RoadVitals

1994 Ford Contour

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 3, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Contour, most frequently naming the electrical, steering and transmission categories. 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical323.1%
  • Steering215.4%
  • Transmission215.4%
  • Fuel system17.7%
  • Interior & seats17.7%
  • Body & structure17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%
  • Heating & air conditioning17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 2003

DASHBOARD HAS STARTED PEALING UP FROM WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022203
Steering
Filed May 14, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE TIE ROD SNAPPED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019788
Incident
May 6, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 18, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING IN THOUGH THE VENT LOCATE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012046
Incident
Mar 18, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Apr 27, 2001

FUEL INJECTION/O-RINGS ARE LEAKING FUEL FROM FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
886992
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 13, 2001

ENGINE OVERHEATED/ BURNED UP AND FAN NEVER CAME ON. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 00S/00M13 CONCERNING ENGINE COOLING FAN.*AK THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY $4922.90 FOR ENGINE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE COOLING FAN WHICH CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS ON RECALL AND REPAIR EXPENSE SHOULD BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURER. FURTHER MORE, IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLING FANS FAILURE WAS IT SELF CAUSED BY A BLOWN UP FUSE. *YH

NHTSA ID
885861
Incident
Mar 5, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 2000

TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND GEARS WERE STUCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
860755
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Sep 24, 1999

THE EVAPORTOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE COMPRESSOR IS NOW FREEZING UP. THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. CONSUMER IS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. MJS

NHTSA ID
848684
Incident
Jun 11, 1995
Steering
Filed Sep 20, 1999

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN STERRING WHEEL WOULD DELAY RETURN FOR NORMAL DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
848039

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

00182

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT NO FORWARD GEAR RANGES DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE FORWARD / COAST CLUTCH CYLINDER SNAP RING WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *JB

5892

SUBJECT REGARDING TECHINICAL HOTLINE ASSISTANCE FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES WITH GFI ALTERNATE FUEL SYSTEMS. *TT

12556

SUBJECT REGARDING TECHNICAL HOTLINE ASSISTANCE FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT

BC3204970214

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HARSH SHIFTS AND/OR HARSH ENGAGEMENT ACCOMPANIED BY DTC'S 628 OR P0741. *TW

BC0784961014

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WELD CONNECTION CONCERN W/ THE FORWARD/DIRECT/COAST CLUTCH CYLINDER & HUB ASSY. *TT

BC9640961001

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

CONCERN OF ONE OR MORE INJECTORS STAYING ON AT TIMES.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Contour by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001400—
20001997154.0
19994195258.9
199884612763.0
19972188461.4
199656311562.8
199589112765.4
1994Viewing120026.0
1993300—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.