1996 Ford Contour Brakes Problems

CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY RECALLS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE THAT SHE WASN'T AWARE OF BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NEVER SENT NOTICES. SINCE THEN CONSUMER HAS BEEN PAYING FOR ENTIRE FULL PRICE AND IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THE GAS FUMES WHICH IS LEAKING THEREFORE LEAVING POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COMING IN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. THESE HARSH CHEMICALS ARE DAMAGING TO THE LUNGS, BRAIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND ITS MAKING CONSUMER VERY TIRED AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10134493

Incident

Oct 9, 1999

MAJOR HARNESS & ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH IS UNDER RECALL THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR.

NHTSA ID

10126566

Incident

Feb 2, 2005

LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT ABS STATORS HAVE CRACKS WHICH ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE. THIS CAUSES THE ABS SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE ON A LOW SPEED STOP. AT ABOUT 40 MPH THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK.THE BRAKES WORK IN REGULAR MODE.THIS WAS DISCOVERED ON 6/21/05 BUT HAD BEEN HAPPENING . MECHANIC CHANGED AN ABS SENSOR WIRE WITH A CUT IN IT . HAD TO LOOK FURTHER TO FIND CRACKED STATORS.MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP HE CALLED ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME MODELS,CRACKED STATORS ON WINDSTARS,OFFERED NO SOLUTION. I CALLED MY FORD DEALER AND WAS NOT HELPED .A PART LIKE THIS BEARS NO WEIGHT AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING.THE CRACKS MAKE THE COMPUTER THINK THERE IS A REASON TO ACTIVATE AND THEN AT 40MPH TO SHUT DOWN.THE REAR STATORS WERE NOT CHECKED FOR CRACKS YET. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10126299

Incident

Jun 21, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, AND THEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108974

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

Mileage

151,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103201

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 70000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE FUEL DOOR, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, DOOR HANDLES, TRANSMISSION, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, AND NOW AS A SPECIAL TREAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE WORST INVESTMENT THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE EVER MADE. I HAVE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND TRUCKS WITH 200000 PLUS MILES ON THEM AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN AS PROBLEMATIC AS THIS AUTOMOBILE.

NHTSA ID

10069333

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

49,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH 1996 FORD CONTOUR FRONT BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, FUSE BOX, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, ELECTRICAL AND STEERING AND SUSPENSION. *MR FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING A LOUD RUBBING SOUND, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS REPLACED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, WATER WAS INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT SEALS, WHICH MADE THE LIGHTS VERY DIM, THE SELECTOR MODE SWITCH ON THE HEATER MOTOR BLOWER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHICH MADE THE HEAT NOT WORK AT A 100%. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION AND WHEEL BEARING WERE ALL DEFECTIVE. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10048678

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED PREMATURELY. THE ABS WOULD THEN DISENGAGE AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. *AK *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

10038196

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT DISK BRAKE SYSTEM TEND TO WANT TO ROLL INWARD OFF OF THE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO DATE. VEHICLE: 1996 FORD CONTOUR

NHTSA ID

10000717

Incident

Dec 31, 2002

Mileage

95,000 mi

BRAKES & ROTORS. DT

NHTSA ID

769515

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

THIS CAR IS A LEMON - IT IS NOT SAFE. *AK

NHTSA ID

763604

Incident

Jun 10, 2002

MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND CAUSED BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE PART # IS: SW-5042.*AK

NHTSA ID

763060

Incident

Apr 13, 2002

ABS FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING UP AFTER ABS LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. BEEN TO MECHANIC 4 TIMES, MASTER CYLINDER PROPRTIONAL VALVE WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, WHICH STILL WAS PRESENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS HAS BEEN AN REOCURRING PROBLEM.*SLC

NHTSA ID

897580

BRAKES HAVE LITTLE RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, FEELS "MUSHY. ALSO, ABS LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND RESET ABS LIGHT. AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP, ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALERSHIP THEN DETERMINED THEY HAVE TO PERFORM REWIRING WORK TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

897112

Incident

Sep 10, 2001

REAR CALIPERS LOCKED UO, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF BRAKE ROTORS, ODOR AND POTENTIAL TO BOIL HYDRALIC FLUID LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

752042

Incident

Sep 9, 2001

PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE SERVICING DEPT AT THE FORD DEALER AND OTHER AUTO SERVICING CENTER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY TO THIS DAY IT IS ON. AT ONE TIME THE ENTIRE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND REAR BRAKES LIGHTS WENT OUT. IT CURRENTLY SHUT ITS SELF OFF ( STALLS) AND GET HOT. THE ENGINE SOUNDS REVVED UP AND SHORTLY AFTER THE AC UNIT WENT OUT.EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT/ THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED SOME WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED ALL THE FLUIDS ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AND IT STILL STALLS AND OVERHEATS FOR NO REASON. BOTH FRONT WINDOWS ELECTRICAL MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT.

NHTSA ID

751712

BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT BRAKE DRUM. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

892002

Incident

Jul 5, 1998

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH,ODOMETER GAUGE DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND ODOMETER LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

890527

Incident

Jun 8, 2001

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ABS, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 5 MPH ABS KICKS IN, THERE IS A PULSING NOISE AT THAT TIME. DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

887517

Incident

May 1, 2000

VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN TRANSMISSION HOUSING.*AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE MECHANIC WAS PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HE OBSERVED A CRACK IN THE BOTTOME OF THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING, SINCE NO TRANSMISSION WORK HAS EVER BEEN PERFORMED UNDER CONSUMER'S OWNERSHIP ROUGHLY SINCE 41,000 MILES IN THE MECHANIC'S OPINION THAT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING WAS CRACKED WHEN INSTALLED OR ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN RESULTING IN A CRACKED HOUSING, HE ALSO OBSERVED WHAT MIGHT BE BAD FRONT COIL SPRINGS, THEY ARE MAKING A RUBBING NOSIE ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE OR IN A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT,CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER THEY HAVE CALLED HER CONSUMER BACK BUT THEY HAVE TURNED THE COMPLAINT INTO A FEEDBACK REPORT CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD ROTORS TURNED AND SERVICED TWICE.*JB

NHTSA ID

882608

IN OCTOBER, 2000, ON A HIGHWAY OFFRAMP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT FULLY TO THE FLOOR. CAR CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH APPROX. $5000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. IN MID-DECEMBER, 2000, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND PEDAL ONCE AGAIN WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR. SHE PUMPED ONCE, BRAKE WORKED, AVOIDED ACCIDENT. WILL INSTALL NEW MASTER CYLINDER ON TECHNICIAN'S SUGGESTION. AT 77 YEARS OLD I AM AFRAID OF THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. HAVE OTHERS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE??

NHTSA ID

741093

Incident

Oct 18, 2000

I GOT THIS CAR IN APRIL 96. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY LOSES POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL. IT LOCKS UP THE STEERING AND BRAKES. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND IN VARYING TEMPERATURES. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE MOST RECENT EPISODE WAS JAN 14, 2001. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TOW THE CAR, OTHER TIMES IT WILL START BACK UP. THIS LAST TIME IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY, OTHER DRIVERS HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN KILLED. THIS CAR HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON...DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, BUT CHARGES $110 TO DIAGNOSE IT EACH TIME!....THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE BROKE IN 2000. AGAIN, FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NO CARS NAILED ME. THE PAINT ON THIS CAR IS BEGINNING TO PEEL/CRACK EVEN THOUGH IT IS GARAGE KEPT. I HAVE HAD TO PUT 3 SETS OF BRAKES ON THIS CAR...HAVE ALSO HAD THE DASH AND TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT (WHICH THEY DID FIX) ALSO THE AC KNOB BROKE (WHICH THEY FIXED) I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR ALL KNOWN RECALLS. FORD HAS NEVER RESPONDED TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPLETE POWER LOSS I KEEP EXPERIENCING AND THE DEALER JUST SUGGESTS TOTALLY USELESS REPAIRS THAT COST ALOT AND DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

740570

Incident

Jan 14, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH NEXT TO A CLOSE CURVE SAW A DEER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE ON ROAD. TRIED TO AVOID HITTING IT BY STEPPING ON BRAKES. THEY LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. NONE OF FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

878694

Incident

Jan 8, 2001

WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEATER, A/C, DEFROST, OR FAN MY ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND MY BRAKES ARE SPONGY. I HAVE LOST ALL BRAKES ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN MY CAR SITS FOR A WEEKEND, THE BATTERY DIES. INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY, STILL DIES. FORD CANNOT FIND A CAUSE FOR EITHER PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS CHANGED FOR THE LIGHTS, THOSE WENT OUT. ALSO, MY A/C FUSE HAD CAUGHT FIRE, WHOLE FUSE BOX AND BLOWER WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

736607

Incident

Sep 28, 2000

WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES WITH NORMAL FORCE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID

868556

Incident

Jul 14, 2000