Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 41 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 41, in the owner's own words
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
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.
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
RUSTING WINDSHIELD FRAMING. *BF CONSUMER WORRIED ABOUT THE WINDOW BLOWING OUT. *TC
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.
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
HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALLS ON VEHICLE SPRINGS, RECALL 01V230000, AND HEATER BLOWER SENSOR, RECALL 01I009000. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE, EVEN LEFT VEHICLE WITH MECHANIC. RECEIVED CALL TO PICK UP VEHICLE, AND ALSO INFORMED NONE OF THE RECALLS WERE EVER REPAIRED. MECHANIC REFUSED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIRS. BRAMVIEW FORD; QUEEN ST; BRAMPTON ONTARIO CANADA; 9054511041. *AK
HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW REPAIRED TODAY, AS WELL AS PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED IN JULY 2002. BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $700 FOR BOTH. THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SHOW A MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE PURSUE A RECALL REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE SO CUSTOMERS CAN BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED.*JB
ALL POWER WINDOWS ARE OFF TRACK, CONSUMER UNABLE TO PUT WINDOWS DOWN. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *JG
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE FORD CONTOUR ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MATERIALS USED ARE BEND, CRACK, AND BREAK CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO EITHER FALL INTO THE DOOR, OR TO BECOME STUCK WHEN BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR REGULATOR 16 MONTHS AGO THINKING THIS WAS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE BUT NOW FIND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ADMITTED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS FOR THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN MY POSITION AND ON INSPECTION IT IS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE MANUFACTURING OF THE MATERIAL IS FAULTY, UNDER EXTREME STRESS WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS OF COURSE WOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN IF THE WINDOW WOULD COLLAPSE INTO THE DOOR FRAME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
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
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR RECALL 00V367000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44 CONCERNING ENGINE COOLING FAN. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP, SAME DAY, CONSUMER FOUND AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WERE NOT WORKING. ONLY DEFROSTER WORKED. DEALER OPENED HOOD AND STATED NOTHING WAS DONE TO AFFECT AIR CONDITIONING UNIT/HEATER. ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL BACK NEXT WEEK TO SPEAK TO SERVICE MANAGER. *AK
IN OCTOBER 1999 I HAD MY HEATER FAN FIXED BECAUSE OF A RECALL. WITHIN 12 MONTHS IT BROKE AGAIN AND THE COMPANY FIXED AGAIN ON 8/30/00. IN DECEMBER IT BROKE AGAIN WHICH IS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. I CALLED BRUNSWICK FORD AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE FORD MOTOR WOULDN'T COVER ONLY ONCE TO FIX THE ITEM. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND COMPLAINED BECAUSE IT KEEPS BREAKING AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED AND DIDN'T CARE THAT IT HAD BROKEN 2 TIMES AND LESS TIME BETWEEN EACH. THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER AND SO MANY MILES THAT THAT PROBABLY WAS WHY IT KEPT BREAKING. I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND FELT THERE WAS NO WHERE TO TURN. ONCE THE RECALL IS FIXED IS THERE A TIME LIMIT OR MILEAGE LIMIT THAT SHOULD PERTAIN?
HEAT/AC PROBLEM THE SAME, MY LAST BILL WAS $500. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED THIS TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW FELL OUT OF THE HOUSING ONTO THE ROADWAY, THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE WINDOW IN JULY 2000, THE OFFICER INSPECTED THE WINDOW AND FOUND THAT THE WINDOW SEAL APPEARED OLD AND RUSTY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
WHENEVER STARTING VEHICLE OR EVEN DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD START ACTING UP. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO ON BY THEMSELVES, HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED ON. LIGHTS, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, WOULD GO OUT. IGNITION WILL NOT START VEHICLE SOMETIMES.ALSO, WOULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. DID NOT HAVE A BATTERY PROBLEMS. HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO WORK. NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK
FAN BLOWER SWITCH ONLY OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED. *AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A NINE WEEK PERIOD WAITING FOR THE RECALL COMPONENT PART TO ARRIVE (99V-103). *MJS
I CAN TELL BY THE MARKS ON THE PASSANGER SIDE DOOR THAT THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO MY BUYING THE CAR. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW GOT STUCK DOWN AND SEEING THE COST OF THE PART AND LABOR I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED SO THE GUY JUST PUT THE WINDOW IN THE UP POSSISION FOR ME. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS SO LOOSE THAT I CAN'T ROLL IT DOWN BECAUSE IT RATTLES TOO MUCH. THE GAS PEDEL STICKS ALL THE TIME. I CAN BE GOING WHATEVER SPEED L;IMIT AND HAVE TO HIT THE GAS REAL QUICK TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN AND WHEN I GET READY TO GO THE PEDEL IS STUCK AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PUSH HARD AND THEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN GOES WITH A JERK. THIS HAS BEEN THE CAR FROM HELL.*AK
THE BLOWER FAN WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A RECALL. IT LASTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND PROCEEDED TO BREAK AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUSE PANEL IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE REAFFIRM THE DEFECT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY RARELY HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE PANEL. IN ADDITION TO THIS REPAIR, BOTH POWER WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SIDES OF THE CAR. THE COMPANY THAT DID THE REPAIR SAID THIS IS VERY COMMON IN FORD VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF FORD AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY RESTITUTION ON THESE REPAIRS.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS, FRONT LEFT SIDE, THIS CAR HAS HAD 5 PREVIOUS OWNER'S
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BEST BUY FOR MY MONEY AND SEEING I AM A SINGLE MOM I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE CAR AND THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE CAR OF MY NIGHTMARES. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS DISHONEST ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD KNOW THAT I HAD LITTLE MONEY TO PAY FOR A CAR LET ALONE TO KEEP TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I ASKED NORTHGATE FORD TO HELP ME OUT ON BUYING A CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE THIS ON MY OWN BEFORE AND TO KEEP IN MIND THE FACT THAT I COULD BE ONE OF THERE SISTERS AND REALLY NEED THEM TO HELP ME TO BUY A CAR THAT WASN'T GONNA HAVE A BUNCH OF TROUBLES. THEY AGREED WITH HELPING ME OUT AND COME TO FIND OUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCREWED IN MY LIFE. MY GOAL IS TO BUY A BRAND NEW CAR IN 5 YEARS OR SO AND I WILL STILL BUY FORD BUT IT WON'T BE THROUGH NORTHGATE FORD. I THINK NORTHGATE MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN THE RULE OF THUMB "ONE UNSATISFIED PERSON TELLS 10". NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK
WINDOW STUCK DOWN, AND STRUTS NEEDED.....4 YEARS OLD???
MY AC/HEATER SWITCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE. THERES SEEMS TO BE A SHORT IN WHICH THE PLASTIC IS MELTED BEHIND THE SWITCH, WHERE THE SWITCH CANNOT BE TURNED.
THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE . NLM
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
Data on this page last refreshed .