1996 Ford Contour complaints

TRANAMISSION FAILED. YH

RECALL REPAIR (99V-103) COMPLETED, HOWEVER HARNESS CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND NOT THE SWITCH, PANEL LIGHTS FEEL HOT TO THE TOUCH AND ILLUMINATION IS DIM AFTER REPAIR WORK COMPLETED. MJS

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION CASING CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FROST PLUG RELEASED, CAUSING ANTI- FREEZE TO SPILL AND VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AND DIE. THERE WAS NOT INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WHICH MELTED, CAUSING TRUCK LIGHT WIRES TO HANG DOWN, AND DOOR LIGHT TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES AND RATTLES WHEN SLOWING DOWN..THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRES ARE PRESENT WHEN AC AND HEATERS ARE UTILIZED.VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU LIVE IN COLD CLIMATE AREA. COULD CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DURING WINTER MONTHS. FORD SHOULD DO A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL ENGINE, INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS, AND FIX ROTORS. *AK

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-103), CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH REFUNDING. MJS

CONSUMER TOOK THIS VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL 99S14 FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT NOW THEIRS IS A PROBLEM WITH FRONT END VIBRATING VERY HARD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING OUT. THIS CAUSES THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORK. TOOK TO DEALER. VEHICLE FAILED TO START & NEEDED A JUMP. INFORMED BATTERY WAS NEEDED. *AK

WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ANY INFORMATION ON HIDDEN WARRANTIES AND HIDDEN INSURANCE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND THEN A BANK. *AK

THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS BROKEN, AND DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V233000 DUE TO VIN, AND COULD NOT BE SERVICED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

HEATER HOSE HAD A LEAK DUE TO BRACKET ABOVE RUBBING INTO IT. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. HAD PART REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY INDICATIONS. AS A RESULT, WHEELS LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN TURNING THE A/C ON, DASHBOARD GETS HOT. A/C IS COMING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER ON TOP OF DASHBOARD, AND NOT OUT THE VENTS. *AK

THEROMSTAT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. *AK

RECALL # 99V103000 FORD/HEADLIGHT SWTICH/WIRING HARNESS; OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 1999. OWNER HAS CONTACT DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAS BLOWN OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL REPAIR ON THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH (99V-103) COMPLETED, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS ILLUMINATE AND ARE NOT AS BRIGHT AND AFTER EXTENDED USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS THE RESISTOR SWITCH FOR PANEL LIGHTS IS HOT TO THE TOUGH (REQUIRED ADDITIONAL REPAIRS). MJS

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO MALFUNCTION, RADIO AND CLOCK WENT BLANK AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. NLM

AC SWITCH AND BLOWER SPEED NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MECHANIC SAID: "FOUND BURNT BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, HI BLOWER MOTOR RESISTANCE AFFECTED CIRCUIT. MELTER RESISTOR AND HARNESS." LATER MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT NEED A NEW AC DASH SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS. A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT $600.00. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A HIGH RESISTANCE CAUSES INCREASED CURRENT AND THUS BURN UP THE RESISTOR AND WIRING. I BELIEVE THAT THE RESISTOR HAD A SHORT AND THE EXCESSIVE CURRENT BURNED UP THE RESISTOR AND THE WIRING. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE BLOWER IS DAMAGED OR NOT. THIS FAULTY RESISTOR IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS FIRE UNDER THE DASH. THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THAT THE CAR IS FOUR MONTHS OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY 27,000 + MILES, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGE. IF I PAY TO HAVE THE DAMAGE REPAIRED, CAN I GET MY MONEY BACK IF YOU FIND THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE?

ALL THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF ON BRACKET SUPPORTING TRANSAXLE, CAUSING IT TO FALL DOWN AND WEDGE AGAINST THE EXHAUST PIPE. HEARD A NOISE PRIOR TO DISCOVERING PROBLEM. VEHICLE DRIVEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAS BOLTS. *AK

RECALL # 99V103000 FORD/HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS; EVEN THOUGH RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 24, 1999, THE SAME PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS WITH THE VEHICLE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. DEALER IS REFUSING TO CORRECT. *AK

THERE IS A DEFECTIVE SWITC/ PANEL & WIRE ASSEMBELY PARTS COMPONENTS OF THE WIRING PANEL. THIS CAUSES PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER, BLOWER, ETC. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE ELECTRIC COMPONENT CHECKED OUT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING VERY HARD. IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO SECOND GEAR, AND ALL THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASHBOARD START GOING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO REPAIR SHOP SIX TIMES AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CHILD IN THE CHILD SEAT GOES FORWARD, AND THE HARNESS STRAP LEFT A RED SPOT ON THE CHILD. *AK

REC'D RECALL 99V103000 & CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR & IT WAS REPLACED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH. PROBLEM WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE CONNECTOR REPLACED. OWNER NOT SATISFIED WITH REPAIRS. *AK

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CAR LOSES SPEED. *AK

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK WITH GAS THE TANK LEAKS FROM THE BOTTOM WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AREN'T WORKING, AND THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AL

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWE; WHENEVER VEHICLE RAN OVER A WATER PUDDLE IT CAUSED LOSS OF POWER, WHICH SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. SEEKING HELP OR PROVOIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ANT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON. VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT DIES. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE , AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FLEXIBLE VENT HOSE IS DETERIORATED AND CRACKED. IT LEAKS GASOLINE WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED AND WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN.IT APPEARS TO ME , THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF HOSE IS BEING USED IN THIS ASSEMBLY. IF THIS IS HAPPENING SO PREMATURELY, IT MUST BE HAPPENING TO ALOT OF OTHER CONTOUR OWNERS. *AK

WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT TO ILLUMINATE(99V-103). NLM

I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE TAKEN IT MORE THAN EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES TO BE SERVICE AND PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NOTIFIED BY DEALER OF RECALL #99V103000. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. SUPPOSEDLY TOOK 10 MINUTES OF REPAIR. THE PANEL LIGHTS STILL NOT ON. AFTERWARDS, RECEIVED NOTICE #99V103000 FROM DEALER. WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALER WHO REFUSED REPAIRS DUE TO OTHER DEALERSHIP HAVING ALREADY DONE REPAIRS. *AK *ML

WHEN TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, SMOKE CAME FROM THE FAN SWITCH. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE IF DRIVER HADN'T BEEN SO QUICK TO TURN OFF THE SWITCH. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF IN GEAR AT 25 MPH. OVERHEATED UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE ALARM WAS THE CAUSE. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. *AK *YC

FLOOR SHIFT LEVER BROKE. INDICATOR SHOWING DRIVE/REVERSE, ETC., FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO PARK. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK CAUSE & WAS INFORMED NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE. DRIVER CANNOT TELL IF VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ODOMETER DROPPED, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OVERDRIVE AND WOULDN'T COME OUT OF OVERDRIVE. *AK

THE PCM MODULE IS A CRITICAL EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE. ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY BOOK PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE, IT IS COVERED IF IT IS REPLACED. HOWEVER, A FAILURE (LOSS OF PROGRAMMING) IS NOT CONSIDERED A PART FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A LOSS OF PROGRAMMING IS A FAILURE (MEMORY?). THE FORD MFG. CONSUMER LINE WAS CONTACTED ON 8/23/99. THE FORD MFG. EXPLAINED THAT ONLY WHEN A PART IS REPLACED IS THIS COVERED; SINCE ONLY RE-PROGRAMMING IS REQUIRED, FORD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THIS PCM MODULE. THIS SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY.

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SHUTS DOWN DURING OPERATION, UNABLE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. MJS

IGNITION WIRE UNDER COWL SEVERED BY WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENTS THAT CAUSED ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO BRAKES AND STEERING, BATTERY DISCHARGE AND BLOWN FUSES.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND THEN CUT OFF , WHEN VEHICLE CUT OFF, DRIVER LOST CONTROL BECAUSE THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL FENDER GUARD BECAME DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. NLM

RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE #99S-14 FORD/HEADLIGHT SWITCH /WIRING HARNESS; TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS; LATER ON NOTICED INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT IT WOULD C ADDITIONAL $48.00 TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS MATTER. *AK

RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S-14; FORD/HEAD LIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS,THREE DAYS LATER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; CONTACTED DEALER AND INFORMED OF PROBLEM. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER NOT TO BRING VEHICLE IN BECAUSE CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY $48.00 FOR FUSES FOR CLOCK AND RADIO. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

ALL THE ALL THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHEN USING THE A/C UNIT CONSUMER HAS TO PUT THE A/C ON HIGH IN ORDER TO USE THE SYSTEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. *AK