1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE, NO LONGER ABLE TO TELL WHAT GEAR IS SHIFTED TO, THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

UPON SHUTTING DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE IT OPENED BACK UP. DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH OR LOCK. HAD TO HOLD DOOR TO DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THEIR COMPUTER TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE, CONSUMER HAS PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. (99V10300) *YH

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES.TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; REPAIRED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

ALL FOUR STUDS ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE, SHEARED OFF. RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TIRE TRAVELING LOOSE THROUGH TRAFFIC. TIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED FRONT FENDER AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN WHEN CAR CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO IT. STUDS SHOWED NO SIGNS THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECS. (ROUNDED OUT STUD HOLES ON RIMS OR ROUNDED OUT THREADS.) COMPLETE SIMUALTANOUS STUD FAILURE ON ALL FOUR STUDS. *AK

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

ALSO THE TIMING BELT IS BROKEN AND THERE'S NOTHING ON OWNER'S GUIDE THAT TELLS YOU TO CHANGE TIMING BELT AFTER 60,000 MILES. ENGINE LIGHT ON AFTER ONE MONTH OF BUYING THIS CAR I CALL THE DEALER MADE APPOINTMENTS FEW TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY, FEW TIMES I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO CHECK ON THE WAY HOME THE LIGHT IS BACK ON , I CALL THEM BACK AND ASK WHAT'S THE PROBLEM , WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ME TAKING A DAY OFF TO BRING THE CAR TO BE FIX AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST., THEIR REMARK WAS THERE'S 23 SENSOR AND THEY COULD'NT TELL WHICH ONE IT WAS. NOW I'M STUCK PAYING 1 1/2 YRS ON A CAR THAT I DON'T HAVE , STILL HAVE TO CAME UP WITH MONEY TO GET A NEW ENGINE IN WHICH I DON'T HAVE , BUMPING RIDE TO AND FROM WORK, CANCEL ALL MY APPTS. AND BEGGING PEOPLE FOR RIDES SO I CAN PICK UP KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND FOOD SHOPPING, I CAN'T TAKE THE KIDS TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I HAVE NO CAR THAT'S NOT FARE. THANK-YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP ,THANK-YOU AGAIN.*AK

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY TIME I HAVE HAD TO COME TO THIS SITE ABOUT THIS CAR. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND NOW STILL OWING MONEY ON THIS CAR I AM LOOKING AT $2000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. TOOK TO KINSEL FORD IN JUNE 2001...TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING OUT. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF...STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND CAR HAD ALOT OF EXHAUST AND RUNNING ROUGH. TOOK TO SILSBEE FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS OUT DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLING FAN NOT COMING ON LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO SO IT ALSO FRIED THE WIRES. FORD IS WILLING TO PAY FOR PARTS BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY SAY IT WAS OUT OF THE 100,000 WARRENTY FOR THE REPAIR. I EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS GOING ON WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN IN JUNE AND THEY DIDN'T CORRECT IT THEN, ACCORDING TO THE CHECK OUT SHEET THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHECK IT FOR THAT AND I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THAT RECALL TO BE CHECKED. I HAD EVEN BEEN IN IN MARCH OF 2000 FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY CAR HAD NO RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING FAN. JUST EXTREMELY UPSET THAT YOU CAN HAVE A RECALL, TAKE YOUR CAR IN AND IT NOT BE CHECKED FOR IT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT DUE TO THE RECALL THAT THE COMPANY PENALIZES THE CONSUMER.*AK