1996 Ford Contour Owner Complaints

The contact owned a 1996 Ford Contour. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, going downhill, the vehicle hit black ice, then crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags deployed and detached upon impact, slicing the contact's head open, snapped his fifth and sixth vertebrae, and the seatbelt fractured his ribs. The police were called to the scene of the collision. The police officer informed the contact that the air bag had detached from the steering wheel and was in the rear passenger seat. A police report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11433685

Incident

Dec 27, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2001. THE PAST 6 MO MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING OR SOMETHING MELTING. ALMOST LIKE ITS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE

NHTSA ID

11161985

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE WIRE HARNESS MOTOR, TRANSMISSION AND FUEL INJECTION ARE BAD ,AND WAS STATIONARY 5 YEAR AGO LIKE MANY MANY MANY CONTOURS AND MISTYQUES IN MY COUNTRY , I NEED A SOLUTION PLEASE, COUSE RESPONSABILITY IS FROM FORD COMPANY IN ALL THE WORLD. THANK YOU. I AM IN MEXICO.

NHTSA ID

10991732

Incident

Dec 24, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD FAIL TO START DUE TO A MELTED WIRE IN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10864256

Incident

Feb 29, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A USED CAR DEALER ON 8/11/15. THE CAR HAS 58606 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. WIRING HARNESS WAS UNDER THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND NOT REPAIRED. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE AND MECHANIC SAYS THE CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD AND HARNESS HAS TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED FORD WHO SAID THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER ANY TYPE OF RECALL AND THEY NO LONGER MAKE THE PART.

NHTSA ID

10783099

Incident

Aug 11, 2015

Mileage

58,606 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TAILLIGHT AND FRONT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10780554

Incident

Sep 29, 2015

Mileage

68,000 mi

CORROSION UNDER THE CAR (POLICE INCEPTOR ). CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN BAMBERG, SC THAT SELL MANY CROWN VICTORIAS. HE INDICATED MY CAR CAME FROM UP NORTH, PENNSYLVANIA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542933

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 1996 FORD CONTOUR FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT CAME BACK ON. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES WAS FLAKING OFF AND IN ONE SPOT THE WIRE BUNDLE COVERING HAD MELTED. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM (99M03) AND EXTENDED THE RECALL FOR 10 YEARS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH A DIFFERENT WIRING HARNESS HAS PROVED TO BE A LOOSING BATTLE I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THEY NO LONGER BUILD THIS PART AND THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS IN STOCK THROUGHOUT THE USA. I TRIED SALVAGE YARDS AND THERE ARE NO GOOD PARTS OUT THERE. HOW CAN A USED CAR LOT SELL CARS WITHOUT LOOKING INTO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLES. I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO JUNK THE CAR AND TAKE A $3000 LOSS. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10519497

Incident

Apr 17, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY CAR HAD BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES .FIXING WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE THE PROBLEM WE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTED TO THE COOLING FAN WAS MELTED AS WELL AS MANY PROBLEMS IN WIRE HARNESSES IN FRONT OF ENGINE.. IT IS VERY APPARENT THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED MELTING N BURN WIRES THROUGHOUT THE WIRING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD 4 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD BY ALL THAT THIS MAKE N MODEL IS VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482706

Incident

Oct 17, 2012

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICED FLAMES NEAR THE REAR OF THE RADIO AND THE CENTER COLUMN THAT DIVIDED THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES HERSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,922.

NHTSA ID

10418136

Incident

Aug 27, 2010

Mileage

62,922 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND CRACKED. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER: 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO LOCATE A WIRING HARNESS AT A JUNK YARD FOR INSTALLATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 1/11/11 *CN

NHTSA ID

10394156

Incident

Mar 5, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED INTERMITTENTLY BUT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10352020

Incident

Jun 17, 2010

Mileage

91,000 mi

I PRINTED OUT ALL OF THE RECALLS ON 1996, FORD CONTOUR BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD PLACE THEY SAID THE RECALLS ARE NOT ON MY PARTICULAR CAR. SO IS THAT SO? THAT CARS ARE MADE IN BATCHES AND ONLY CERTAIN BATCHES ARE RECALLED. I HAVE A 1996 FORD CONTOUR, 4 CYLINDER MOTOR. THAT DOES HAVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349954

Incident

Aug 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLUG ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE IN THE PLUG. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERY TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED A FAILURE WITHIN THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PLUG AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FOUND RECALL 99V103000 ONLINE AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10298277

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

I HAVE A FORD CONTOUR (1996 SPORT W/2.5 V6..NEARLY ALL OF THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD EITHER HAS BROKEN OR NO INSULATION ON IT. SOME TIMES THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT COMES ON...TODAY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SMOKED THEN BLEW A FUSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN WIRING LIKE THIS. I EXPECT BETTER FROM FORD THAN THIS..THIS CAR JUST TURNED OVER TO 72000 MILES....THIS CAR IS A TOTAL FIRE HAZARD.....I'VE OWNED FORD CARS AND TRUCKS ALL MY LIFE BUT IF NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS CAR IT WILL BE THE LAST FORD I BUY..THIS WIRING SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. I WONDER IF THE SAFETY TEAM KNOWS ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281489

Incident

Aug 22, 1996

BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. THE BLOWER CONTROLS THE DEFROSTER AND HEATER. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN FOG, FROST ETC SO VISIBILITY IS GREATLY LIMITED. IF ONE CAN SEE WELL AN ACCIDENT IS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279197

Incident

Jan 22, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING WERE MELTED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,688. 4/01/09 *NJ FORD STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BEFORE IT LEFT THE FACTORY AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10260197

Incident

Feb 24, 2009

Mileage

109,688 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MALFUNCTIONING, WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ENGINE FAILURE, AND ELECTRICAL FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. HE HAS BEEN REPAIRING THE FAILURE HIMSELF, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10256619

Incident

Jan 27, 2008

Mileage

103,000 mi

WAS FILLING UP MY FUEL TANK AND JUST AS THE PUMP CLICKED OFF GASOLINE STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK AND IT STILL DOES IT EVERYTIME I FILL IT UP I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255608

Incident

Sep 17, 2008

SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE GAS PEDAL/ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO "STICK" OR RACE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO IDLE TO BACK DOWN UNTIL I PUT IT IN GEAR. JULY 3, WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR/GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CORNER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A CAR REPAIR PLACE WHERE THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL FORD ABOUT A RECALL. THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE HAD JUST SNAPPED RIGHT OFF! I CALLED FROM THE REPAIR PLACE AND FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VIN VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AS I WAS LEAVING TOWN THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE RETURNED NOW AND AFTER SEARCHING YOUR SITE HAVE FOUND WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE RECALL FOR THE VERY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL PROBLEM. WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP, PLEASE? LUCY HOCKING [email protected] 414-541-2326 414-520-8323 MAKE : FORD MODEL : CONTOUR YEAR : 1996 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : DEC 03, 1997 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 97V225000 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 38000 SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION. THE THROTTLE CABLES WERE DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY LEADING TO FRAYING OR SEPARATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236719

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

121,562 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEARS ON THE FLOOR SHIFT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLES AFTER TEN YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10235998

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. AS HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE, THE TAIL LIGHTS OR THE DASHBOARD DID NOT LIGHT UP. HIS MECHANIC GAVE HIM A COPY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 01V230000. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE RELATED NHTSA ACTION# IS EA01001. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID

10234322

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

186,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THE WINDOWS ONLY OPEN HALF WAY AS A CHILD SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231416

Incident

Mar 1, 1996

I JUST GOT THE CAR FROM USED CAR DEALER ON 02/07/08 DROVE FINE WENT HOME AND IN THE MORNING I WENT OUT GOT KIDS IN CAR AND WENT TO BACK UP AND HAD NO REVERSE..THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 81000 MILES ON IT....AND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION IN 1996 FORD CONTOURS... I THINK SOME THING NEEDS TO BE DONE ... *TR

NHTSA ID

10217555

Incident

Feb 8, 2008

Mileage

81,124 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR FOR THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN SWITCH FAILED AND WOULD COST $58 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER KEPT CHANGING THE DIAGNOSIS UNTIL THE CONTACT SPENT $271; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I009000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM: WINDSHIELD: CONTROLS/WIRING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED THE TEN YEAR FREE PERIOD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10208516

Incident

Apr 23, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi