1996 FORD CONTOUR Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND CRACKED. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER: 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO LOCATE A WIRING HARNESS AT A JUNK YARD FOR INSTALLATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 1/11/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED INTERMITTENTLY BUT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

I PRINTED OUT ALL OF THE RECALLS ON 1996, FORD CONTOUR BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD PLACE THEY SAID THE RECALLS ARE NOT ON MY PARTICULAR CAR. SO IS THAT SO? THAT CARS ARE MADE IN BATCHES AND ONLY CERTAIN BATCHES ARE RECALLED. I HAVE A 1996 FORD CONTOUR, 4 CYLINDER MOTOR. THAT DOES HAVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR MY CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLUG ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE IN THE PLUG. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERY TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED A FAILURE WITHIN THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PLUG AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FOUND RECALL 99V103000 ONLINE AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

I HAVE A FORD CONTOUR (1996 SPORT W/2.5 V6..NEARLY ALL OF THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD EITHER HAS BROKEN OR NO INSULATION ON IT. SOME TIMES THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT COMES ON...TODAY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SMOKED THEN BLEW A FUSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN WIRING LIKE THIS. I EXPECT BETTER FROM FORD THAN THIS..THIS CAR JUST TURNED OVER TO 72000 MILES....THIS CAR IS A TOTAL FIRE HAZARD.....I'VE OWNED FORD CARS AND TRUCKS ALL MY LIFE BUT IF NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS CAR IT WILL BE THE LAST FORD I BUY..THIS WIRING SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW. I WONDER IF THE SAFETY TEAM KNOWS ABOUT THIS. *TR

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. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING WERE MELTED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,688. 4/01/09 *NJ FORD STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BEFORE IT LEFT THE FACTORY AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MALFUNCTIONING, WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ENGINE FAILURE, AND ELECTRICAL FIRES UNDER THE HOOD. HE HAS BEEN REPAIRING THE FAILURE HIMSELF, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

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

SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE GAS PEDAL/ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO "STICK" OR RACE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO IDLE TO BACK DOWN UNTIL I PUT IT IN GEAR. JULY 3, WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR/GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CORNER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A CAR REPAIR PLACE WHERE THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL FORD ABOUT A RECALL. THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE HAD JUST SNAPPED RIGHT OFF! I CALLED FROM THE REPAIR PLACE AND FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VIN VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AS I WAS LEAVING TOWN THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE RETURNED NOW AND AFTER SEARCHING YOUR SITE HAVE FOUND WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE RECALL FOR THE VERY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY 1996 FORD CONTOUR. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL PROBLEM. WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP, PLEASE? LUCY HOCKING [email protected] 414-541-2326 414-520-8323 MAKE : FORD MODEL : CONTOUR YEAR : 1996 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : DEC 03, 1997 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 97V225000 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 38000 SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION. THE THROTTLE CABLES WERE DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY LEADING TO FRAYING OR SEPARATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE. *TR