RoadVitals

1995 Ford Contour Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
891
Latest Jul 20, 2015
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.
104
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 20, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 891 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Ford Contour. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 891 · page 1 of 36

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. MA 10/2 UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10735079
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2013
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,140.

NHTSA ID
10547229
Incident
Sep 24, 2013
Mileage
158,140 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 14, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE, WHICH WAS ALSO PUNCTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10492924
Incident
Jan 12, 2013
Mileage
98,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2011
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

NHTSA ID
10419680
Incident
Mar 31, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON WHILE IN PARK WHEN A FUSE BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC THEN CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

NHTSA ID
10412276
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
97,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD WAS FRACTURING FROM THE PLASTIC COVERING AND THE WIRES WERE TOUCHING WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE WIRES SHORTENING OR CAUSING A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE WIRING WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10392780
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 2010
Fire reported

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND JUST FOUND OUT ALL ALONG THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT . THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT ERRATICALLY IT IS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THE WIRING HARNESS IS FRAYED IF I TOUCH ANY OF THE WIRES THE INSULATION JUST FALLS OFF WHAT HASN'T ALREADY FELL OFF. ENGINE DIES AND STALLS ALL THE TIME AND CAR IS UN DRIVABLE CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN AND RECALL ON WIRING HARNESS . BUT IS UNAVAILABLE NOW BUT I COULD BUY ONE FOR $1300.00 IT HAS CAUGHT SMALL FIRE DUE TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350646
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
198,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 23, 2010

THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS DEFECTIVE. THE PLASTIC COVERING THE WIRES IS CRACKED AND PEELING OFF IN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO OCCASIONALLY BRAKE FOR NO REASON AND TO KICK AND SPUTTER WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING. THE FORD DEALER ADMITS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY AN EXPERIMENTAL PLASTIC THAT WAS USED THAT YEAR BUT THE COMPLAINT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS SO WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MINOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE WIRING EVERY TIME THE CAR DIES DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. THE CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE MECHANICALLY AND THE BODY IS IN GREAT SHAPE ALSO. I AM WONDERING WHY NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE BECAUSE I HATE TO THINK OF HOW MANY OTHERS THERE ARE JUST LIKE ME WHO MAY HAVE TO JUNK A PERFECTLY GOOD CAR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR WIRING PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER CAR THAT THE WIRING WAS THE FIRST TO GO. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS AS WELL MAINTAINED AS THIS ONE IS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR SOLUTIONS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING IN AT THE PROBLEM TRYING TO HELP THE CONSUMERS AS I HAVE NOT SEEN IT MENTIONED ANYWHERE ELSE YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344893
Incident
Jun 15, 2010
Mileage
118,754 mi
Engine
Filed May 24, 2010

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND I NOTICED ITS BEEN SMOKING THE MECHANIC KEEPS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR THEY CANT DETECT A PROBLEM. I NOTICED THIS MODEL CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL RECALLS. COULD THIS USED CAR BE AFFECTED BY A FAULTY PART AND CAN I QUALIFY FOR A RECALL PART REPAIR IF THIS CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE PART? *TR

NHTSA ID
10331894
Incident
May 23, 2010
Steering
Filed Jan 8, 2010
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN OVER HEATING CONTINUOUSLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE BURNING SMELL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. AT TIMES, THE KEY WAS TOO HOT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83000 WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
10298706
Incident
Dec 3, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 2009

MY '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING, SMELLING HOT, WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HEATING UP TO THE POINT OF THE CAR KEY, IN THE IGNITION, GETTING TOO HOTTO HANDLE--FOR SOME TIME, NOW. FEARING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. HE SAID MY CAR, PER IT'S VIN NO., HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; SO HE DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. NOW, A WEEK AGO TODAY (12/3/09), AND A WEEK OR SO AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING 20-30 MPH, DOWN A CITY STREET IN MY SMALL TOWN, WHEN, SUDDENLY, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND; AND THE ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT! I TRIED TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHT ON; BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE STEERING WHEEL & STEERING COLUMN WERE VERY HOT. I TURNED THE KEY, IN THE IGNITION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON. INSTEAD, IT MADE ANOTHER POPPING SOUND; AND DIED COMPLETELY! SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE BATTERY WATER WAS BOILING OVER, SIZZLING, AND SMOKING. WHEN I CALLED MY INS. ROADSIDE ASSIST, AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. SO, I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THEY CAME AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY; AND NOTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS SMOKING. THEY PUSHED MY CAR TO A PARKING SPOT, FROM WHERE I HAD IT TOWED IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER MAN SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT; AND I LEFT IT THERE, IN THEIR PARKING LOT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR IT MIGHT START ON FIRE, SINCE I HAVE SEEN, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES!!! BEING CAUGHT IN A BURNING FIRE, WITH MY SEAT BELT ON, IS VERY SCARY TO ME! THE QUESTIONS, AT THE BOTTOM, RIGHT, OF MY SCREEN, ARE CUT OFF, SO I CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH: "WAS THERE...." "PROPERTY DA...." "WAS THERE A..." "REPORTED TO...." I'M SORRY,I HAVE NO WAY OF ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS, HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295308
Incident
Dec 3, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 2009

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR WHICH HAS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT LED TO VEHICLE PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT A RECALL (99M03) WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY WIRES. MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. WHY WERE NOT ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS DEFECT RECALLED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10293348
Incident
Nov 10, 2008
Mileage
112,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2009

I TOOK MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR IN TO MY LOCAL PERRY LINCOLN FORD DEALER, ON HITCHCOCK ST., IN SANTA BARBARA, CA--TODAY (10/12/09. I STATED TO THE REPAIRMAN THAT I NOTICED, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOURS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES. I TOLD HIM THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, EVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OF 3 MILES TO WORK, EVERY DAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS SO HOT, THAT MY KEY IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE!! THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL COMPONENT, THAT INCLUDES THE IGNITION SWITCH, GETS HOT. THE REPAIRMAN, AT FORD, TOOK MY VIN NO.; AND RESEARCHED MY CAR, ON HIS FORD COMPUTER; AND MY VIN NO. DID NOT SHOW A RECALL. I TOLD HIM, I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS FOR ALL 1995 FORD CONTOURS, NOT JUST SOME. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FIRE TO START, IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT? I AM A WORKING REGISTERED NURSE; AND WOULD RATHER PREVENT A FIRE THAN WAIT FOR ONE TO BURN MY FACE AND BODY; AND DESTROY MY ENTIRE CAR. THE FORD REPAIRMAN DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. HE JUST SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR CAR!!! WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM INJURY AND HARM, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY IGNITION SWITCH, CAR KEY--AND ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL DEVICE OVERHEATS? ALL YOUR 4 QUESTIONS, BELOW AND TO THE RIGHT OF THIS BOX ARE CUT OFF EXCEPT FOR THE "APPROX. INCIDENT DATE!!"! YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO CHOOSE "IGNITION SWITCH" FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10287143
Incident
Oct 12, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN 2004. FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAN MOTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MELT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,109. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10274718
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
58,109 mi
Electrical
Filed May 14, 2009

THIS WAS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION" OR A FORD RECALL (NOT ORDERED BY THE FED GOV.) NUMBER 99M03, WHEREIN FORD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS ON 1995 FORD CONTOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS EXPIRED AND WISH TO HAVE FORD STAND BY THEIR WARRANTY AND COMPLETE THIS TASK UNDER THE WARRANTY/RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268710
Incident
May 14, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 2009

ITS 1995 FORD CONTOUR ALL WIRING UNDER HOOD HAS INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALL THE WAY TO HOT CABLES AT POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX. CHECKED SEVERAL CARS AT WRECKING YARD FOR GOOD HARNESS ALL WERE THE SAME CAR DOESN'T RUN NOW WIRES GOING TO CRANK SENSOR SHORTED OUT CAR HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254476
Incident
Dec 10, 2008
Mileage
57,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT MAINTAINED THE SAME SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, IN WHICH THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT HAVE REPAIRED. THE RECALL DATE HAS CURRENTLY EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10253579
Incident
Dec 24, 2008
Mileage
95,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 13, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FILLER PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V203000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10248678
Incident
Sep 9, 2008
Mileage
37,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2008

TURN CAR ON WHEN CAR REACHES TO NORMAL TEMP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STALLS MOST OF THE TIME AT A COMPLETE STOP SHUT ENGINE OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF TILL RUN FOR A MIN WHEN ENGINE IS CALLED LIGHT STAYS OFF TILL ENGINE IS WARM AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10248064
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2008

LTR FROM REGARDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN HIS 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS WAS BRITTLE AND THE INSULATION COATING WAS PEELING OFF EXPOSING THE WIRE HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10241528
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Transmission
Filed Sep 8, 2008

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR MOUNTED ON MY FLOOR CONSOLE HAS DISINTEGRATED OVER TIME, AND NO LONGER EXISTS. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED PREVIOUSLY, AND IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE, POOR QUALITY, PLASTIC MATERIAL THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR IS MADE OF. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT ONE CANNOT DETERMINE WHICH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING IN, AND CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR ENGINE, AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN AUTO ACCIDENT, OR FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN A RECOGNIZED DEFECT FAILURE AND WAS REPORTED AS A SAFETY RECALL AS EARLY AS 1998. HOWEVER UPON CONTACT WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALSO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, THEY DENY THAT MY 1995 CONTOUR IS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 1995 CONTOUR VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON THIS DENIAL OF SAFETY RECALL APPLICATION BY OTHER 1995 FORD CONTOUR OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT SAME LACK OF SUPPORT THROUGH THE FORD MOTOR CO REPRESENTATIVES. THIS MATERIAL DEFECT IS A GENERIC PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL 1995 CONTOURS, HOWEVER THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES DENY THAT MY VIN IS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241345
Incident
Sep 5, 2008
Mileage
36,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 24, 2008

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE ONE EVENING AS IT WAS GETTING DARK I NOTICED THAT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DARK. I ASKED MY BOYFRIEND TO GET OUT AND CHECK IF I HAD TAIL LIGHTS (REMEMBERING MY SISTER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN I WAS LITTLE) INDEED I DIDN'T HAVE TAIL LIGHTS OR DASH LIGHTS AND WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO JUST HAVE PARKING LIGHTS ON THEY DIDN'T WORK EITHER. HOWEVER I STILL HAD TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. WE TESTED FUSES AND CONSULTED A PARTS STORE WITH THE PROBLEM, FINALLY MY BOYFRIEND TOOK APART THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHERE HE FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PARTIALLY MELTED.....HE TRIED TO BEND THE LITTLE PRONGS BACK SO THEY WOULD MAKE CONNECTION WITH THE SWITCH AGAIN AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AND NOW MY LIGHTS WORK. I AM HOWEVER ORDERING NEW PARTS FOR MY CAR AND THE SALES MAN SAID THAT IT WAS ODD TO HAVE A PROBLEM THERE SINCE IT WAS A LOW HEAT AREA AND SUGGESTED LOOKING ON NHTSA FOR RECALLS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239521
Incident
Aug 2, 2008
Mileage
123,945 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 23, 2008
Fire reported

MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FAN AND WIRING HARNESS BURNED UP. HOWEVER THEY REPLACED ONLY THAT PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH ENGINE COOLING FANS, THE REST OF THE UNDERHOOD WIRING IS FAILING DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSING THE INSULATION TO BREAK DOWN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR TO THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR BECAUSE IT HAS TURNED INTO A SOFT GELATIN LIKE SUBSTANCE CAUSING SHORTS. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE FANS CAUGHT ON FIRE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A SHORTER MAYBE AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE ENGINE WIRING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON AT TIMES BUT IT SETS NO TROUBLE CODES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235577
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jun 26, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FUEL INJECTION FAILURE, RESULTING FROM INSTALLATION PARTICLES BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND REALIZED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). FORD STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10232395
Incident
Jun 13, 2008
Mileage
150,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 20, 2008

I HAD BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR FAIL (LEFT SPRING BROKE INTO TWO PIECES, THE RIGHT INTO THREE). RESULTED IN CAR DRIFTING BACK AND FORTH. NO RESPONSE FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228270
Incident
May 5, 2008
Mileage
137,000 mi

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