FORD CONTOUR · model year

1996 FORD CONTOUR

858 NHTSA complaints, 42 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDCONTOUR carries 858 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 42 crashes, 31 fires, 44 injuries, and 0 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 1996 CONTOUR is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 52 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (48) and exterior lighting:headlights:switch (39). 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 1996 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.

858
Complaints
42
Crashes
31
Fires
44
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

858 filings

Crashes Reported

42 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

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 passenger seat. A police report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20181217ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2001. THE PAST 6 MO MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING OR SOMETHING MELTING. ALMOST LIKE ITS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE

Mileage: 150,000

20181217ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2001. THE PAST 6 MO MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING OR SOMETHING MELTING. ALMOST LIKE ITS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE

Mileage: 150,000

20181217SUSPENSION

MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2001. THE PAST 6 MO MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING OR SOMETHING MELTING. ALMOST LIKE ITS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE

Mileage: 150,000

20170525ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE WIRE HARNESS MOTOR, TRANSMISSION AND FUEL INJECTION ARE BAD ,AND WAS STATIONARY 5 YEAR AGO LIKE MANY MANY MANY CONTOURS AND MISTYQUES IN MY COUNTRY , I NEED A SOLUTION PLEASE, COUSE RESPONSABILITY IS FROM FORD COMPANY IN ALL THE WORLD. THANK YOU. I AM IN MEXICO.

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

20151017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A USED CAR DEALER ON 8/11/15. THE CAR HAS 58606 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. WIRING HARNESS WAS UNDER THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND NOT REPAIRED. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE AND MECHANIC SAYS THE CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD AND HARNESS HAS TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED FORD WHO SAID THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER ANY TYPE OF RECALL AND THEY NO LONGER MAKE THE PART.

Mileage: 58,606

20151007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TAILLIGHT AND FRONT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

20130910STEERING

CORROSION UNDER THE CAR (POLICE INCEPTOR ). CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN BAMBERG, SC THAT SELL MANY CROWN VICTORIAS. HE INDICATED MY CAR CAME FROM UP NORTH, PENNSYLVANIA. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

20130910SUSPENSION

CORROSION UNDER THE CAR (POLICE INCEPTOR ). CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN BAMBERG, SC THAT SELL MANY CROWN VICTORIAS. HE INDICATED MY CAR CAME FROM UP NORTH, PENNSYLVANIA. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

20130612ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A USED 1996 FORD CONTOUR FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT CAME BACK ON. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES WAS FLAKING OFF AND IN ONE SPOT THE WIRE BUNDLE COVERING HAD MELTED. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM (99M03) AND EXTENDED THE RECALL FOR 10 YEARS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH A DIFFERENT WIRING HARNESS HAS PROVED TO BE A LOOSING BATTLE I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THEY NO LONGER BUILD THIS PART AND THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS IN STOCK THROUGHOUT THE USA. I TRIED SALVAGE YARDS AND THERE ARE NO GOOD PARTS OUT THERE. HOW CAN A USED CAR LOT SELL CARS WITHOUT LOOKING INTO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLES. I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO JUNK THE CAR AND TAKE A $3000 LOSS. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE? *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20130612ENGINE

I PURCHASED A USED 1996 FORD CONTOUR FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT CAME BACK ON. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES WAS FLAKING OFF AND IN ONE SPOT THE WIRE BUNDLE COVERING HAD MELTED. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWED THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM (99M03) AND EXTENDED THE RECALL FOR 10 YEARS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH A DIFFERENT WIRING HARNESS HAS PROVED TO BE A LOOSING BATTLE I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THEY NO LONGER BUILD THIS PART AND THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS IN STOCK THROUGHOUT THE USA. I TRIED SALVAGE YARDS AND THERE ARE NO GOOD PARTS OUT THERE. HOW CAN A USED CAR LOT SELL CARS WITHOUT LOOKING INTO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLES. I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO JUNK THE CAR AND TAKE A $3000 LOSS. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE? *TR

Mileage: 80,000

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 ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,922.

Mileage: 62,922

20110404ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 130,000

20100826VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 91,000

20100817SUSPENSION:FRONT

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

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 MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20090823ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20090803VISIBILITY

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

Mileage: 130,000

Compare 1996FORDCONTOUR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD CONTOUR have?
The 1996 FORD CONTOUR has 858 NHTSA complaints, 42 crashes, 31 fires, 44 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD CONTOUR?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD CONTOUR is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 52 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH.
Is the 1996 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.