Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 30 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 30, in the owner's own words
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL #99V247000, REGARDING FUEL; HOSES/LINES/PIPES/FITTINGS DUE TO THE VIN. HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS THE MANUFACTURER PARTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. FUEL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE TAIL PIPE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB
I SMELL GASOLINE, AND WHEN I FILL MY CAR WITH GASOLINE IT LEAKS. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT IS THE FUEL FILL PIPE VENT HOSE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB
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
I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 14TH THIS YEAR. I CAN NOT FILL MY GAS TANK ALL THE WAY FULL. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING GAS EVERY TIME I DO. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT STORES WHEN I GAS UP MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM ON LEVEL GROUND IT STILL LEAVES A PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. IT IS WORSE IF I PARK ON ANYTHING BUT LEVEL GROUND . PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC AND STATED THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
CONSUMER NOTICE, THE DASH BOARD DEFROSTER DUCT AIR VENT IS CRACKED AND INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS ITS RELATED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL VENT HOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM
I RECEIVED A CARD THAT SAID: DANGER, THE FORD THAT YOU ARE DRIVING IS INVOLVED IN A PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN #99525 AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. WHAT IS THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN ABOUT? WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND THE ORIGINAL CAR DEALER IS IN ANOTHER STATE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR?*AK
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE NEW AND HAD ONLY 47,000 MILE WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. THESE COMPONENTS ARE NOT MOVING PARTS AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE UNLESS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY OR POORLY DESIGNED. *AK
WORK WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FOR RECALL 99V247000. CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING THE PROBLEM OF FUEL LEAKING WHEN HE FILLS FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT RECALL WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ALREADY, AND IT WAS NOW CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER FILLED TANK WITH GAS AND AFTER PAYING AND COMING BACK OU NOTICED GAS WAS SPILLING ALL OVER THE GROUND. IT CONTINUED TO LEAK FOR 3 HOURS. DEALER FOUND A CRACK IN FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAD TO GET REPLACE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AT HIS COST.*AK
FUEL VAPOR LEAKAGE OCCURS CAUSING HEAVY FUEL SMELL FROM UNDER VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY FUEL PUMP WHICH HAD NO RUBBER CAP. *AK THE CAUSE FOR GAS VAPOR LEAK WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK SEAL AT THE FUEL PUMP UNIT, AND WAS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATES IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING AND SLOWING TO STOP OR TURN, VEHICLE STOPS AND/OR STALLS. IT ALSO CUTS OFF WHILE TRYING TO BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD FUEL IN TANK DURING TIME OF INCIDENT.NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER OR IN RAIN, POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. AT THAT TIME ALERNATOR LIGHT COMES ON, HAS BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS , SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. ALSO, FILLING UP WITH GASOLINE VEHICLE WILL SMELL FOR LONG TIME. *AK
RECALL 99V-247 FILLER NECK NOT COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. YH
CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL LETTER 99V247000 CONCERNING THE FUEL PUMP. CONTACTED THE DEALER. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SWAY BAR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO MAKE RATTLING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT. YH
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS: INTERIOR/BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT. REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. FUEL FILLER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH LATCH INSIDE. NEVER WORKED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER FAILED. POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED. CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY. MECHANIC COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR THIS RELATED TO ALTERNATOR/CHARGING SYSTEM OF CAR. NEVER ABLE TO FIX THIS. TRUNK LEAKS WATER AROUND SEAL. ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON . MECHANIC COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH ABS. AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT DEFROST SETTING. ALSO BAD SMELL COMES FROM AC WHEN ON. REAR SEAT BELTS KEEP JAMMING; NOT ABLE TO USE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY WON'T COME OUT. WORST PROBLEM SO FAR: TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. NOT YET FIXED. I LOVED THIS CAR ONCE, NOW I HATE IT! THE WHOLE THING SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AREN'T WORKING, AND THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AL
AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK WITH GAS THE TANK LEAKS FROM THE BOTTOM WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FUEL TANK CANNOT BE FILLED UP FULLY. WHENEVER THEIR IS AN ATTEMPT TO FILL THE TANK, GAS SPLURGES EVERY WHERE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FORD NEED TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A SAFE ONE! COME ON 6 ELECTRICAL FAILURES? WHEN WILL THE FIRE START FROM THE FAILURES?..DATELINE NBC NEXT!
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: ??? )
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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