1995 Ford Contour Electrical Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FORD'S CONTOUR AND ITS SISTER CAR THE MERCURY MYSTIQUE HAVE DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESSES. THE WIRE SHIELDS CRACK CAUSING SHORTS, WHICH LEAD TO MECHANICAL BREAK DOWNS AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES. FORD ISSUED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM #99M03, WHICH ADMITS TO THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDS COVERAGE TO NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALS BUT LIMITS THE TERM OF COVERAGE. WIRE HARNESSES ARE NOT A NORMAL WEAR COMPONENT AND SHOULD NOT FALL APART FOR NO REASON. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. FORD HAS EXPRESSED NO INTEREST IN HELPING NOTIFY CONSUMERS. FURTHER, FORD'S DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE REPLACEMENT HARNESSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225174

Incident

Mar 31, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

UNDER HOOD WIRING HARNESS GOT HOT AND MELTED THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRES,CAUSING SMOKE AND BURNT SMELL OF PLASTIC AND ON SOME OF THE SENSORS THAT CONTROL THE ENGINE,RESULTING IN HIGH ENGINE SPEED,LACK OF STOPPING POWER AND STEERING,I PARKED THE CAR AT HOME AND NOW WILL NOT START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211038

Incident

Nov 20, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SHE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONTATANTLY SKIPPING GEARS, AND DOWNSHIFTS WHEN IT SHOULD CHANGE GEARS. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON BOTH OF THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE FAILING ON HER VEHICLE. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRASMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT-98V233000, AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLES-97V225000. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CURRENT OR FAILURE MILEAGE BECAUSE THE ODOMETER IS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10198766

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES, WITH INTERMITTENT ROUGH SHIFTING AND INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT MYSTERIOUSLY STARTED TO RUN FINE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ONE MORNING I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE FOR AN APPOINTMENT. UPON RETURNING AND STARTING THE CAR I NOTICED SMOKE EXITING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED OF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND I COULD STILL SEE SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT-REAR PART OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED, INCLUDING PARK/BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK, HEATER FAN, BACKUP LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL FLASHERS. FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES HAVE RESUMED. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED SEVERAL WIRES HAD CRACKING INSULATION, AND SOME EVEN HAD BARE WIRE EXPOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10195519

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

141,720 mi

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND I PAID OVER $16,000.00 FOR IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I GOT THIS CAR. I HAVE 50,888 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND WORKED ON 4 TIMES. WATER PUMP WENT OUT, AIR WENT OUT ALL WIRING COVERS HAS CRUMBLED OFF LEAVING EXPOSED WIRES TO START A FIRE AND MUCH MORE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE I WAS A CHILD AND DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. I WANT SOMETHING DONE TO MY SATISFACTION. I KNOW THEY QUIT MAKING THE 1995 FORD CONTOUR BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. I AM NOW TOLD THEY CAN'T GET PARTS TO FIX THE CAR AND I CAN'T TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER ONE. I AM A FEMALE AND I AM TIRED OF THE TREATMENT I'M RECEIVING FROM FORD. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL AGENCYS CONCERNING MY PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188182

Incident

Jun 15, 1997

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ON THE 1995 FORD CONTOUR'S ENGINE BECAME BRITTLE AND CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FORD RECALL NUMBER 99M03 WHICH STATED THAT THE REASON FOR THIS WAS DUE TO HEAT AND MOISTURE. THE CONTACT STATED MOST OF THE INSULATION HAS FALLEN OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 18,8000 MILES. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR

NHTSA ID

10183669

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

Mileage

188,000 mi

WIRING ON 95 FORD CONTOUR, WE DID A VALVE JOB TO THIS CAR AND AT THIS TIME WE NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A MESS THE COATING WAS COMING OFF THE WIRES, WHAT COATING THAT IS THERE IS DRY AND BRITTLE EXPOSING THE WIRES, THE BARE WIRES TOUCHING AT PLACES, WENT AND GOT ONE FROM THE RECYCLE PARTS YARD AND IT WAS THE SAME WAY NOW WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD ONE TO PUT BACK ON THE CAR A NEW ONE IS SO EXPENSIVE I BELIEVE I WAS QUOTED AROUND $1300.00 . *NM

NHTSA ID

10169703

Incident

Jul 22, 2006

Mileage

136,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR A NORMAL TUNE UP; IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO GO TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DETERIORATED ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WERE DISCONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND PROVIDED A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO A PARTS STORE. THE STORE DID NOT CARRY THE PARTS EITHER. THE JUNK YARD WAS ALSO CHECKED FOR AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PARTS AT THE JUNK YARD WERE IN A WORST CONDITION THAN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10169413

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER 1995 CONTOUR DIED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD WIRING PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10171177

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

FORD "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM" 99M03 DESCRIBES, AND OFFERS TO FIX FOR FREE, A PROBLEM IN WHICH ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ROTS DUE TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. PROGRAM INVOLVES A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS BEYOND ORIGINAL WARRANTY, OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM VARY WIDELY. IN MY CASE, THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WHILE THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF ON A SIDE ROAD, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM, FORD ISSUED 99M03, WHICH THEY CALL AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM". THE PROBLEM IS THAT, ACCORDING TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AND ACCORDING TO THE PERSONNEL AT MY LOCAL DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED UNLESS THEY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SOMETHING THAT TURNED OUT TO BE CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL SO THAT ALL OWNERS ARE AWARE OF THE RISKS AND ARE ABLE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151602

Incident

Feb 8, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

CAR CUTS OFF WHEN YOU TURN THE LIGHTS ON OR PRESS THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10148487

Incident

Dec 18, 2005

Mileage

129,000 mi

I OWN A 1995 FORD CONTOUR GL THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW. I RECENTLY OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION IS BRITTLE AND FALLING APART AND EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF TWO OF THE EXPOSED WIRES TOUCH AND CREATE A SPARK. I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO TOLD ME THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETIN WAS SEND OUT IN 1999. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN. THE BULLETIN EXPIRES AT 100,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS AFTER WARRANTY. THE WIRING IS MADE SO THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES A CERTAIN AGE, THE PLASTIC WILL FALL OFF AND THE METAL WIRES CAN BE RECYCLED. THE CARS ARE KNOWN TO MECHANICS AT FORDS DEALERSHIPS AS THROWAWAY CARS AFTER TEN YEARS, BECAUSE OF THE BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148090

Incident

Dec 16, 2005

Mileage

119,000 mi