1995 Ford Contour Fuel system Problems

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

MY 95 CONTOUR STARTED FOR TWO SECONDS, THEN DIED. IT WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP QUIT. I ONLY HAD THE CAR TWO DAYS FROM PURCHASE, SO I CHECKED ONLINE FOR SERVICE ISSUES, RECALLS, ETC., AND FOUND OUT ALL THE VARIOUS FUEL, ELECTRICAL, EMISSION AND OTHER PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE HAS, MY BIGGEST CONCERN BEING THAT IT COULD CATCH FIRE(I DO HAVE A FAMILY TO DRIVE AROUND), I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE UNCOOPERATIVE COMING FROM THE DEALERSHIPS CONCERNING ALL THIS, I AM VERY LOW-INCOME, I SPENT $1000.00 FOR THIS CAR THINKING IT WAS A GOOD DEPENDABLE CAR, AND NOW FIND MYSELF WONDERING HOW I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD ALL THE REPAIRS ON MY SINGLE INCOME, FORD, SHAME ON YOU!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10183066

Incident

Feb 19, 2007

Mileage

120,088 mi

GASOLINE LEAK WHERE FILLER PIPE MEETS GAS TANK . EXCESSIVE LEAKING OF GASOLINE WHICH CAN LEAD TO A FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155228

Incident

Mar 14, 2006

DT: CONTACT STATES THE WIRING HARNESS IS CRACKING , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, GASOLINE FUMES FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR IS COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN WASHING THE VEHICLE IT GETS WATER INTO THE COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122232

Incident

Apr 15, 2005

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 95V232000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK. AFTER HAVING THE FUEL TANK REPLACED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID

10095282

Incident

Nov 11, 1996

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

ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT FIRE IN 1999 - CAR UNDER WARRANTY AND REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. 2 MORE ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS IN 1999 THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN 2002 THE ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT, OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WERE REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP DUE TO LEAKAGE. IN JUNE 2003 CAR OVERHEATING, THE COOLING FAN CONNECTION HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. IN JULY 2003 CAR OVERHEATING, CHECKED BY MECHANIC WHO NOTED THAT THERE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, RECOMMENDED DEALERSHIP REPAIR DUE TO COST. ON DAY ONE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED COST OF WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT $380.00. DAY TWO DEALERSHIP CALLS - HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND FAN BELT WORN BILL NOW $1100.00. DAY THREE DEALERSHIP CALLS - ONE OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ANOTHER PART NEEDS REPLACING AN ADDITIONAL $300-400.00. TOTAL BILL $1600.00. *JB

NHTSA ID

10028542

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

88,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THE DEFECT WITH ITS FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AS STATED IN RECALL 94 V 203 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026737

Incident

Jul 8, 2003

Mileage

127,777 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026297

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

THE VEHICLES GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL WAS SEEPING FROM THE WELD AT THE FILLER PIPE OPENING. RELATED RECALLS 94V203000, 95V228000 AND 94V184000, CONSUMER'S V.I.N. IS NOT INCLUDED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019935

Mileage

46,000 mi

GAS TANK LEVER INSIDE THE CAR DOES NOT OPERATE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014242

Incident

Jun 9, 2000

I HAVE A FORD CONTOUR 1995 MANUFACTURED IN 12/94 I HAVE SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAR. THERE ARE SOME RECALLS OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. BUT THERE ARE NOT LIST FOR MY CONTOUR VIN # BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE ROBINS FORD DELERSHIP IN GLENOLDEN,PA FOR NOT STARTING. AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A WIRING HARNESS DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT MY SPARK PLUGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE IS OUT DATED AND FOR HAVE BEEN REPLACING THEM WITH UPDATED WIRES. BUT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR MY VIN# BUT IT IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THIS CAR. I ALSO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS THAT HAVE JUST STARTED THAT FORD HAVE RECALLS ON BUT AGAIN NOT MY SO CALLED VIN#. MY SEAT BELTS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN BREAKING OFF AT THE CONNECTION TAB AS WELL AS MY DEFROSTER NOT WORKING. BOTH HAVE RECALLS ON THEM. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER RECALLS THEY HAVE OPEN ON THIS CAR THAT ARE SAFTY HASZERDS ONE FOR WHICH IS A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FILLER THAT CAN CAUSE A FLASH FIRE AND A FUEL TANK LEAKAGE THAT CAN CAUSE A FIRE THEY ALSO HAVE A RECALL FOR THEIR AIR BAGS. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT MAKES ME VERY CONCERED ABOUT THEIR SAFTY IN THIS CAR. AND THE LACK OF CONCERN BY THEIR FORD MANUFACTURER. HOW CAN I GET THIS THINGS FIX SO THEIR WILL BE NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

10004889

Incident

Jan 27, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICE GAS TANK VENT TUBE BROKE CAUSING A GAS LEAK. REPLACED A YEAR LATER PROBLEM RECCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004508

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO FORD DEALER REGARDING RECALLS. DEALER REPAIRED 2 RECALLS BUT STATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX REMAINING BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS DRIVEN VEHICLE 105K MILES SINCE PURCHASE. CONSUMER STATES THE FOLLOWING RECALL REMEDIES WERE REFUSED 95V232000, 94V203000 AND 94V184000. TS

NHTSA ID

10001371

Incident

Dec 13, 2002

OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SOME MINOR WORK. SHE WAS TOLD THAT FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AT FILLER NECK. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF NHTSA RECALL 95V232000. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8016450

FUEL IS LEAKING AT WELD OF FUEL FILLER NECK, THERE IS RECALL 95V232000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS IS AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8012000

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHEN TRYING TO THE FILL VEHICLE WITH GAS FUEL WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, AND CONSUMER CANNOT FILL TANK IN THE USUAL TIME IT WOULD TAKE A PERSON. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO STAND THERE AND CONTINUE TO PUSH NOZZLE OVER AND OVER BEFORE FILLING UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010211

Incident

Jan 1, 1995

THE FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED; THE INSULATION IS CRACKING OFF OF THE WIRES. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT FORD USED WIRE WITH THE WRONG INSULATION; THE PVC INSULATED WIRE THAT FORD USED CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT THE INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE AND STARTS CRACKING, FLAKING OFF WHEN THE WIRE IS FLEXED. THIS LEAVES BARE WIRE UNDER THE HOOD. MY CONCERN IS THAT A SHORT IN THIS HARNESS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. I BELIEVE ALL 95-97 FORD CONTOUR/MECURY MYSTIQUE CARS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, EVEN IF THEY DON'T CURRENTLY SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

760443

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGINE WAS HOT, DEALER FOUND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AT WATER PUMP HAD A PINHOLE LEAK, ENGINE COOLING FAN WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT AT FAN RELAY AND FAN CONNECTORS, THEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01I009 AND HAD THESE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, ENGINE AND IN-DASH WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED, DEALER INSTALLED RECALL PARTS FOR BLOWER MOTOR AGAIN, CONSUMER LATER INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED DUE TO NO COMPRESSION DUE TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE. THIS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE. HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT LENSES REPLACED. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, SHIFT LEVER INTERNAL SLIDING BEZEL HAD A STRESS CRACK, AT TIMES IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS COLD. A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR AND WAS NOISY. FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT TIMES. SPEEDOMETER CABLE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A TICKING NOISE. *JB

NHTSA ID

8002848

Incident

Dec 30, 2001

WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE FILLER NECK WILL ONLY ACCEPT EIGHT GALLONS OF GASOLINE. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002370

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK *JG

NHTSA ID

8000897

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

A FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, STRONGEST ODORS ARE IN REAR SEATING POSITIONS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL 95V23200 REPAIRS FOR FUEL FILLER NECK WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO HIS OWNERSHIP, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

899051

Incident

Nov 12, 2001

CONSUMER WAS SMELLING GASOLINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL HOSE HAD A HOLE INSIDE OF FUEL LINE, CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ENCLOSED INFORMATION ON RECALL 94S97 REGARDING THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY LEAK FUEL, CONSUMER HAD REPAIR WORK DONE BEFORE LEARNING ABOUT RECALL. *TT

NHTSA ID

898379

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

MY SON GIRL FRIEND HAS A CONTOUR 95 SAME AS MINE. IT DID THE SAME THING AND A DEALER TOLD HER ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU SPILL GAS ALL OVER THE THE SERVICE STATION PUMP AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATER, JAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

753434

Incident

Oct 18, 2001

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