Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
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
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.
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
AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT HIGH RMPS. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE ACCELERATOR CABLE RECALL 00V425000, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK N *JB
THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT IMPACTED A BUILDING. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE IN THE PARK GEAR FOR 5 MINUTES. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONTINUALLY BEING TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR ,SOMEHOW, BECAME STUCK AND THE ENGINE OVERRODE THE BRAKES. *SCC *JB
STALLS OUT IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, SURGES BETWEEN 1-4 RMPS, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, ALL STARTED AFTER I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH REPLACED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATLEY 60 MPH ENGINE STARTED RUNNING AND RPMS WENT TO 8000. CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. UPON START UP AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
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
THROTTLE BODY HOSE ASSEMBLY : LOUD HOWLING SOUND, ENGINE SURGING. ENGINE: STALLS WHEN FIRST STARTED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK
MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR'S (W/V6 2.5L DURATEC MOTOR) ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AROUND JAN 2 OF 2001. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AT THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP IN MODESTO, CA. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS ON FRIDAY JAN 05, 2001, LATER ON THAT WEEK. ONCE I TOOK IT IN, THEY HAD DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING MY (3) CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND MY THROTTLE BODY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR THEN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TO CHECK WITH FORD BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT THE WORK WAS COVERED UNDER A FORD RECALL 97E61. THE NEXT DAY HE RESPONDED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT FORD HAD SAID THAT IT WASN'T COVERED AND THAT MY BILL WOULD BE $1,300.00. I THEN ASKED HIM WHY IT WASN'T COVERED AND HE TOLD ME BECAUSE MY VIN# DOESN'T SHOW IT. HE THEN ASKED ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH FORD THE ACTUALL COMPANY. SO I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON IT MYSELF AND HAVE COME UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF INFO. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS TOLD ME THAT THE REASON MY CAR IS NOT COVERED IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE 97E61 CRITERIA FOR RECALL. SO I ASKED WHAT ACTUALL PART DOES NOT FALL UNDEER THE CRITERIA. THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH NHTSA AND THEY CAN GIVE ME THAT INFO. WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT CARS THAT WERE BUILT AT 2 FORD PLANTS, CAUTLIN, AND KANSAS CITY PLANTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE AFFECTED. WELL MY CAR WAS BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY PLANT. THE OTHER CRITERIA I KNOW ABOUT IS IF THE CAR WAS BUILT WITHIN MARCH OF 95 THRU MARCH OF 96. WELL MY CAR WAS FIRST SOLD IN FEB. 96 AND IT'S A 96 MODEL SO IT WOULD HAVE TO FALL WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING MY CAR FIXED AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP BUT MY COST IS STILL OVER $1,100.00. PLESAE HELP ME. CESAR GARCIA CALL ME ANY TIME AT 408-674-9315 TO LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED MY LETTER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE A COPY E-MAILED TO ME OF WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN SO I HAVE A RECORD AT [email protected]. *AK
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND LEAVING THE CONSUMER STRANDED, THERE IS A RECALL (97V225), HOWEVER THE DEALER STATES THAT THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SLC
ON THE MORNING OF 11/10/2000, I JUST COMPLETED ENTERING THE SOUTHBOUND DALLAS TOLLWAY FROM LEGACY DR. IN PLANO, TX. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED, MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE AT FULL THROTTLE. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IN ADDITION TO REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES GENTLY TO FIND THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INSURE THAT IT WAS NOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. WITH BOTH FEET AND GREAT EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO APPLY ENOUGH BRAKING FORCE TO SAFELY MANUEVER THE AUTOMATED TOLL GATE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY AND I EXITED AT THE WEST PARKER ROAD EXIT IN PLANO. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT I ENCOUNTERED WAS TO SLIP THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WAS SCREAMING, SO I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE ON GREEN AND IT STARTED UP AT FULL THROTTLE. UPON PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO 'DRIVE', THE TIRES LOST TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED ALONG IN A "RUNAWAY" FASHION. I HAD TO PASS THROUGH ANOTHER TRAFFIC LIGHT AND INTERSECTION (WITH THE SAME MANUEVER AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED) BEFORE I REACHED A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT (PARKWOOD CENTER, PLANO, TX). AT THIS POINT I TELEPHONED AAA FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND EACH TIME THE ENGINE RACED AT FULL THROTTLE. THE DEALER EVALUATED THE PROBLEM AS BEING A FAULTY RESONATER ASSEMBLY FOR THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE (ALLEGEDLY A WORN OUT GASKET, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE WHOLE UNIT). I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD ENGINEERS WOULD PERMIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRODUCT WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE SUCH A SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, ON ANOTHER MATTER REGARDING THIS VEHICLE, FORD CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY AND REIMBURSED ME $1,000. THIS WAS DURING THE LATTER PART OF 1999.*AK
MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES IN ONE MONTH - ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, STARTER, WIRING HARNESS, SPEED SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR WERE ALL CHANGED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I AM HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS. IT WAS ALSO IN A GARAGE FIRE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THIS TIME AND I HAD SMOKE DAMAGE TO MY CAR ON TOP OF THE ENGINE PROBLEMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I LOSS MONEY ON THE TRADE IN. THIS IS THE WORSE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED AND WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD CAR OR TRUCK AGAIN. *AK
ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAS STEERING PROBLEM TOO, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS FOR THE REPAIR. *YH
WHILE DRIVING EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURRED WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, ENGINE IDLED VERY FAST, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED., DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ANY GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER & DEALER HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VECHICLE IS ALSO IDLEING VERY HIGH. *AK
ACCELERATOR STICKS AND DRIVER HAS TO PUSH HARD, THEN IT OVERACCELERATES, AND THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN FRONT. THERE'S TOO MUCH FORCE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING ENGINE REVVED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND RUN UP AN A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLES ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE REAR BUMPER STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. DRIVER THEN PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLY HIGH SPEED, JUMPING THE CURB AND STRIKING A CONCRETE PILLAR, RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AREA OF THE VECHICLE AND BRUISING THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM. PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT. IT APPEARS THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE/CRUISE CONTROL OR SOME RELATED MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND THEN A BANK. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRIED TO GO FORWARD, HIT ACCELERATOR LIGHTLY AND DIDN'T MOVE, SECOND TIME, TOOK OFF AND WENT INTO GARAGE. PASSENGER'S MIRROR CAME OFF. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT, COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A GRINDING AND SCRAPING TYPE NOISE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOR ANY OF THE COST OF THE TRANSIMISSION.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, BUT ACCELERATED. RAN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES UP, AND SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE KEPT DIGGING INTO THE DIRT.THE REAR WAS IN THE AIR . *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM PULLING OFF ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC
POWER STEERING BECOMES DISABLES WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. SAFETY SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD MOTOR CORP
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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