1995 Ford Contour Powertrain (other) Problems

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT GROANING AND CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HUB WAS PUNCHING OUT THE SEALED BEARINGS. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE AXLE SHAFT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ID

10167235

Incident

Aug 25, 2006

Mileage

166,900 mi

THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR (OD TRANSMISSION) AND THE VEHICLE "BANGS AND SPUDDERS". ADDITIONAL, THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE HAS ALWAYS RUN HOT AND YET THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FIND- MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS GOING TO BECOME MORE COSTLY. CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION- I DO LIVE IN MARYLAND AND AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION THAT HAS THE VEHICLE PUT ON A DEVICE THAT TAKES THE VEHICLE TO HIGH SPEEDS!

NHTSA ID

10070793

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

84,000 mi

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 VEHICLES SHIFT INDICATOR WAS NOT VISIBLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019910

Incident

May 12, 2003

Mileage

142,310 mi

THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE BELL HOUSING IS WEAKLY MADE, POSSIBLY FRACTURES CAN OCCUR IN THE ALUMINUM. IT WILL BREAK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BELL HOUSING IN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE BROKE AND CAUSED A DOMINO EFFECT OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10000047

Incident

Aug 18, 2002

Mileage

95,400 mi

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

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A NOISE AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOWEVER NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY, DEALER STATED NOISE WAS DUE TO PULLEY THAT HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, RECALL 00V367, REGARDING THE FAN MOTOR, CAUSED THE PULLEY TO RUST AND CORRODE, THEREFORE CAUSING THE NOISE, VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT, CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

563680

Incident

Mar 22, 2001

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATED WILDLY, THEN IT REGISTERED ZERO. TEN SECONDS LATER THE CAR'S DRIVEABLITY WENT DOWN DUE TO THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER RECEIVING ZERO SPEED INPUT: LIMITED ACCELLERATION, NO CRUISE CONTROL, ETC. END RESULT: BOTH SPEED CABLE AND SPEED CONTROL SENSOR BROKEN; CONNECTION PIN FROM TRANSMISSION TO SENSOR STUCK OR SNAPPED --> WILL NEED TO DROP TRANSMISSION AND TEAR IT OPEN JUST TO GET AT A $25 PART!*AK

NHTSA ID

751801

Incident

Aug 28, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THREE MOUNTS ON THE TRANS MOUNT AXLE RUSTED AND SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO CUT THE BRAKE LINES, CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES THE SHEARED MOUNTS CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES AS WELL BUT DID NOT ELABORATE, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00S03 AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND HAS CONTACTED FORD, HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT RESPOND BACK, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

562639

Incident

Oct 17, 1999

SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED PREMATURELY AT ONLY 80,000 MILES, CAUSING INCORRECT READING OF SPEED. IT IS NOT REGISTERING THE MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

887923

THERE WERE BURNT PLUG WIRES AND A BLOWN IGNITION MODULE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

561015

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR DIFFERENTIAL BLEW OUT. ALSO AXLE TOPPLED OUT. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THERE HAD BEEN TROUBLE WITH CD4E TRANSMISSIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

875709

Incident

Nov 26, 2000

SINCE AN INITIAL VISIT TO THE FORD DEALER FOR WHAT SEEMED TO BE AN "OUT OF BALANCE TIRE" PROBLEM THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 NEW FORD FACTORY REPLACEMENT AXLES IN THE FRONT PASSANGER SIDE AND 2 ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AROUND TOWN BECAUSE AXLES WILL LET GO WITHOUT WARNING. THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE LAST YEAR AND HAS COME UP WITH NO CAUSE FOR THE REPEATED FAILURES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO HAD TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO WORK DONE BY THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH RUINED THE LOCKUP TORQUE CONVERTER. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN WARRANTEE THROUGH FORD WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AS OF MAY 15TH 2000. NO RESOLUTION IS IN SITE THAT I CAN SEE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A FORD DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

722699

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY LESS THEN 5 MPH, FRONT AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

857548

Incident

Feb 23, 2000

BECAUSE THE AXLE WAS PUT IN WRONG, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURED, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW ALL THE DETAILED PROBLEMS, BUT I HAVE A RECEIPT FROM MY MECHANIC WITH EVERYTHING LISTED. HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THE AXLE WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED THROUGH IT AT AN ODD ANGLE. I ALSO HAVE A FAX FROM FORD THAT WAS SENT TO MY MECHANIC REGARDING WARNINGS OF THE AXLE BEING INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. YOU MAY CONTACT MY MECHANIC FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED. HIS NAME IS KEN FOWLER, THE OWNER OF A-1 TRANSMISSIONS IN LUBBOCK, TX. HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 806-792-4319.

NHTSA ID

717981

Incident

Jan 5, 2000

WHEN TRAVELING SPEEDOMETER READING IS INCORRECT,VEHICLE COULD BE GOING AS FAST AS 60 MPH, AND SPEEDOMETER READING STATES ZERO. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR FIVE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

847353

I WAS DRIVING MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO CHECK MY POWER STEERING FLUID. THE FLUID CONTAINER WAS EMPTY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO FIRESTONE SERVICE TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC ASKING IF I HAD TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON THE CAR. I INDICATED I DID IN 9/97 WHEN THE FORD DEALER, RITTENHOUSE-KERR, REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANS UNDER FORD WARRANTY. I ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TRANS WHEN IT WAS THE POWER STEERING THAT WAS INOPERATIVE. HE INFORMED ME THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRANS TO THE MOTOR MOUNT WHERE MISSING AND THAT CAUSED THE TRANS TO DAMAGE THE AXLE WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING LINE TO BE CUT RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HE SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. RITTENHOUSE-KERR ACKNOWLEDGED THE BOLTS WHERE MISSING BUT COULD NOT GIVE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION WHY. I SUGGESTED THEY WERE DEFECTIVE OR NOT PUT IN PROPERLY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS. I THEN CALLED FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS AND THOUGH COURTEOUS, THEY ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO GET REPAIRED. I HAD THE POWER STEERING LINE AND AXLE REPLACED BUT COULD NOT GET THE TRANS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THERE ARE THREE BOLTS (FORD PART NUMBER W500034-S303) THAT HOLD THE TRANS TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. IN TWO OF THE THREE OPENINGS WHERE THE BOLTS THREAD INTO THE TRANS, THERE WERE PARTS OF BROKEN BOLTS IN THEM AND THE THIRD HAD STRIPPED THREADS PREVENTING THE BOLT FROM HOLDING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND FORD AGAIN. NEITHER WOULD ACKNOWLEGDE RESPONSIBILITY. IF USEFUL, I HAVE PICTURES I CAN PROVIDE. YOUR ASSISTANCE IN LOOKING INTO THIS UNSAFE SITUATION IS APPRECIATED. ALSO, DID FORD HAVE A RECALL ON TRANS BOLTS FOR THE 1993 TAURUS MODEL?

NHTSA ID

710616

Incident

Aug 13, 1999

SPEEDOMETER CABLE BROKE, EMERGENCY BRAKE FROZE UP. MJS

NHTSA ID

548088

THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT OF RECALL FOR THROTTLE LINK CABLE. IGNITION/PLUG CABLES ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CABLE THAT FAILED FAILED BECAUSE OF A LINK. THIS LEADS TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE OVERALL FITNESS OF CABLES THAT FORD IS USING ON THIS VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF A NON-TRAUMATIC FAILURE OF A SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CABLE AT UNDER 100,000 MILES. I AM NOT SURE OF DATES OR MILEAGE AS SUBMITTED. THIS HAPPENED A WHILE AGO, AND I ONLY SAW NOTIFICATION OF YOUR WEBSITE ON A PUBLIC BUS THIS EVENING (8 FEB). PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'VE LONG SINCE REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CABLE AND HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A FORD MOTOR COMPANY PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID

703072

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

REAR SWAY BAR SQUEAKING, FRONT LEFT SPRING BROKE AND AXLE BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

534179

SPEED CONTROL SENSOR FAILED 3 TIMES. ALSO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED IMPROPERLY DUE TO SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. INADDITION, SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

523223

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

CV RETAINING BRACKET BROKE. CAUSE: CV BOUNCES UP/DOWN AND VEHICLE VIBRATES AND OIL LEAKAGE DEVELOPED. END RESULT: POTENTIAL FIRE. ALSO, RENDERED ENGINE INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID

819280

Incident

Oct 19, 1997

DRIVING VEHICLE, GOING ABOUT 70-75 MPH; OIL LIGHT WAS ON; PULLED OVER & HAD NO POWER; HAD NOTICED BRACKET HOLDING CV JOINT ARM HAD BROKEN IN TWO, RUINED THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

810625

Incident

Mar 23, 1997

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

509970

Incident

Feb 28, 1996