1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A NOISE IS HEARD. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. CROWN FORD DEALERSHIP IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE STATED NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. *AK

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#99-V-103-000: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING. THIS RECALL FAILED.*AK

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

WHILE NORMALLY DRIVING AT 35 MILE'S PER HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. 10 MINUTES LATER STARTED NORMALLY. JUST IN CASE I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC BECAUSE 20 MINUTES LATER I STARTED TO NOTICED AN ODOR, LIKE BURNED PLASTIC. THIS MORNING THE MECHANIC CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO STOP BY THE SHOP, HE SHOWED ME THE FUSE BOX AND THE ELECTRICAL CABLES (HARNESS) THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE BOX, 75% OR MORE ARE WITHOUT INSULATION (CRACKED OR THE INSULATION IS GONE). ACCORDING TO HIM I WAS JUST LUCKY, FORD DO NOT OFFER A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AS A PART, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO SEARCH FOR ONE IN A JUNK YARD, BESIDES IS A COSTLY ELECTRICAL JOB REPLACING THE WIRES. I AM GOING TO CONTACT FORD BECAUSE AS A CONSUMER I THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE MENTIONED VEHICLE.*JB

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

WET/LEAKING TRUNK. ALSO LEAKING FROM TRUNK TO BACK SEAT. CAN'T LOCATE WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM. *JB

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 01-V-230-0000. RECALL DEESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. *NLM

THE REAR SAFETY BELTS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE LEFT REAR BELT BUCKLE DID NOT LOCK INTO THE LATCH PLATE WHEN CONNECTED AND THE RIGHT REAR BELT ONLY PULLED FAR ENOUGH FROM HOUSING TO COVER A SMALL CHILD. *JB