVER HAS TO PUSH HARD, THEN IT OVERACCELERATES, AND THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN FRONT. THERE'S TOO MUCH FORCE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 45MPH AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG WENT OFF IN HIS FACE. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN AN OPERATING CONDITION TO ENABLE THE IGNITION KEY TO BE PULLED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. SPOKE TO CAPISTRANO FORD, STATED CAR USED AND COST OF REPAIR: $200.00. *AK

AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER THIS RECALL THE A/C COMPRESSOR, WHICH FAILED PREMATURELY. CHRIS EARLY, AT JOE MACHENS FORD, COLUMBIA, MO, INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER, AND SO, WILL NOT COVER THE WORK UNDER THIS RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER AND ITS PROBLEM (BLOWING AIR QUITE HARD, BUT WITH NONE COMING OUT THE VENTS, AND NOT HEATING OR COOLING THE CAR/DEFROSTING THE WINDOW). THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN 9 OR 10 TIMES TO HAVE THE AC/HEATER/DEFROSTER/BLOWER PROBLEM FIXED, I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT FROM TIME TO TIME. SURELY THIS KIND OF STRAIN CAUSED THE A/C COMPRESSOR TO WORK HARDER, AND BE SUBJECT TO UNDUE STRESS AND THEREFORE IMMATURE WEAR AND TEAR AND ULTIMATELY FAILURE. (EVEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE EARLINESS OF THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ANYWHERE WITH FORD IN THE PAST -- I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SORT OF REPLY FROM FORD AS TO MY INQUIRIES TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH I REGISTERED IN WRITING TO THEM IN AUGUST 1998. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK! *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL LETTER 99V247000 CONCERNING THE FUEL PUMP. CONTACTED THE DEALER. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK, CAUSING WINDOW TO FAIL TO OPERATE, LEAVING WINDOW OPEN FOR BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALER / MANUFACTYRER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

RECALL # 99V103000 LIGHTING: SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:HEAD LIGHTS; OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JULY, 1999. OWNER HAS BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR RECALL. ONCE IN JULY, AND AGAIN ON DECEMBER 4TH. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. TOLD CONSUMER TO COME BACK IN 6 WEEKS. *AK

UNKNOWN IF WIRING RECALL IS A PROBLEM IN MY CAR,WILL DEALERSHIP CHECK THAT FOR FREE? NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED.

THIS IS A LEASED CAR. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT, BRINGING IT TO A MECHANIC EVERY THREE MONTHS FOR A "CHECK UP" THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE CAR SIMPLY STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME $ 3000.00 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED FORD AND BESIDES BEING NASTY AND RUDE, WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD "DO". NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. JUST A DEAD CAR. MY MECHANIC IS HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FINDING PARTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY ANGRY! *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING ENGINE REVVED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND RUN UP AN A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT FUNCTIONING AFTER SERVICE. YH

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT CAME LOOSE FROM THE PANEL, FORCING THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

SWAY BAR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO MAKE RATTLING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT. YH

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLES ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE REAR BUMPER STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. DRIVER THEN PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLY HIGH SPEED, JUMPING THE CURB AND STRIKING A CONCRETE PILLAR, RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AREA OF THE VECHICLE AND BRUISING THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM. PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT. IT APPEARS THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE/CRUISE CONTROL OR SOME RELATED MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS: INTERIOR/BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT. REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. FUEL FILLER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH LATCH INSIDE. NEVER WORKED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER FAILED. POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED. CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY. MECHANIC COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR THIS RELATED TO ALTERNATOR/CHARGING SYSTEM OF CAR. NEVER ABLE TO FIX THIS. TRUNK LEAKS WATER AROUND SEAL. ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON . MECHANIC COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH ABS. AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT DEFROST SETTING. ALSO BAD SMELL COMES FROM AC WHEN ON. REAR SEAT BELTS KEEP JAMMING; NOT ABLE TO USE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY WON'T COME OUT. WORST PROBLEM SO FAR: TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. NOT YET FIXED. I LOVED THIS CAR ONCE, NOW I HATE IT! THE WHOLE THING SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

THE STRUTS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE & THE REAR BEARING'S WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

RECALL 99V-103 000 /HEADLIGHT SWTCH/WIRINGHARNESS: RECALL RECEIVED. VEHICLE HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF/ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS AND PROBLEM STILL REMAINED. COULD THIS BE A REPAIR FAILURE? CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIE MATTER. *AK