1995 Ford Contour Brakes Problems

MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY FOR MANY YEARS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET ALLOWED ME TO FIND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. IT APPEARS TO NOT BE SPECIFIC TO ANY ONE MODEL YEAR. MY VEHICLE IS A 1995, BUT I HAVE SEEN INTERNET QUERIES FOR MANY OTHER NEWER VEHICLES. WHAT IS IN COMMON IS THAT THE ABS SYSTEM ON THE FORD CONTOUR IS FAULTY CAUSING ONE TO HAVE TO SPEND $4,000 TO GET IT REPAIRED, OR DRIVE WITH LESS AFFECTIVE BRAKES. HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY OTHER QUERIES ABOUT THE FORD CONTOUR ABS FAILURE?*AK

NHTSA ID

10066284

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

I'M A HEARING IMPAIRED DRIVER/OWNER OF FORD '95 CONTOUR GL (LOW-INCOMER, AVERAGE $21,000 A YEAR). I'VE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997 FROM A MINNEAPOLIS-AREA FORD DEALERSHIP (QUALITY AUTO DEALERSHIP IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA). AT THE TIME, I HAD LESS THAN $10,000 TO PAY FOR A RECENT USED CAR(ONE THAT IS WITHIN 2-3 YEARS AFTER IT CAME ON THE MARKET). I TRIED OUT FEW CARS AND THE WHITE 1995 FORD CONTOUR GL. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT '95 FORD CONTOUR GL WAS A GOOD BUY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. I WAS WILLING TO TRADE UP MY OLD CAR TO REDUCE THE PRICE BUT IT WAS STILL TOO HIGH FOR ME SINCE IT DIDN'T INCLUDED OTHER FEES LIKE THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION LICENSE. AFTER A SHORT, PERSUASIVE NEGOTIATION, I GOT THE DEALER TO AGREE TO MARK DOWN TO $9995 AND I ACCEPTED THAT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR. AFTER A FEW DAYS, I WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH IT, SO I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LATER TOLD ME THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS STUNNED BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE. IT TOOK ME A WEEK TO GET MY CAR BACK. EVERYTHING WENT FAIRLY FINE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS. IN 1999, THE AIR-CONDITIONER IN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING AND IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AT THE TIME. I MOVED TO COLUMBUS, OH IN JAN. 2000. FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS, THAT CAR HAS BECOME A TROUBLE FOR ME. ONE REPAIR AFTER THE NEXT. THE BIGGEST REPAIR COST I'VE PAID OUT WAS $2060.43 TO REPLACE A FLYWHEEL. I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR BY TAKING IT TO JIFFY LUBE FOR OIL/CHECK-UPS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS FAITHFULLY AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. RIGHT NOW, IT IS AT ANOTHER FORD SERVICE BECAUSE THERE MAY BE DEFECTED WIRING COILS IN MY CAR (A DEALER RECALL THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF). I HAVE KEPT ALL THE SERVICE MAINTENANCE PAPERS IN FILE FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND SERVICES ON MY CAR. I WANTED A NEW CAR AND I'M NOT VERY HAPPY. I'M TIRED OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10069714

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009248

Incident

Feb 23, 2003

CONSUMER SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSED ON THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009173

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRE ARE BURNED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DASHBOARD DAMAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023139

Incident

Nov 20, 2002

ENGINE/ BRAKES/ STARTER /CATALYTIC CONVERTER/ FUEL PUMP AND FUSE FAILED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, AND RADIATOR WENT OUT ALSO. *AK

NHTSA ID

894285

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

WITH 3 TO 4 CAR LENGTHS IN OPTIMAL DRY DAYLIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS THE CAR FAILED TO STOP AT A CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH, THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

745701

Incident

May 17, 2001

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99MO3. VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING POOR TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ON CONSTANTLY. DEALER SAID WIRING HARNESS COULD CAUSE IT NOT TO WORK. DEALER WON'T DO RECALL BECAUSE TITLE WAS BRANDED. DEALER WAS WOOD HOUSE FORD IN BLAIR NE. PHONE NO. 402-926-4126. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

886114

Incident

Apr 16, 2001

CONSUMER WAS SMELLING SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE , STARTER/ BRAKES AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

885495

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

WHEN IT RAINS IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE CAR, FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS LOCKING UP, IN ORDER TO DRIVE CONSUMER HAS TO PUT IN TRACKING CONTROL WHEN IT IS ON THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, VEHICLE HAD 6 CODES IN SYSTEM ALL HAD TO BE CLEARED TO VERIFY PROBLEM, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

560725

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

DESIGN FLAW IN ENGINE IS CAUSING A VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL ,GEAR SHIFT AND DOWN IN BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAS BECOME WORSE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JERKS AND PULSATES WHILE BRAKING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884648

EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE WHILE VEHICLE WAS COLD. AFTER VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP, WOULD RELEASE EMERGENCY BRAKES. REAR DISC BRAKES WOULD STICK AFTER BEING RELEASED. WATER WAS GETTING INTO CABLES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP,AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC A NEW CALIPER, WHICH WAS REDESIGNED, WOULD BE NEEDED ALONG WITH BRAKE CABLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

884020

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 34MPH WHEN BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT UP AND DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

881809

Incident

Feb 14, 2001

SERPENTINE BELT NOISY, IDLER PULLEY FLAT WITH FLAT SPOT AND TENSIONER NOT TIGHT. NLM

NHTSA ID

558904

Incident

Jan 22, 1998

GAS SENSOR FAILED EARLY ON, HAD IT FIXED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED, HAD THAT FIXED. NOW BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN, ONE FRONT BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH FRONT STABILISER BAR. CONTACTED FORD THIS MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR "VERIFICATION PURPOSES" UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE POSES A DANGER DUE TO A LOOSE SPRING IN THE BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY "GROSSE POINTE AUTOWORKS" LOCATED 1/2 BLOCK OFF MY HOUSE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. DEALERSHIPS ARE CA 9+ MILES AWAY AND HAVE NEVER BEEN CONSUMER FRIENDLY WHEN I HAVE CONTACTED THEM. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO RECOURSE REGARDING THE IRRESPONSIVE FORD MOTOR CO.

NHTSA ID

733673

Incident

Oct 7, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER HOSE IS ROUTED AGAINST THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE, CAUSING IT TO GET HOT AND BURN A HOLE THROUGH THE BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

868013

Incident

Jul 24, 2000

I HVAE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR 8 MONTHS AGO, STARTING WITH ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A MISSING VACUUM CAP. NEXT, I ENCOUNTERED A DRIVE BELT THAT WAS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING, IT WAS SEVERLY CRACKED. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE STICKING CAUSING MAJOR VEERING WHEN STOPPING AT SPEEDS OVER 40, AND THIS ALSO RESULTED IN WARPING MY ROTORS. ALSO, FOR THE FIRST 7 MONTHS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY, BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF FUEL INJECTOR CLEANERS, IT WAS MUCH BETTER. THEN, ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, THE CAR'S IDLE WORSENED, ITS POWER DECREASED,AT A STOP, THE CAR WOULD START HAVING A CONVULSION LIKE FEEL AND SOUND, FROM A STOP, IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE UNTIL A CLICK IN THE ENGINE COULD BE HEARD. THEN THE ACCELERATION WAS VERY LURCHING AND SPUTTERY. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. THE MECHANICS SENT ME TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THE SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. $400 LATER, MY AIR MASS SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR SEEMED TO DO MUCH BETTER. HOWEVER, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON THE ENTIRE DURATION OF DRIVING, AND THE CAR HAS CONTINUED ITS LURCHING ACCELERATION AND CONVULSION LIKE PROBLEM. THE UNPREDICTABLENESS IN MY CAR HAS MADE ME SOMEWHAT FEARFUL TO DRIVE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT, AND IF I CAN AFFORD TO FIX IT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW MY BUYER'S RIGHTS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY RESOLUTION TO BE HAD..

NHTSA ID

727789

Incident

Aug 4, 2000

TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY SAID CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER , TOTALLING $1200. CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED, AND THERE IS STILL NO TRACTION CONTROL OR ABS BRAKES. CURRENTLY, DEALER INDICATED THAT CONSUMER NEEDED WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO COMPUTER. A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS THAT WATER GETS IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND SHORTS OUT THE COMPUTER. ALSO,CONSUMER SAID IF BRAKING IN SKID CAR WOULD KEEP GOING. *AK

NHTSA ID

859448

Incident

Sep 30, 1999

HAD TO REPLACED BRAKES. HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED,INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN LEFT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT (REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE 1996) STEERING WHEEL BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHEN SITTING WITH CAR RUNNING AND IN GEAR MUST PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN GEAR, SO AS TO NOT GET VIBRATED TO DEATH, MECH-NOT ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, JUST THE WAY CAR IS BUILT.

NHTSA ID

719709

FAILURE OF DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSED POWER ASSIST FAILURE IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SITUATION. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND STOPPED CAR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID COLLISION DUE TO DRASTIC REDUCTION IN BRAKING. DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS RECENTLY. GASKET IS UNAVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT FOR OVER 2 WEEKS BECAUSE IT IS BEING REDESIGNED. CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED NOT TO TAKE IN PERSONAL THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DEFECT IS THAT IT IS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT NOTICE. CAR RAN ROUGH FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT GAVE NO INDICATION OF POTENTIAL BRAKE FAILURE UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST TOO LATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

717959

Incident

Jan 20, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

713650

POSSIBLE DEFECT IN BRAKE DESIGN RESULTING IN REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES WITH MULTIPLE ROTOR, CALIPER, AND PAD REPLACEMENTS. *YC

NHTSA ID

548198

Incident

Jul 26, 1999

SPEEDOMETER CABLE BROKE, EMERGENCY BRAKE FROZE UP. MJS

NHTSA ID

548088

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT REALLY HARD, AND I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. I ADDED FLUID AND THE PROBLEM LESSENED, BUT WAS STILL THERE. ALSO THERE WAS A STRANGE HIGH PITCHED SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AS IT TURNED OUT, WE HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AS WELL. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER FIXING THE BRAKES (APX $600) THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION, SO I PAID FOR THE BRAKES AND LEFT. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND DESTROYED ITSELF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSEST PLACE WHICH WAS AAMCO RESULTING IN A $2,500 BILL AND A CAR THAT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. *AK

NHTSA ID

708806

Incident

Jul 11, 1999

THE BREK EPADS AND DISCS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. HAD TO REPLACE THEM EVERY 10K MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

708037

Incident

Sep 30, 1997