RoadVitals

1995 Ford Contour Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
83
Latest Jan 14, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 891 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 83 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

The 25 most recent of 83, in the owner's own words

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
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
ElectricalEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Apr 17, 2007

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
Suspension
Filed Apr 26, 2005

1995 FORD CONTOUR HAD FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE. *MR DURING AN INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALLS. THE CONSUMER HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL FOR HIS 2001 FORD TAURUS FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND BELIEVES THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID
10119293
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 2004

BOTH REAR SPRINGS WHERE BROKEN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. CUSTOMER SAID THE FRONT SPRINGS HAD BEEN REPLACED AT AN EARLIER DATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095851
Incident
Oct 11, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 2004

ALL 4 SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CONCERN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095849
Incident
Oct 10, 2004
Mileage
123,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 2004

FOUND ALL 4 SPRINGS BROKEN, THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRENTY ON FRONT BUT NOT ON THE REAR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095848
Incident
Oct 7, 2004
Mileage
123,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 10, 2004

IN 2002, REAR SPRING BROKE ON HER 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE BREAKAGE, UNTIL A REPAIR SHOP FIXING THE CAR FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM INFORMED US. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE REAR SPRING. NOW, SEPT. 8, 2004 WHEN TAKING OUR 1995 FORD CONTOUR TO THE SHOP FOR NOISE AND DIFFICULTY DRIVING, WE FIND THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN. WE WERE ADVISED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, NOT DRIVEN TO A LOCAL TIRE/FRONT END SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER GETTING SUSPICIOUS, I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH SPRINGS BREAKING ON THEIR FORD CONTOUR. THIS FORD CONTOUR HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT WE COULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR REPLACEMENT. AT THAT POINT, OUR CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN DISASSEMBLED AND THE BAD SPRING REPLACED. WE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF SPRINGS, LET A LONE TWO SPRINGS TO BREAK UNDER 60,000 MILES AND TWO YEARS APART. SO FAR FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST TO REIMBURSE US FOR ANY OF THE CHARGES FROM THE TIRE/FRONT END SHOP. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FAILURE OF A SPRING IN THE BACK AND FRONT OF THIS FORD CONTOUR. NOW WE HAVE THREE NEW SPRINGS (REPLACED TWO IN FRONT AND ONE IN BACK), BUT STILL HAVE ONE OLD SPRING ON THE BACK WHICH HASN'T BEEN REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE A SERIOUS RECALL, NOT A PROGRAM, AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. WE ACTUALLY HAD THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP IN 2001 FOR ANOTHER RECALL, SO I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY FORD DID NOT NOTIFY US ABOUT THE SPRING PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE ALL THEIR SPRINGS ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS HAD ENORMOUS REPAIRS FROM AIRCONDITIONING, TIMING BELTS, STEERING PROBLEMS, ETC., BUT THIS SPRING SITUATION COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. MY GUESS IS THERE ARE MANY MORE VEHICLES OUT THERE UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM". IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090809
Incident
Sep 8, 2004
Mileage
59,750 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE CAR HAS ALWAYS RUN HOT AND I HAVE HAD THE COMPRESSOR FIXED AND A MONTH LATER I KNOW HAVE A BURNT OUT BLOWER MOTOR THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND THAN WAS TOLD I MISSED THE CUT OFF DATE TO FILE FOR A REPAIR, BOTTOM LINE I WASNT COVERED. I ALSO BROUGHT MY CAR IN A DAY BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND THEY DIDNT HONOR IT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO LATE.

NHTSA ID
10069436
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 2003

REFUSAL OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REIMBURSE FOR BROKEN COIL SPRINGS.*MR THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED THE CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS.*CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10051725
Mileage
151,229 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 25, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR COIL SPRING FAILED. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING AND IT APPEARED TO BE RUSTED. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10024846
Incident
Jun 16, 2003
Mileage
89,195 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. MECHANIC FOUND ALL FOUR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC STATED ALL FOUR SPRINGS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. THE CAR IS ONLY USED ON PAVED ROADS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016220
Incident
Apr 6, 2003
Mileage
62,400 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 14, 2002

THIS IS THE THIRD SPRING TO BREAK ON THIS VEHICLE....NOT GOOD. MR

NHTSA ID
768411
Incident
Oct 5, 2002
Suspension
Filed Mar 20, 2002

CONSUMER HAD REPLACED STABLIZER BAR AND LINKS DUE TO RUST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005977
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Suspension
Filed Mar 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE THAT OCCURS WITH IN REAR END OF VEHICLE CAUSED BY BROKEN COIL SRPINGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005976
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Driver assistanceExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
757832
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 2002

MY COIL SPRING ON THE RIGHT SIDE (REAR) BROKEN. FORD HAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRING. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WASN'T NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY FIX THE FRONT COIL SPRING IF IT WAS BROKEN THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO FIX ALL OF THEM. BUT SINCE IT WAS MY BACK THAT HAD BROKEN THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT IT IS A GENERAL MAINTAINCE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE TO FIX. I TOOK MY CAR TO 4 DIFFERENT REPAIS SHOPS AND THEY SAID THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN IS COMMON IN THESE TYPES OF CARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
756739
Suspension
Filed Nov 20, 2001

COIL SPRINGS ARE CRACKED IN REAR AND FRONT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID
899343
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+3 more
Filed Oct 10, 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
Suspension
Filed Sep 1, 2001

REPLACE BOTH REAR SPRINGS 7/15/2000. NOW THE RIGHT FRONT IS BROKEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
751521
Incident
Aug 15, 2001
Suspension
Filed Aug 30, 2001

BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE ALLOWING THE BODY TO LOWER SO THAT THE TIRES WERE ALMOST AGAINST THE WHEEL WELLS. IF THEY HAD CONTACTED EACHOTHER WHILE DRIVING, IMMEDIATE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED TO THE TIRES, OR THE CAR'S STEERING COULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH FORD CONTOURS AND THAT THOUGH FORD EXTENDED THE WARRENTY PERIOD ON THE FRONT SPRINGS DUE TO BREAKAGE, THEY REFUSE TO DO SO WITH THEB REAR SPRINGS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE SOMEBODY IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ID
751421
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jul 2, 2001

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
9002788
Suspension
Filed Jun 19, 2001

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT HAND TURN WHOLE ASSEMBLY MOVES. ALSO, SPRINGS SHIFT, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN TVEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
890662
Suspension
Filed Jun 15, 2001

THE VEHICLE'S REAR SPRING WAS FOUND BROKEN, THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE FOR REAR SPRING CORROSION AND BREAKING. *YH

NHTSA ID
561665
Suspension
Filed Jun 12, 2001

I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD TO REQUEST A REFUND OF REPAIR WORK DUE TO INFERIOR SPRINGS. I AM ALSO SENDING A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO YOU (NHTSA). *AK

NHTSA ID
746721
Incident
May 1, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .