FORD CONTOUR · model year

1995 FORD CONTOUR

1323 NHTSA complaints, 48 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995FORDCONTOUR carries 1323 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 48 crashes, 82 fires, 53 injuries, and 11 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 CONTOUR is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 69 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (63) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan (48). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1995 CONTOUR, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1323
Complaints
48
Crashes
82
Fires
53
Injuries
11
Deaths

Total Complaints

1323 filings

Crashes Reported

48 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD69
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION63
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN48
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE47
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING46
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM42
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP36
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM35
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM34
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP31
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING26
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY25
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS24

Recent Complaints

20150720POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. MA 10/2 UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

Mileage: 84,000

20131008FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,140.

Mileage: 158,140

20130114SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE, WHICH WAS ALSO PUNCTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20110816FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

Mileage: 100,000

20110714ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON WHILE IN PARK WHEN A FUSE BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC THEN CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20110324ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD WAS FRACTURING FROM THE PLASTIC COVERING AND THE WIRES WERE TOUCHING WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE WIRES SHORTENING OR CAUSING A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE WIRING WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20100819FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND JUST FOUND OUT ALL ALONG THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT . THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT ERRATICALLY IT IS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THE WIRING HARNESS IS FRAYED IF I TOUCH ANY OF THE WIRES THE INSULATION JUST FALLS OFF WHAT HASN'T ALREADY FELL OFF. ENGINE DIES AND STALLS ALL THE TIME AND CAR IS UN DRIVABLE CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN AND RECALL ON WIRING HARNESS . BUT IS UNAVAILABLE NOW BUT I COULD BUY ONE FOR $1300.00 IT HAS CAUGHT SMALL FIRE DUE TO THIS. *TR

Mileage: 198,000

20100723ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS DEFECTIVE. THE PLASTIC COVERING THE WIRES IS CRACKED AND PEELING OFF IN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO OCCASIONALLY BRAKE FOR NO REASON AND TO KICK AND SPUTTER WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING. THE FORD DEALER ADMITS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY AN EXPERIMENTAL PLASTIC THAT WAS USED THAT YEAR BUT THE COMPLAINT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS SO WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MINOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE WIRING EVERY TIME THE CAR DIES DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. THE CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE MECHANICALLY AND THE BODY IS IN GREAT SHAPE ALSO. I AM WONDERING WHY NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE BECAUSE I HATE TO THINK OF HOW MANY OTHERS THERE ARE JUST LIKE ME WHO MAY HAVE TO JUNK A PERFECTLY GOOD CAR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR WIRING PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER CAR THAT THE WIRING WAS THE FIRST TO GO. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS AS WELL MAINTAINED AS THIS ONE IS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR

Mileage: 118,754

20100524ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1995 FORD CONTOUR AND I NOTICED ITS BEEN SMOKING THE MECHANIC KEEPS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR THEY CANT DETECT A PROBLEM. I NOTICED THIS MODEL CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL RECALLS. COULD THIS USED CAR BE AFFECTED BY A FAULTY PART AND CAN I QUALIFY FOR A RECALL PART REPAIR IF THIS CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE PART? *TR

20100108FireSTEERING:COLUMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN OVER HEATING CONTINUOUSLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE BURNING SMELL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. AT TIMES, THE KEY WAS TOO HOT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83000 WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.

Mileage: 80,000

20091211STEERING

MY '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING, SMELLING HOT, WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HEATING UP TO THE POINT OF THE CAR KEY, IN THE IGNITION, GETTING TOO HOTTO HANDLE--FOR SOME TIME, NOW. FEARING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. HE SAID MY CAR, PER IT'S VIN NO., HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; SO HE DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. NOW, A WEEK AGO TODAY (12/3/09), AND A WEEK OR SO AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING 20-30 MPH, DOWN A CITY STREET IN MY SMALL TOWN, WHEN, SUDDENLY, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND; AND THE ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT! I TRIED TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHT ON; BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE STEERING WHEEL & STEERING COLUMN WERE VERY HOT. I TURNED THE KEY, IN THE IGNITION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON. INSTEAD, IT MADE ANOTHER POPPING SOUND; AND DIED COMPLETELY! SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, TH

Mileage: 80,000

20091124ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR WHICH HAS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT LED TO VEHICLE PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT A RECALL (99M03) WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY WIRES. MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. WHY WERE NOT ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS DEFECT RECALLED? *TR

Mileage: 112,000

20091012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

I TOOK MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR IN TO MY LOCAL PERRY LINCOLN FORD DEALER, ON HITCHCOCK ST., IN SANTA BARBARA, CA--TODAY (10/12/09. I STATED TO THE REPAIRMAN THAT I NOTICED, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOURS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES. I TOLD HIM THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, EVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OF 3 MILES TO WORK, EVERY DAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS SO HOT, THAT MY KEY IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE!! THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL COMPONENT, THAT INCLUDES THE IGNITION SWITCH, GETS HOT. THE REPAIRMAN, AT FORD, TOOK MY VIN NO.; AND RESEARCHED MY CAR, ON HIS FORD COMPUTER; AND MY VIN NO. DID NOT SHOW A RECALL. I TOLD HIM, I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS FOR ALL 1995 FORD CONTOURS, NOT JUST SOME. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FIRE TO START, IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT? I AM A WORKING REGISTERED NURSE; AND WOULD RATHER PREVENT A FIRE THAN WAIT FOR ONE TO BURN MY FACE AND BODY; AND DESTROY MY ENTIRE CAR

Mileage: 80,000

20091012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I TOOK MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR IN TO MY LOCAL PERRY LINCOLN FORD DEALER, ON HITCHCOCK ST., IN SANTA BARBARA, CA--TODAY (10/12/09. I STATED TO THE REPAIRMAN THAT I NOTICED, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOURS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES. I TOLD HIM THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, EVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OF 3 MILES TO WORK, EVERY DAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS SO HOT, THAT MY KEY IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE!! THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S WHEEL COMPONENT, THAT INCLUDES THE IGNITION SWITCH, GETS HOT. THE REPAIRMAN, AT FORD, TOOK MY VIN NO.; AND RESEARCHED MY CAR, ON HIS FORD COMPUTER; AND MY VIN NO. DID NOT SHOW A RECALL. I TOLD HIM, I THOUGHT THE RECALL WAS FOR ALL 1995 FORD CONTOURS, NOT JUST SOME. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FIRE TO START, IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT? I AM A WORKING REGISTERED NURSE; AND WOULD RATHER PREVENT A FIRE THAN WAIT FOR ONE TO BURN MY FACE AND BODY; AND DESTROY MY ENTIRE CAR

Mileage: 80,000

20090623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN 2004. FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAN MOTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MELT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,109. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

Mileage: 58,109

20090514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS WAS AN "OWNER NOTIFICATION" OR A FORD RECALL (NOT ORDERED BY THE FED GOV.) NUMBER 99M03, WHEREIN FORD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS ON 1995 FORD CONTOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS EXPIRED AND WISH TO HAVE FORD STAND BY THEIR WARRANTY AND COMPLETE THIS TASK UNDER THE WARRANTY/RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20090110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ITS 1995 FORD CONTOUR ALL WIRING UNDER HOOD HAS INSULATION CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALL THE WAY TO HOT CABLES AT POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX. CHECKED SEVERAL CARS AT WRECKING YARD FOR GOOD HARNESS ALL WERE THE SAME CAR DOESN'T RUN NOW WIRES GOING TO CRANK SENSOR SHORTED OUT CAR HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

20090102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT MAINTAINED THE SAME SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, IN WHICH THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT HAVE REPAIRED. THE RECALL DATE HAS CURRENTLY EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20081113FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FILLER PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V203000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Mileage: 37,000

20081109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TURN CAR ON WHEN CAR REACHES TO NORMAL TEMP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STALLS MOST OF THE TIME AT A COMPLETE STOP SHUT ENGINE OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF TILL RUN FOR A MIN WHEN ENGINE IS CALLED LIGHT STAYS OFF TILL ENGINE IS WARM AGAIN. *TR

Compare 1995FORDCONTOUR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 FORD CONTOUR have?
The 1995 FORD CONTOUR has 1323 NHTSA complaints, 48 crashes, 82 fires, 53 injuries, and 11 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 FORD CONTOUR?
The most-complained component for the 1995 FORD CONTOUR is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 69 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN.
Is the 1995 FORD CONTOUR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.