Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
WHILE DRIVING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON HIGH, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTS. WHEN TURNING OFF THE A/C, THERE WAS MELTING BEHIND THE SWITCH FOR THE BLOWER. *AK
ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING SMOKE. *YC
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRIED TO GO FORWARD, HIT ACCELERATOR LIGHTLY AND DIDN'T MOVE, SECOND TIME, TOOK OFF AND WENT INTO GARAGE. PASSENGER'S MIRROR CAME OFF. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT, COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND STOPPING AT A STOP, THEIR IS ALOT OF VIBRATING WITHIN THE STEERING AND THE DASHBOARD RATTLES. *AK
ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH NO WARNING LEFT US STRANDED IN MEMPHIS, TN IN ICE STORM, RUINED ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL US WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE ENGINE CONTAINED WATER AND OIL AT THE TIME.
DRIVING 60MPH. HEARD POPPING NOISES. VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE. WENT OFF ROAD & DOWN 30FT EMBANKMENT & FLIPPED OVER TWICE. MECHANIC CHECKED & NOTICED LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FALLEN OUT. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. 4 PEOPLE WERE INJURED & EVERYONE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. *AK
SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD . *AK
WAS TRAVELING 60MPH & DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD SWERVED FIRST LEFT & WENT OFF ROAD & THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT INTO 30FT DITCH. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THE LEFT BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER/PASSENGERS SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK
FUEL TANK CANNOT BE FILLED UP FULLY. WHENEVER THEIR IS AN ATTEMPT TO FILL THE TANK, GAS SPLURGES EVERY WHERE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TAIL LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER/ANDY PANEL AIR BLOWS OUT OF DEFROST.
IDLER ARM AND FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED. *AK
THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY JUMP FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. ALSO, A LOUND POPPING NOISE OCCURS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN SWITCH WAS VERY HOT AND STARTED TO MELT THE PLASTIC HARNESS AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SWITCH, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED A FIRE IF THE OCCUPANT DIDN'T PULL THE FUSE ON THE SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS W/ MY 96 FORD CONTOUR SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2/23/96. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I GET TOLD IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHY WORRY ABOUT IT. THE SRV.MNGR.AT MY DEALER SUPPOSEDLY TALKED TO A "TONY" AT FORD & TOLD HIM TO TELL ME AS LONG AS IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN IT IS NO MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. THAT IS UNSATISFACTORY -I BELIEVE MY CAR TO BE A DEFECT IN THAT YEARS LINE OF CONTOURS & I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. MY CAR RUNS WORSE THAN ANY USED CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED! ALL I EVER WANTED DONE WAS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION,THEY COULD HAVE EASILY REPLACED MY CAR WITH ONE SIMILIAR TO THAT YEAR & MODEL & I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY. I REALLY WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER. I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL CONTACT A LAWYER TO SEEK HELP DEALING WITH FORD & KENNEDY FORD , IF I CAN NOT GET A FAIR & AGGREEABLE OUTCOME TO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU.
SUMMER OF 1997 COLD AIR FROM A/C ONLY BLOWS OUT OF DEFROSTERS,HAD IT FIXED. SUMMER OF 1998 AGAIN COLD AIR FROM A/C ONLY BLOWS OUT OF DEFROSTERS, HAD IT FIXED. SUMMER OF 1999 AGAIN COLD AIR FROM AC ONLY BLOWS OUT OF DEFROSTERS, AGAIN I HAD IT FIXED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE HEATER CORE BLEW OUT, AND THE CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER/LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE. *AK
RUBBING NOISE WHILE DRIVING--NOISE IS LOUDER WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO LEFT WHEN CHANGING LANES AND GOING AROUND CURVES. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHENEVER HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED ON ALL OTHER LIGHTS REMAIN OFF. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THAT CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL, ANY REPAIRS MADE WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FAILED, CAUSING TAIL LIGHTS/INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS TO GO OUT.HAD IT FIXED FOR $181.90 3/23/99 AS OF 7/2/99 DEALER SAYS HE HAS NO INFORMATION ON RECALL. *AK
THE MOTOR FROZE AFTER OVERHEATING. THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS THE HEATER HOSE RUBBED AGAINST AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE LOCATION NEAR THE FIREWALL. THERE IS NO SLEEVE ON THIS HOSE TO PROTECT IT AS OTHER HOSES ARE PROTECTED. OVER TIME IT HAD WORN A HOLE IN THE HOSE AND THE MARJORTY OF THE COOLENT LEAKED OUT AND THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING I COULD NOT TELL THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING. I NEVER SAW THE VEHICLE OVERHEAT AND IT BLEW THE MOTOR WHILE I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT I WANTED TO LET OTHER KNOW THERE IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD WITH THE MOTOR FREEZING UP AND OFCOURSE IT IS TOO LATE. MY MOTOR STARTED TO COUGH, THAT WAS THE ONLY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED ON AND OFF, AND VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT YET LOOKED AT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN SWITCH OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. THE CONNECTOR AND FAN SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP.
THE REAR POWER WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. THE MOULDING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOWS HAS BEEN LOOSE EVER SINCE THE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CARPETING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOSE/ HASN'T FIT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE BLOWER NO LONGER BLOWS THROUGH THE PANEL VENTS--ONLY THROUGH THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER VENTS. *AK
COMPRESSOR AND LINES BROKE, WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE; HAVE BEEN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES IN LAST TWO MONTHS.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK
TAIL LAMPS AND THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT INCLUDES THE SAME RECALL DESCRIPTION, INVOLVING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. . RECALL 93V103000 *AK
SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND OIL IS LEAKING. ALSO, KNOCKING SOUND IS BEING HEARD. OIL IS IN THE COOLANT, AND COMING OUT FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO A DEALER. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND MOUNT FAILED/BURNED UP/LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF/ON, NEEDED REPLACING, DASHBOARD COMPONENTS ALWAYS RUN HOT; FUEL DOOR LEVER INSIDE CAR DOESN'T WORK RELIABLY & DOOR STICKS; EGR HOSE FAILED, TOOK FORD 1.5 WEEKS TO GET ONE IN, NO GUIDELINES RE: THIS HOSE EVER NEEDING REPLACED, & IT COSTS $93??!?!
CONSUMER CAN'T GET INTO REAR DOOR DUE HANDLE BEING BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP THREE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEMS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, NOTICED SMELLS OF BURNING RUBBER, AND EXPERIENCED POWER FAILURE AT THE SAME TIME, CITY GARAGE #10 SAID THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD, CAUSING A SHORT REPAIRED THE WIRING AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR WITH A REBUILT ONE, A SERPENTINE BELT WAS ALSO REPLACED. *AK
PAPER GASKET IS CAUSING OIL LEAKS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW. MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED THE PAPER GASKET TO A METAL GASKET. *AK
PE98063, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO ON AND OFF. THIS MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED HEADLIGHTS, BUT PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. EADELR DID DETERMINE AN "ELECTRICAL PROBLEM". PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE LEFT FRONT AXLE BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND DAMAGED THE RIM OF IT. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT WAS JUST WORN OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE ENGINE RUMBLES WHEN IT IDLES. THE BRAKES GRIND ALL THE TIME, AND I HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT ROTOR 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE CARPET COMES OUT FROM UNDER THE REAR SEATS AN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
IN JUNE 1998 REPLACED BRAKE PADS, AND HAD ROTORS TURNED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AGAIN, INCLUDING ROTORS IN FEBRUARY 1999. TWO MONTHS LATER ROTORS AGAIN WARPED. IN JULY 1998 HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR. IN APRIL 1999 DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS QUIT WORKING - HAD HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED.
DEALER FINALLY REPLACED TIRES WITH MICHELIN X1 AND VIBRATION IS DOWN TO BARELY NOTICEABLE. WE FEEL THE TIRES ARE MASKING THE PROBLEM. FORD ADMITS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SISTER MODEL SOLD IN GERMANY, DOESN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT BUT THESE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TIRES SEEM TO HELP. THEY USE PIRELLI GOLD, MICHELLIN X1 IN GERMANY TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. THEY RULED OUT OTHER CAUSES SUCH AS SUSPENSION, ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCE, ETC. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT WILL CAUSE MAJOR FAILURE.
THIS IS OUR SECOND CAR WITH THIS MODEL OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION (CD4E) THAT HAS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE, THE FIRST WAS A 1995 MAZDA 626 VIN# [XXX]. THE MAJORITY OF THE DRIVING MILES ON BOTH VEHICLES WERE CONSIDERED HIGHWAY MILES AT A CRUISING SEED OF 55MPH OR GREATER, GENERALLY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE. ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WENT OUT EXCEPT THE HEADLAMPS. ALSO, FUSES BLEW OUT TOO OFTEN AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE TURN SIGNAL. MECHANIC REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL AND NOTICED THAT ALL OTHER WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DAMAGED. DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT IF THERE WAS NO EXTNDED WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THUS, THE SEATBACK ROCKS SLIGHTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE DURING CORNERING, AND FROM FRONT TO BACK DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON, AND CANNOT BE CURED. SPECIFICALLY, THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT CERTAIN 'RIVETS' OR METAL FLANGES IN THE SEAT TRACK STRETCH OVER TIME AND CAUSE THE LOOSE FEELING OF THE SEAT BACK. REPLACING THE SEAT RAILS DOES NO GOOD, AS THE NEW PARTS ARE OF THE SAME DESIGN, AND EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO FAIL LIKE THE OEM PARTS. THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE SEAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. HAVING THE SEATBACK DISLODGED DURING NORMAL DRIVING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHAT'S WORSE WOULD BE A SEATBACK FAILURE DURING AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY ALLOWING ME TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. MY ONLY RECOURSE IN THIS MATTER IS TO PURCHASE AFTERMARKET SEATS OF HIGHER QUALITY. SEATS FROM A MANUFACTURER SUCH AS RECARO OR CORBEAU COME WITH A SUBSTATIAL WARRANTY, AND ARE SURE TO BE MORE DURABLE AND SAFE THAN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. IN SUM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SAFETY-ORIENTED RECALL OF ALL FORD PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THIS SEATBACK MALFUNCTION. SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REDESIGN A MORE DURABLE, SAFE SEAT MECHANISM AND RETROFIT ALL EXISTING CARS. AN ADDITIONAL NOTE - I AM A MEMBER OF THE FORD CONTOUR ENTHUSIASTS GROUP, AS WELL AS A FORD CONTOUR MAILING LIST RECIPIENT. OF THE 505 PEOPLE ON THE MAILING LIST, MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME SEATBACK FAILURES. I ENCOURAG
SEAT TRACK PROBLEM: SEAT TRACK "POPS" AND MOVES DURING CORNERING, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS DRIVER'S POSITION AND STEERING; CAN CAUSE UNINTENTIONAL SWERVING WHILE CORNERING; SEAT TRACK HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND EACH REPLACEMENT HAS FAILED. FORD HAS NOT. *AK
TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO GRINDING AND SCRAPING, WAS ALSO REPLACED ONCE BY PREVIOUS OWNER.
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN A VERY MINOR COLLISION, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WE HAVE A INFANT/TODDLER CAR SEAT THAT CANNOT BE PUT IN THE REAR FACING POSITION BECAUSE THE BACK SEATS ARE TOO ANGELED BACK.WE ALSO CAN'T HAVE SEAT IN MIDDLE BECAUSE THEN MY 9 YR OLD HAS TO SIT AGAINST THE DOOR.I AM NOW FORCED TO FACE MY BABY FORWARD IN HIS CARSEAT.HELP! THE CUP HOLDES NEXT TO GEARSHIFT LEAK INTO THE SHIFT COLUM AND CAUSE THE GEARSHIFT TO STICK. BROOKDALE FORD SAID IT WOULD COST ME $100 TO CLEAN IT FOR ME.THEY OFFERED NO HELP, THE LEAST THAT SHOULD BE DONE IS TO FIX IT SO NOTHING MORE CAN LEAK THROUGH THE HOLDERS.
RECALL 98S26. FLOOR LEVER IS NOT CORRECTLY INDICATING IN WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. PLASTIC PIECE AROUND LEVER HAS CRACKED. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE BELT IS FAR TOO LONG TO BE USED WITH A CAR SEAT - WE HAD TO TIE IT IN A KNOT IN ORDER TO USE OUR CHILD SEAT!
WHEN PRESSING BRAKES IT VIBRATES AND MAKES NOISE. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH SAYS IT WILL BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM DUE TO THE TYPE OF BRAKE PADS THE VEHICLE USES.
THE WORST PROBLEM WAS THE WHEEL FALLING OFF WHILE IN OPERATION, WITH NO WARNING. THE AXIL, ROTOR, AND BALLJOINT WAS REPLACED. THE HEATING AND COOLING IS ALL MESSED UP. THE FAN WILL ONLY BLOW ON LOW, IT IS NIETHER HOT NOR COLD. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND PANEL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT'S NOT A FUSE
STEERING COLUMN BOLT SIEZED CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Ford Contour → · Every Contour year → · How the figures are calculated →