1996 Ford Contour Engine Problems

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, BUT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED 50000 MILES LATER, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10164356

Incident

Aug 3, 2006

Mileage

95,000 mi

CONSUMER REQUEST HELP TO FIX A 1996 CONTOUR. *TS THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND IT FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEPT OF MOTOR VEHICLE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO AN EMISSION RECALL AS REPORTED BY THE EPA THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE ORIGINAL OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 1997 BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161554

Incident

Apr 21, 2006

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

CAR STALLS WHEN PARALLEL PARKING, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE, OR WHEN PARKING SLOPES. CAR STALLED WHEN STARTING UP FROM RED LIGHT IN CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA INTERSECTIONS. HEADLAMPS OUT OF ALIGNMENT (DON'T SHINE DOWN ONTO ROAD, BEAMS NOT CENTERED). AIR BAG LIGHT ON CONTROL PANELS BLINKS SPORADICALLY, FREQUENTLY; ANXIETY THAT AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER COMMENT ON STALLING: "PROBABLY SOMETHING STUPID" AND WASN'T ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A VACUUM TUBE. DEALER CHARGED $95 TO TELL ME THAT THE MEMORY IN THE VEHICLE DIDN'T GIVE ANY CODES FOR THE STALLING OR AIR BAG PROBLEMS, THEN ADDED THAT THE MEMORY IS WIPED CLEAN EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. QUESTION: IF THEY KNOW THAT ABOUT THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHY CHARGE THE CUSTOMER FOR A POINTLESS DIAGNOSTIC? HEADLIGHTS STILL OUT OF ALIGNMENT AFTER HAVING BEEN "ADJUSTED" BY DEALER IN JANUARY 2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107781

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

Mileage

66,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 1996 FORD CONTOUR SE IN JUNE OF 2003.I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP 4 TIMES.I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A MAN WHO BLEW THE ENGINE BECUASE THE WATER PUMP WENT AND HE LET THE CAR OVER HEAT.I HAVE REPLACED IT IN OCT.2003,FEBRUARY 2004,JUNE 2004,AND DEC.2004.IT IS REALLY STARTED TO BECOME A BURDEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102233

Incident

Oct 31, 2003

I BOUGHT IT ON 07/01/04. ON 07/02/04 MY ON WAS DRIVING IT, AND COUPLE OF TIMES, WHEM HE STOPPED ON STOP SIGNED, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. EVENTUALLY, IN THE EVENING, THERE WAS WHITE THICK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND CAR WAS STOPPED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP. IT HAPPENED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL AND COOLANT AND ENDINE HAS GONE BAD. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PAY COMPLETELY FOR THE REPAIR, AND WE SPLIT IT 20/80% WHERE I'M TO PAY 80%. IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS AND CAR IS STILL IN SHOP. I DIDN'T BUY IT TO SIT IN SHOP. IS THERE A WAY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION SOMEHOW?*AK

NHTSA ID

10081196

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

Mileage

106,035 mi

VEHICLES SHUTS OFF FREQUENTLY. VEHICLE WON'T PASS EMISSIONS TEST. IT WON'T START, AND HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072060

Incident

Mar 4, 2004

Mileage

1,200 mi

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY ONE THERE CAN HELP ME, BUT I JUST WANT SOME ONE JUST HEAR MY COMPLAINT. I PURCHASE A 96 FORD CONTOUR IN 1999 WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. A YEAR AFTER I BROUGHT THAT CAR I BEGIN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR. IT HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSION. IT HAVE HAD A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND NOW YESTERDAY THE MOTOR IS GONE. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE TALK TO THE FORD COMPANY BUT IT WAS ALWAYS IT WAS NOT ANY THING THEY COULD DO FOR MY CAR. THEY SHOULD HAVE STOOD BY THEY CARS BUT THEY. I FIRST PAID TO MUCH FOR THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I WENT BACK TO THEM WHEN THE CAR FIRST START GIVING ME TROUBLE AND THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO THEM THEY HAD CLOSED DOWN. THE FORD COMPANY JUST DID NOT DO ME RIGHT AT ALL. WHAT HURT THE MOST I HAD PAID MY LAST CAR PAYMENT YESTERDAY AND NOW THE MOTOR IS GONE. I FEEL IF THEY WOULD HAVE LISTEN TO ME FROM THE BEGINNING MAYBE IT WOULDN'T HAD TO COME TO THIS. I TALK TO FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I HAD A LT OF ELECTRICAL TROUBLE AND FUMES USE TO ENTER THE CAR. I JUST BEEN THREW A LIVING NIGHTMARE WITH THIS. I DON'T CARE IF I GET ANY MONEY OR NOT I JUST WANT FOR SOME ONE TO HEAR MY COMPLAINT CAUS NO TELLING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD PEOPLE JUST DID ME SO WRONG. BUT I HAVE LEARN A GOOD LESSON . NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. EVEN WHEN THE CALL HAD A RECALL I DON'T THINK THEY DID NOT FIX IT RIGHT. I KNOW ONCE YOU BUY A CAR AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR. I HAVE A ANOTHER 96 HONDA. I HAVE NEVER , EVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. IT JUST NO WAY WHY A CAR HAVE TO HAVE HAD SO MANY TRANSMISSIONS AND OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THAT FORD HAVE GAVE ME. I AM SO HURT WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION DON'T NO ONE KNOW AT THIS TIME HOW I FEEL. I AM JUST VERY, VERY HURT. THANK YOU VERY MUSH FOR LISTENING TO ME. HAVE A GOOD DAY!*AK

NHTSA ID

10062026

Incident

Mar 11, 2004

Mileage

112,000 mi

ENGINE FAILURE WHILE ACCELERATING IN A PASSING ZONE.

NHTSA ID

10060397

Incident

Dec 5, 2003

Mileage

64,000 mi

HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE FAILURE ON MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR AT 64,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN A PASSING ZONE AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. FROM WHAT I CAN SEE OVER THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH FORD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059039

Incident

Dec 6, 2003

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

MY NEWEST PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THE CAR NOW IS IT STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND DOESNT START FOR 45 MINUTE TO AN HOUR. I TOOK IT TO 3 GARAGES ALREADY AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10068969

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE COOLING FAN SEIZED. THIS CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MELT AND RESULT IN A FIRE. *AK THE CONSUMER SAW THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET BUT LATER FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONSUMER FELLS THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10026795

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST SUCH AS TAIL LIGHT GOING OUT CONSTANTLY AND ALSO HEADLIGHTS, AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE O2 SENSOR. I HAVE PUT MORE THAT$2000 DOLLARS ALONE ON THIS CAR JUST GETTING IT REPAIRED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021232

Incident

May 26, 2003

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL # 01-V-230-000 WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019775

Incident

May 13, 2003

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009768

Incident

Feb 12, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH ENGINE STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AS PER CONVERSATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8022146

Incident

Oct 24, 2002

PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL, CHANGE ALTERNATOR-AND THIS IS NOT PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

768948

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

MR

NHTSA ID

768458

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

WIRING TO COOLING SYSTEM MELTED. ALSO, EACH TIME CONSUMER TAKES VEHICLE TO DEALER SHE IS TOLD THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018444

Incident

Sep 11, 2002

TEMPERATURE GAUGE CONSTANTLY SHOWS VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING, WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016935

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ENGINE WENT FROM NORMAL TO RED HOT IN TEMPERATURE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND PLASTIC WATER PUMP FAN HAD BROKEN INTO PIECES. *TT

NHTSA ID

786429

WIRES FROM THE COOLING FAN ARE MELTING TOGETHER AND CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015109

Incident

Jun 25, 2002

THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP ON THIS ENGINE HAS A PLASTIC IMPELLER WHICH IS PRONE TO FAILURE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR WHO EXPERIENCED THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE WATER PUMP DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

764403

Incident

Mar 11, 2002