Heating & air conditioningPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 6, 2005
FORD MOTOR COMPANY DID NOT SEND ME A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER ON MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR. I NEED TO SEND MY CAR BACK TO FORD MOTOR ASAP, AND FORD NEEDS TO SEND ME A BRAND NEW CAR. DUE TO ALSO SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 1999 EVERY PART IN MY CAR IS A DEFECT FRAUD NON FORD, ALSO NEWMAN FORD IN SALEM, NH REFUSED AND DISCRIMINATED MY DISABILITY AND LAUGHED AT ME AND DENIED MY SERVICES. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10109924
- Incident
- Jul 21, 1999
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 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
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+4 more
Filed Nov 24, 2003
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
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Oct 30, 2000
RIGHT REAR LIGHT CONTINUED TO GO OUT. REPLACE BULB FEW TIMES. RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAJOR FAN BELT REPLACED. ALTERNATOR REPLACED. LIGHT ON RADIO GOES OFF WHEN HEAD LIGHTS TURNED ON. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THEY FIXED MY RECALL FOR LIGHTS. GAS CAP COVER IS VERY HARD TO OPEN. TAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND OPEN. WHEN AIR IS ON SMELLS COME THROUGH REALLY STRONG FROM OTHER CARS. OWNER NOTIFICATION RECALLS ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY HAPPEN. THESE ARE COIL CAN BREAK AND CAR GO DOWN BLOW OUT TIRES. ALSO ELECTRICAL HARNESS CAN BREAK AND WIRES WILL CONNECT WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR AND CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND EXPLAINED HOW I FELT THIS CAR WAS UNSAFE AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO ME OR MY FAMILY THEY WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO TAKE BACK ALL CONTOURS AND GIVE US A SAFER CAR FOR US AND OUR FAMILIES TO DRIVE. I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FINANCE ANOTHER CAR. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A LOAN AND NEW CAR FOR US. I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP WITH TAKING MY CAR BACK AND GIVING ME ANOTHER CAR/LOAN. AS I TOLD THEM IN THE LETTER THEY JUST WANTED TO SELL AND MAKE MONEY THEY DIDN'T THINK OF THE FAMILY AND OR FAMILIES THAT THIS CAR AS IT FELL APART WOULD EFFECT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE THIS WEB SITE THAT I CAN VOICE MY CONCERNS,PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD AND FEEL SOMEONE MAY PAY ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN THESE CARS AS HAVE BEEN MANY WITH THE TIRE SITUATION. I WILL HELP YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN TO CLEAR UP ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I KEEP THE LETTER I SENT FORD IN MY CAR IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO READ IT AND KNOW I DID TRY TO GET THIS PROBLEM DISSOLVED BEFORE IT WAS TO LATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. DEBBIE JENNINGS HEWITT
- NHTSA ID
- 735467
- Incident
- Jan 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed May 23, 2000
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO THIRD GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 862360
- Incident
- May 19, 2000
EnginePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Mar 22, 2000
CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR 4TH RECALL REPAIRS. THIS ONE WAS FOR THE ENGINE WIRES. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. CONSUMER PICKED UP CAR, AND ON THAT SAME EVENING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. COULDN'T TELL HOW FAST CAR WAS GOING. ALSO OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON/OFF.
- NHTSA ID
- 858976
- Incident
- Mar 18, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2000
CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO MIDAS AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT TWO BOLTS HAVE SHEARED OFF THE TRANSAXLE .*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 858598
- Incident
- Feb 8, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 1999
ALL THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF ON BRACKET SUPPORTING TRANSAXLE, CAUSING IT TO FALL DOWN AND WEDGE AGAINST THE EXHAUST PIPE. HEARD A NOISE PRIOR TO DISCOVERING PROBLEM. VEHICLE DRIVEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. OWNER HAS BOLTS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 847342
- Incident
- Aug 3, 1999
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Aug 23, 1999
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ODOMETER DROPPED, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OVERDRIVE AND WOULDN'T COME OUT OF OVERDRIVE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 845573
- Incident
- Aug 20, 1999
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 20, 1999
THE LEFT FRONT AXLE BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND DAMAGED THE RIM OF IT. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT WAS JUST WORN OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE ENGINE RUMBLES WHEN IT IDLES. THE BRAKES GRIND ALL THE TIME, AND I HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT ROTOR 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE CARPET COMES OUT FROM UNDER THE REAR SEATS AN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 705815
- Incident
- Aug 1, 1998
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 29, 1997
SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 520314
- Incident
- May 31, 1996
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 22, 1997
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 519579
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.