1996 FORD CONTOUR

858 complaints filed with NHTSA.

858
Complaints
42
Crashes
31
Fires
44
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE52
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION48
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH39
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER33
UNKNOWN OR OTHER28
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
INTERIOR LIGHTING18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR16

Recent Complaints

20210920CrashAIR BAGS

The contact owned a 1996 Ford Contour. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, going downhill, the vehicle hit black ice, then crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags deployed and detached upon impact, slicing the contact's head open, snapped his fifth and sixth vertebrae, and the seatbelt fractured his ribs. The police were called to the scene of the collision. The police officer informed the contact that the air bag had detached from the steering wheel and was in the rear passenge

Mileage: 120,000

20160510FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD FAIL TO START DUE TO A MELTED WIRE IN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20121031FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR HAD BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES .FIXING WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE THE PROBLEM WE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTED TO THE COOLING FAN WAS MELTED AS WELL AS MANY PROBLEMS IN WIRE HARNESSES IN FRONT OF ENGINE.. IT IS VERY APPARENT THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED MELTING N BURN WIRES THROUGHOUT THE WIRING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD 4 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD BY ALL THAT THIS MAKE N MODEL IS VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 148,000

20110809FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICED FLAMES NEAR THE REAR OF THE RADIO AND THE CENTER COLUMN THAT DIVIDED THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES HERSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A

Mileage: 62,922

20100105FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

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 MILE

Mileage: 180,000

20071010FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR FOUR HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED OR INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

20050719FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE PROBLEM STARTED ON THE INCIDENT DATE, WIRE PROBLEM CAUSE THE ENTIRE FAN/AC/HEATER PANEL SO NO LONGER WORK, THE WIRE GOT SO HOT HOT IT MELTED OUR UNDER-DASH FUSE BOX, WE WENT FOR 9 MONTHS AND A BABY WITH NO A/C IN HOT AND NO HEAT IN THE COLD, HUSBAND(JOSH MURPHY) WENT TO JUNK YARD AFTER BEING TURNED AWAY BY DEALERSHIP AND GOT REPLACEMENT PARTS OFF AN IDENTICAL CAR. THAT WAS IN JUNE OF 2005. ON THAT DATE WE SAW THAT ALL OF THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD WERE SEVERELY CRACKED AND DAMAGED AFTER ELTRC

Mileage: 135,000

20040810FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEIGHBOR NOTICED THAT BLINKER WAS ON, AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, ASSUMED TO BE THE BATTERY.*AK

20040414CrashSEATS

FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSED REARWARD DURING LOW SPEED REAR-IMPACT COLLISION. DRIVER EJECTED INTO BACK SEAT. BROKEN NECK. QUADRIPLEGIA.

20040214FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WITHIN 15-20 AFTER MY DAUGHTER DROVE TO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. SHE HAD ALREADY GOTTEN INSIDE HER JOB. IT OCCURRED ABOUT 8:25.*AK

Mileage: 1

20031002CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT IMPACTED A BUILDING. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE IN THE PARK GEAR FOR 5 MINUTES. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONTINUALLY BEING TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR ,SOMEHOW, BECAME STUCK AND THE ENGINE OVERRODE THE BRAKES. *SC

Mileage: 68,000

20030607FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20030607FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

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

20030119AIR BAGS

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON

Mileage: 84,327

20021106CrashAIR BAGS

NO SUMMARY. DT

20020301CrashWHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

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

20010828FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER STOPPED TO ADD ANTI-FREEZE, A LITTLE WHILE LATER VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC

20010629CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A BRIDGE AND A SUDDENTLY STOPPED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM. DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF, AND HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20010615CrashSUSPENSION

WAS DRIVING 20MPH WHEN FRONT END BROKE LOOSE. STRUTS HAD BROKEN. VEHCLE HIT GROUND, ANDTHEN WAS THROWN ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC. IT FINALLY HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. *AK

20010427CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN SLAMMING ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLE THAT HAD STOPPED IN FRONT, AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND FRIEND WERE INJURED.*AK